Assessment of Subclinical Psychotic Symptoms in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Spondyloarthritis.

Inflammatory and autoimmune processes have been associated with the onset of depressive and psychotic symptoms. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and spondyloarthritis (SpA) are rheumatic diseases with an inflammatory etiology. A high prevalence of depressive and anxiety-related comorbidity has been reported for both diseases, with no evidence of a greater prevalence of psychosis. The objective of the present study was to evaluate for the first time subclinical psychotic symptoms in patients with RA and SpA. This is a cross-sectional, single-center study including RA and SpA patients, as well as healthy controls. Abnormal psychotic experiences (positive, negative, and depressive symptoms) were evaluated using the Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences (CAPE-42). Functional capacity was evaluated using the Short-Form Health Survey SF-12. We compared the CAPE and SF-12 scores between the three groups. We recruited 385 individuals: 218 with RA, 100 with SpA, and 67 healthy controls. According to the CAPE scale, the frequency of subclinical psychotic symptoms was greater in patients than in healthy controls (RA, 1.90 vs. 1.63, p < 0.001; SpA, 1.88 vs. 1.63, p = 0.001). Distress was also greater in patients than in controls owing to the presence of symptoms. No differences were observed between the three groups for the mental dimension scores in the SF-12 Health Survey (43.75 in RA, 45.54 in SpA, and 43.19 in healthy controls). Our findings point to a greater prevalence of subclinical psychotic symptoms in patients with RA and patients with SpA than in the general population. The results suggest an association between inflammation and depression/subclinical psychotic symptoms.

Subtipo Persecutorio Del Trastorno Delirante: Estudio De Series De 129 Casos / Persecutory Subtype Of Delusional Disorder. Descriptive Study Of 129 Cases

Resumen Objetivo. El objetivo de este estudio es conocer las características demográficas, factores ambientales, factores de riego psicosociales, y clínicas del subtipo persecutorio en un grupo de pacientes con trastorno delirante (TD). Metodología. Estudio epidemiológico retrospectivo sobre un Registro de Casos en el Dispensario de Psiquiatría e Higiene Mental de Córdoba sobre pacientes con TD según criterios DSM-IV-TR. Aquellos pacientes que cumplieron con los criterios de inclusión definidos constituyeron nuestra muestra final de 261 casos, de ellos 129 casos presentaban el subtipo persecutorio. Las variables sobre las que se recogió información en base a protocolos, fueron agrupadas con el orden siguiente: I. Variables de los datos sociodemográficos y generales. II. Variables de los Factores de riesgo del TD (familiares y personales). III. Variables del Cuadro Clínico y el Diagnostico del TD (Presentación, sintomatología delirante, funcionalidad y discapacidad, utilización de los recursos sanitarios, tratamiento, problemas psicosociales, evolución y curso). Resultados. La proporción hombres versus mujeres en el subtipo persecutorio fue de 1,04. Solo el 5,4% de estos pacientes tenía estudios primarios. Un 65,9%, al realizar la primera consulta psiquiátrica, se encontraba casado y el 50,4% convivían en el hogar. Un 14,7% consumió previamente alcohol y un 0,8% otras sustancias. Las ideas de referencia y de persecución se presentaron el 98,4% y en el 99,2% de los casos respectivamente. Conclusiones. Son necesarios futuros estudios prospectivos para investigar los factores de riesgo del subtipo persecutorio del TD.

Objective. The objective of this study is to investigate the demographic, environmental, psychosocial and clinical characteristics of the persecutory subtype in a group of patients with delusional disorder (DD). Methodology. Retrospective descriptive study of DD cases registered at Psychiatry and Mental Hygiene Clinic of Cordoba according to DSM-IV-TR criteria was conducted. We obtained a sample of 261 DD patients who met the inclusion criteria; of them 129 cases has persecutory subtype. Data and variables collected were divided into 4 groups: I. Socio-demographic and general data. II. DD risk factors (personal and family). III. DD clinical picture and diagnosis (presentation, symptoms, disability, use of health care resources, treatment, and evolution). Results. The proportion of males versus females of the persecutory subtype was of 1.04. Only 5.4% of patients had primary level of education. At the first visit of the psychiatry clinic, 65.9% of the patients were married and about half of them shared home. About 14.7% of patients had a past history of alcohol consumption, and only 0.8% consumed other drugs. Ideas of reference and of persecution were found in 98.4% and 99.2% respectively. Conclusions. It is necessary to conduct future prospective studies to investigate the risk factors associated with the persecutory subtype of DD.

Validation of the Spanish-language Cardiff Anomalous Perception Scale.

The Cardiff Anomalous Perceptions Scale (CAPS) is a psychometric measure of hallucinatory experience. It has been widely used in English and used in initial studies in Spanish but a full validation study has not yet been published. We report a validation study of the Spanish-language CAPS, conducted in both Spain and Colombia to cover both European and Latin American Spanish. The Spanish-language version of the CAPS was produced through back translation with slight modifications made for local dialects. In Spain, 329 non-clinical participants completed the CAPS along with 40 patients with psychosis. In Colombia, 190 non-clinical participants completed the CAPS along with 21 patients with psychosis. Participants completed other psychometric scales measuring psychosis-like experience to additionally test convergent and divergent validity. The Spanish-language CAPS was found to have good internal reliability. Test-retest reliability was slightly below the cut-off, although could only be tested in the Spanish non-clinical sample. The scale showed solid construct validity and a principal components analysis broadly replicated previously reported three component factor structures for the CAPS.

Trastorno delirante y conducta suicida: estudio descriptivo de 26 casos / Delusional disorder and suicidal behavior: descriptive study of 26 cases

INTRODUCCÖN/ANTECEDENTES: La conducta suicida en el trastorno delirante (TD) ha sido escasamente estudiada. OBJETIVO: Profundizar en el conocimiento de las características demográficas, ambientales, psicosociales y clínicas del suicido en un grupo de pacientes con TD con la finalidad de contribuir a generar y sugerir estrategias que contribuyan a realizar nuevos estudios de mayor nivel explicativo. MÉTODO: Estudio epidemiológico descriptivo retrospectivo de Registro de Casos en el Dispensario de Psiquiatría e Higiene Mental de Córdoba sobre pacientes con TD según criterios DSM-IV-TR. Aquellos pacientes que cumplieron con los criterios de inclusión definidos constituyeron nuestra muestra final de 261 casos, de ellos 26 casos presentaron evidencias de intento de suicidio. Las variables sobre las que se recogió información en base a protocolos, fueron agrupadas con el orden siguiente: I. Sociodemográficos y generales. II. Factores de riesgo del TD (familiares y personales). III. Cuadro Clínico y el Diagnóstico del TD (Presentación, Sintomatología, Funcionalidad y Discapacidad, utilización de los recursos sanitarios, tratamiento, problemas psicosociales, evolución y curso) y medios letales utilizados. RESULTADOS: La edad media de los pacientes fue de 47 años y el 60% fueron hombres. Los datos sociodemográficos muestran que los pacientes con intento de suicidio residían en núcleos rurales (46,2%), no tenían estudios en un 15,4%, un 57,7% no trabajaba y un 26,9% recibía una pensión por enfermedad o jubilación laboral. El subtipo persecutorio con 8 casos, fue el más frecuente, seguido de los subtipos de grandiosidad (6 casos) y celotípico (6 casos), mixto (3 casos), erotomaníaco (2 casos) y somático (1 caso).DISCUSIÓN Y CONCLUSIÓN: Son necesarios futuros estudios prospectivos para investigar los factores de protección, de riesgo y/o asociados al suicidio en el TD.

Introduction / background: Suicidal behavior in delusional disorder (DD) patients has been poorly studied. Objective: Investigate the demographic, environmental, psychosocial and clinical characteristics of the suicidal behavior in a group of patients with DD. Method: Retrospective descriptive study of DD cases registered at Psychiatry and Mental Hygiene Clinic of Cordoba according to DSM-IV criteria was conducted. We obtained a sample of 261 DD patients who met the inclusion criteria, of them 26 cases presented evidence of suicidal behavior. Data and variables collected were divided into 4 groups: I. Socio-demographic and general data. II. DD risk factors (personal and family). III. DD clinical picture and diagnosis (presentation, symptoms, disability, use of health care resources, treatment, and evolution) and lethal methods used. Results: The mean age of the patients was 47 years old and 60% were males. Socio-demographic data show that 46.2% of patients with suicidal behavior lived in rural areas, only 15,4% were analphabet, 57,7% were unemployed, and 26.9% were receiving a pension because of illness or retirement. The persecutory subtype with 8 cases was the most frequent presentation, followed by grandiose (6 cases) and jealous (6 cases), mixed (3 cases), erotomanic (2 cases) and somatic (1 case) subtypes. Discussion and conclusion: It is necessary to conduct future prospective studies to investigate the protective and risks factors associated with the suicidal behavior in DD patients.

Trastorno delirante y conducta suicida: estudio descriptivo de 26 casos / Delusional disorder and suicidal behavior: descriptive study of 26 cases

Resumen Introducción/antecedentes: La conducta suicida en el trastorno delirante (TD) ha sido escasamente estudiada. Objetivo: Profundizar en el conocimiento de las características demográficas, ambientales, psicosociales y clínicas del suicido en un grupo de pacientes con TD con la finalidad de contribuir a generar y sugerir estrategias que contribuyan a realizar nuevos estudios de mayor nivel explicativo. Método: Estudio epidemiológico descriptivo retrospectivo de Registro de Casos en el Dispensario de Psiquiatría e Higiene Mental de Córdoba sobre pacientes con TD según criterios DSM-IV-TR. Aquellos pacientes que cumplieron con los criterios de inclusión definidos constituyeron nuestra muestra final de 261 casos, de ellos 26 casos presentaron evidencias de intento de suicidio. Las variables sobre las que se recogió información en base a protocolos, fueron agrupadas con el orden siguiente: I. Sociodemográficos y generales. II. Factores de riesgo del TD (familiares y personales). III. Cuadro Clínico y el Diagnóstico del TD (Presentación, Sintomatología, Funcionalidad y Discapacidad, utilización de los recursos sanitarios, tratamiento, problemas psicosociales, evolución y curso) y medios letales utilizados. Resultados: La edad media de los pacientes fue de 47 años y el 60% fueron hombres. Los datos sociodemográficos muestran que los pacientes con intento de suicidio residían en núcleos rurales (46,2%), no tenían estudios en un 15,4%, un 57,7% no trabajaba y un 26,9% recibía una pensión por enfermedad o jubilación laboral. El subtipo persecutorio con 8 casos, fue el más frecuente, seguido de los subtipos de grandiosidad (6 casos) y celotípico (6 casos), mixto (3 casos), erotomaniaco (2 casos) y somático (1 casos). Discusión y conclusión: Son necesarios futuros estudios prospectivos para investigar los factores de protección, de riesgo y/o asociados al suicidio en el TD.

Introduction/Background: Suicidal behavior in delusional disorder (DD) patients has been poorly studied. Objective: Investigate the demographic, environmental, psychosocial and clinical characteristics of the suicidal behavior in a group of patients with DD. Method: Retrospective descriptive study of DD cases registered at Psychiatry and Mental Hygiene Clinic of Cordoba according to DSM-IV criteria was conducted. We obtained a sample of 261 DD patients who met the inclusion criteria, of them 26 cases presented evidence of suicidal behavior. Data and variables collected were divided into 4 groups: I. Socio-demographic and general data. II. DD risk factors (personal and family). III. DD clinical picture and diagnosis (presentation, symptoms, disability, use of health care resources, treatment, and evolution) and lethal methods used. Results: The mean age of the patients was 47 years old and 60% were males. Socio-demographic data show that 46.2% of patients with suicidal behavior lived in rural areas, only 15.4% were analphabet, 57.7% were unemployed, and 26.9% were receiving a pension because of illness or retirement. The persecutory subtype with 8 cases was the most frequent presentation, followed by grandiose (6 cases) and jealous (6 cases), mixed (3 cases), erotomanic (2 cases) and somatic (1 case) subtypes. Discussion and conclusion: It is necessary to conduct future prospective studies to investigate the protective and risks factors associated with the suicidal behavior in DD patients.

Depersonalisation and schizophrenia: Comparative study of initial and multiple episodes of schizophrenia. / Despersonalización y esquizofrenia: estudio comparativo entre primeros y múltiples episodios de esquizofrenia.

INTRODUCTION: The phenomena of depersonalisation/derealisation have classically been associated with the initial phases of psychosis, and it is assumed that they would precede (even by years) the onset of clinical psychosis, being much more common in the prodromal and acute phases of the illness. The aims of the present study are to analyse the differences in depersonalisation/derealisation between patients with initial and multiple episodes and the factors that could influence this. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A descriptive, controlled and cross-sectional study of 48 patients diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia (20 with an initial episode and 28 with multiple episodes). These patients were assessed using scales such as the Cambridge Depersonalization Scale, the Positive and Negative Symptom Scale, and the Dissociative Experiences Scale. RESULTS: Participants with initial episodes score higher on both the Cambridge Depersonalisation Scale, and the subscale of the Dissociative Experiences Scale that evaluates such experiences. There were no associations between these types of experience and the positive symptoms subscale of the Positive and Negative Symptom Scale. CONCLUSIONS: Depersonalisation/derealisation experiences appear with greater frequency, duration and intensity in patients in the early stages of the illnesses, gradually decreasing as they become chronic.

[Factorial Structure of the Cardiff Anomalous Perceptions Scale (CAPS) in a Colombian Population Sample]. / Estructura factorial de la Cardiff Anomalous Perceptions Scale (CAPS) en una muestra de población colombiana.

BACKGROUND: The continuum hypothesis of psychosis assumes that hallucinations are not exclusive of psychotic disorders. A number of psychometric tests have been developed to assess psychosis using a dimensional model. OBJECTIVES: To determine the factorial structure of the Cardiff Anomalous Perceptions Scale (CAPS) for the Colombian population, and to contrast the fit of two factor models previously reported in the literature by conducting a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study in which 207 subjects from the general population were assessed using the Cardiff Anomalous Perceptions Scale. RESULTS: A two-factor structure with acceptable ordinal alpha coefficients (α=.88 and α=.87) was found. One factor gathered items related to multimodal perceptual alterations, and a second factor grouped items related with experiences linked to the temporal lobe. The analysis of the first factor indicated that it was dependent on cultural issues for the interpretation of sensations. The second factor appeared almost unchanged on diverse populations, suggesting its transcultural character. When comparing the models proposed by Bell et al. and Jaen-Moreno et al. using the data obtained from the sample, the confirmatory factor analysis conducted indicated inadequate goodness-of-fit indexes (χ(2)). However, some incremental goodness-of-fit indexes (normalized χ(2) [RMSEA]) were acceptable. The Jaén-Moreno et al. model showed the best fit to the data collected from the Colombian sample. CONCLUSIONS: The factorial structure of CAPS for the Colombian population appears to be sensitive to cultural issues, especially when describing anomalous sensorial experiences.

Estructura factorial de la Cardiff Anomalous Perceptions Scale (CAPS) en una muestra de población colombiana / Factorial Structure of the Cardiff Anomalous Perceptions Scale (CAPS) in a Colombian Population Sample

Introducción: La hipótesis del continuo de la psicosis asume que las alucinaciones no son fenómenos exclusivos de los trastornos del espectro psicótico. Se ha desarrollado una serie de pruebas psicométricas abordando la psicosis a partir de un modelo dimensional. Objetivos: Determinar la estructura factorial de la Escala de Percepciones Anómalas de Cardiff (CAPS) en población colombiana y contrastar el ajuste de dos modelos factoriales previamente reportados en la literatura utilizando la técnica de análisis factorial confirmatorio (AFC). Métodos: Estudio instrumental y transversal en el que participaron 207 sujetos de la población general evaluados con la CAPS. Resultados: Se encontró una estructura de dos factores con coeficientes alfa ordinales aceptables (α = 0,88 y α = 0,87). Un primer factor reúne ítems relacionados con alteraciones perceptuales multimodales y un segundo factor agrupa ítems asociados a experiencias relacionadas con el lóbulo temporal. El análisis del primer factor indica que depende de aspectos culturales en la interpretación de las sensaciones. El segundo factor aparece casi inalterable en diversas poblaciones, lo cual hace pensar en su carácter transcultural. Al comparar los modelos de Bell et al. y Jaén-Moreno et al., a partir de los datos obtenidos, los AFC muestran índices de ajuste absolutos (χ²) inadecuados. Sin embargo, algunos índices de ajuste incremental (χ²normalizado [RMSEA]) son aceptables. De los dos modelos, el propuesto por Jaén-Moreno et al. Fue el que mejor se adecuó a los datos de la muestra colombiana. Conclusiones: La estructura factorial del CAPS en población colombiana parece ser sensible a aspectos culturales en la interpretación de experiencias sensoriales anómalas.

Background: The continuum hypothesis of psychosis assumes that hallucinations are not exclusive of psychotic disorders. A number of psychometric tests have been developed to assess psychosis using a dimensional model. Objectives: To determine the factorial structure of the Cardiff Anomalous Perceptions Scale (CAPS) for the Colombian population, and to contrast the fit of two factor models previously reported in the literature by conducting a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Methods: This was a cross-sectional study in which 207 subjects from the general population were assessed using the Cardiff Anomalous Perceptions Scale. Results: A two-factor structure with acceptable ordinal alpha coefficients (α=.88 and α=.87) was found. One factor gathered items related to multimodal perceptual alterations, and a second factor grouped items related with experiences linked to the temporal lobe. The analy sis of the first factor indicated that it was dependent on cultural issues for the interpretation of sensations. The second factor appeared almost unchanged on diverse populations, sug gesting its transcultural character. When comparing the models proposed by Bell et al. and Jaen-Moreno et al. using the data obtained from the sample, the confirmatory factor analysis conducted indicated inadequate goodness-of-fit indexes (χ²). However, some incremental goodness-of-fit indexes (normalized χ² [RMSEA]) were acceptable. The Jaén-Moreno et al. model showed the best fit to the data collected from the Colombian sample. Conclusions: The factorial structure of CAPS for the Colombian population appears to be sensitive to cultural issues, especially when describing anomalous sensorial experiences.

[Validation of the Spanish version of the Cardiff Anomalous Perceptions Scale in the general population]. / [Validación de la versión española de la Escala de Percepciones Anómalas de Cardiff en población general].

INTRODUCTION: Interest in the existence of anomalous perceptions in the general population has increased greatly over recent years. Because of this, it has been possible to extend the knowledge regarding the theory of psychosis as a dimensional model. This study has aimed to validate the Spanish version of the Cardiff Anomalous Perceptions Scale (CAPS) the general population. METHOD: A descriptive, controlled and cross-sectional study was performed. It evaluated 324 participants from the general population with the Spanish translation of the CAPS, the 21-item Peter et al. Delusions Inventory, the Revised Launay-Slade Hallucinations Scale and the reduced Oxford-Liverpool Inventory of Feelings and Experiences (O-LIFE). RESULTS: The results indicate that the Spanish version of the CAPS has good internal consistency and test-retest reliability. Analysis of the relationship with other scales indicates evidence of good convergent and divergent validity and the exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis of the CAPS showed a structure with three consistent factors. CONCLUSIONS: The Spanish version of the CAPS is a valid and reliable psychometric measure of the anomalous perceptual experiences in the general population.

Validación de la versión española de la Escala de Percepciones Anómalas de Cardiff en población general / Validation of the Spanish version of the Cardiff Anomalous Perceptions Scale in the general population

Antecedentes: En los últimos años se ha incrementado el interés por la existencia de alteraciones de la percepción en la población general, esto ha contribuido a profundizaren la teoría de la psicosis como un modelo dimensional. El objetivo del presente estudio es el de validar la versión española de la escala de Percepciones Anómalas de Cardiff (CAPS) en población general. Método: Estudio descriptivo, controlado y transversal en el que se evaluó a 324 sujetos de población general con la CAPS, el Inventario de Ideas Delirantes de Peters de 21 ítems, con la Escala revisada de Alucinaciones de Launay-Slade y el Inventario reducido de Oxford-Liverpool de Sentimientos y Experiencias. Resultados: Los resultados demuestran que la CAPS en su versión española posee buena consistencia interna y una adecuada fiabilidad test-retest. Las correlaciones con las demás escalas proporcionan evidencia de una buena validez convergente-divergente y el análisis factorial exploratorio y confirmatorio de la CAPS reflejaron una estructura de tres factores consistente. Conclusiones: La versión española de la CAPS es un instrumento de evaluación psicométrica fiable y válido para la medición de las experiencias anómalas en población general

Introduction: Interest in the existence of anomalous perceptions in the general population has increased greatly over recent years. Because of this, it has been possible to extend the knowledge regarding the theory of psychosis as a dimensional model. This study has aimed to validate the Spanish version of the Cardiff Anomalous Perceptions Scale (CAPS) the general population. Method: A descriptive, controlled and cross-sectional study was performed. It evaluated 324 participants from the general population with the Spanish translation of the CAPS, the 21-item Peter et al. Delusions Inventory, the Revised Launay-Slade Hallucinations Scale and the reduced Oxford-Liverpool Inventory of Feelings and Experiences (O-LIFE).Results. The results indicate that the Spanish version of the CAPS has good internal consistency and test-retest reliability. Analysis of the relationship with other scales indicates evidence of good convergent and divergent validity and the exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis of the CAPS showed a structure with three consistent factors. Conclusions: The Spanish version of the CAPS is a valid and reliable psychometric measure of the anomalous perceptual experiences in the general population

Historia de los trastornos afectivos / History of Affective Disorders

El grupo de los denominados “trastornos afectivos” surge de la convergencia, ocurrida al inicio del siglo XX, de ciertos términos (afecto y sus derivados), conceptos (nociones teóricas sobre las experiencias relacionadas con el estado de ánimo) y conductas (cambios observables en el discurso y la acción). La propia palabra afectivo tiene una dilatada e ilustre historia, y forma parte de una “panoplia” de vocablos como emoción, pasión, sentimiento, ánimo, afecto, distimia, ciclotimia o disforia, que denominan experiencias subjetivas superpuestas con etimología y origen diferentes. Por una serie de razones históricas e ideológicas, la semiología de la afectividad no alcanzó el mismo desarrollo que las funciones intelectuales. A lo largo del siglo, las nociones predecimonónicas de manía y de melancolía se transformaron en los nuevos conceptos de manía y depresión y se asociaron en los estados combinados (locura alternante, circular, periódica, doble forma). Este proceso culminó con la integración de todos los estados afectivos en la locura maniaco-depresiva de Kraepelin. Finalmente, este concepto extenso se fue fragmentando por los trabajos, entre otros, de Wernicke, Kleist, Leonhard, y culminó en la propuesta de Angst y Perris de separar la depresión unipolar del trastorno bipolar, aceptada desde 1980 por el DSM-III.

The group of conditions called ‘affective disorders’ resulted from the convergence of certain words, concepts, and behaviors that took place during the early part of the twentieth century. The word ‘affective’ has itself a long and noble history and is part of a panoply of terms which include emotion, passion, sentiment, feeling, mood, dysthymia, cyclothymia, etc. Although these terms name overlapping subjective states, each has a different history and etymology. The semiology of affect disorders has never achieved the richness of the psychopathology of perception and cognition. This resulted from a long-term neglect and also from the obscurity of the subject matter itself. Our current notions of depression and mania date from the second half of the nineteenth century and emerged from the transformation of the old notions of melancholia and mania. The new clinical versions of them combined the new concept of alternating, periodic, circular, or double form insanity. This process culminated with Kraepelin’s concept of ‘manic-depressive insanity’ which included most forms of affective disorder under the same umbrella. Finally, the overinclusive kraepelinian concept was fragmented by the works of Wernicke, Kleist, and Leonhard, capped with the proposal of Angst and Perris to differentiate between unipolar and bipolar psychoses, accepted since 1980 by the DSM-III.

Association between cerebral metabolic and structural abnormalities and cognitive performance in schizophrenia.

The possible association in schizophrenia between frontal abnormalities, such as hypofrontality and frontal grey matter (GM) deficits, and neuropsychological deficits is not yet well defined. Our objective was to study such an association and to clarify the cognitive relevance of metabolic and anatomical variability across schizophrenia patients. To do so, we studied dorsolateral prefrontal (DLPF) metabolism during an attention test using fluoro-deoxy-glucose positron emission tomography and DLPF structure with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in 22 schizophrenia patients [9 neuroleptic-naïve (NN) first episodes]. These patients also underwent a comprehensive battery of neuropsychological tests aimed at evaluating global intelligence and the proposed domains of cognitive alteration in schizophrenia, i.e., attention, visual and verbal learning and memory, working memory, problem solving and processing speed. The metabolic activity in the right DLPF region was significantly and directly related to processing speed, and a measure of structural deficit in the same area was directly related to working memory scores. In the NN group studied alone, these associations were replicated. We may conclude that hypofrontality during cognitive activation, and the degree of DLPF structural deficit may be associated to a particular profile of cognitive deficit, including lower processing speed and working memory capacity.

Síndrome de referencia olfativo: revisión histórica y clínica a propósito de un nuevo caso / Olfactory reference syndrome: a historical and clinical review apropos of a new case

Desde comienzos del siglo XX se ha descrito la existencia de alucinaciones olfativas junto a delirios de referencia secundarios en sujetos con rasgos "sensitivos" de la personalidad. Desde entonces, se debate si estos síntomas constituyen una "entidad nosológica independiente" o, por el contrario, son sólo un síndrome que aparece en distintos trastornos psiquiátricos. En este sentido, se han propuesto unos criterios diagnósticos a partir de los casos clínicos coincidentes publicados en la literatura. Pryse-Philips, en su trabajo sobre las alucinaciones olfativas, estableció el diagnóstico diferencial de este síndrome respecto a la esquizofrenia, la depresión y la epilepsia focal. En este trabajo, se expone el caso de una paciente de 18 años que está convencida de desprender mal olor corporal y presenta conductas repetitivas delimpieza asociadas. Además, muestra unas ideas de referencia sensitiva que conducen a un importante retraimiento social como consecuencia de los sentimientos de malestar y vergüenza que experimenta ante la presencia de otras personas. Esta conducta coincide con la denominada por Pryse-Philips con triste reaction, caracterizada por la vergüenza y el desconcierto causados por los delirios. Aunque la paciente afirma que ella "no nota su mal olor", está convencida de que los demás lo perciben. Estas particularidades psicopatológicas se traducen en la dificultad para diferenciar en la práctica clínica las alteraciones sensoperceptivas de tipo olfativo delos delirios de contenido olfativo (AU)

FFrom beginning of the 20 th century there has been described the existence of olfactory hallucinations close to secondary delusions of reference in subjectswith "sensitive" features of the personality. Since then, it is debated if these symptoms constitute a "independent nosological entity" or, on the contrary, they are only a syndrome that appears in different psychiatric disorders. In this respect, there have been proposed a few diagnostic criteria from the clinical coincidental cases published in the literature. Pryse-Philips, in his work on the olfactory hallucinations, established the differential diagnosis of this syndrome with regard to the schizophrenia, the depression and the focal epilepsy. In this work, there is exposed the case of a 18-year old patient who is sure to detach badly corporal smell and to present repetitive conducts of cleanliness associated. In addition, she shows a few ideas of sensitive reference that they lead to an important social seclusion as consequence of those of feelings discomforts and shame that experiments with the presence of other persons. This conduct coincides with the named by Pryse-Philips as "contritereaction", characterized by the shame and the confusion provoked by the delusions. Though the patient affirms that she "does not notice her evil smell", she is sure that the others perceive it. These psychopathologycal particularities are translated in the difficulty to separate in the clinical practice, sensoperceptive alterations of olfactory type from the delusions of olfactory content (AU)

Biochemical changes in the cingulum in patients with schizophrenia and chronic bipolar disorder.

Biochemical changes have been reported in vivo in the brain in schizophrenia patients using 1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). The aim of this study was to assess the specificity of biochemical changes occurring in schizophrenia patients, in a direct comparison with bipolar disorder patients. Fourteen patients with chronic paranoid schizophrenia, 17 euthymic type I bipolar patients with no previous history of psychotic symptoms and 15 healthy controls were included, most of them were female. They underwent a study with MRS: proton spectra were acquired using a Signa 1.5 T CVI scanner, with a localised single voxel PRESS sequence. N-acetyl aspartate (NAA), Creatine (Cr), and Choline (Cho) metabolite resonance intensities were all quantified in the cingulum, a region of interest in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Schizophrenia patients showed a significantly higher Cho/Cre as well as lower NAA/Cho ratios as compared with controls and bipolar patients. No significant differences were found among the three groups as regards NAA/Cre levels. These data are consistent with an increase in the concentration of choline in the cingulum in chronic schizophrenia, at least in this predominantly female group. Such an increase seems to be more intense than in psychosis-free bipolar disorder patients.

Cotard's syndrome in adolescents and young adults is associated with an increased risk of bipolar disorder.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the effect of age at onset on the phenomenology of Cotard's syndrome (CS) as a recent study reported a high rate of occurrence of bipolar disorder (BD) in adolescents and young adults with CS followed up for > or =2 years. METHODS: We reviewed all cases of CS reported since it was first described. A statistical analysis was carried out to determine the effect of age at onset on CS phenomenology. RESULTS: We found 138 cases including 21 cases aged 25 years or younger. In these younger CS patients, BD was more frequent, and the risk of associated BD was increased nine times (p < 0.0001). Within the BD sub-group (n = 27), admixture analysis identified two sub-groups with mean ages at onset of 18.7 years [standard deviation (SD) = 3.2] and 50.5 years (SD = 11.7). CONCLUSIONS: Young people with CS should be monitored carefully for the onset of BD, and families should be educated about this risk. Treatment with mood stabilizers can be helpful for those who develop BD. Within BD associated with CS, early versus late onset should be distinguished.

Alucinaciones: Revisión histórica y clínica / No disponible

Las alucinaciones constituyen un síntoma fundamental en psiquiatría, neurología y otras especialidades médicas. Sin embargo, el significado del término es muy diverso debido a las distintas acepciones etimológicas y, además, no existe una teoría general que explique su se-miología, función y significación clínica. Asimismo, a pesar de que se han formulado numerosas definiciones de la alucinación a lo largo de la historia, siguen sin resolverse cuestiones importantes en torno a su concepto. Por ejemplo, si todas las alucinaciones, con independencia de la modalidad sensorial, son fenómenos equivalentes (como se desprende de la definición de Esquirol); si las alucinaciones psiquiátricas similares a las que aparecen en el enfermedad neurológica, la estimulación eléctrica, las inducidas por drogas o privación sensorial; si tienen el mismo significado clínico las alucinaciones que aparecen en la vejez que las ocurridas en la infancia. Desde el siglo XIX, cuando se consideró como síntoma, existen dos teorías fundamentales para explicar su origen: sensorial(alucinación como percepción) y no sensorial (alucinación como imagen).La propuesta impuso un modelo restrictivo de percepción a todos los sentidos; es decir, al igual que la visión y la audición, el tacto, el gusto y el olfato también necesitan de un estímulo externo. Esta teoría se ha topado con serias dificultades en las alucinaciones gustativas, táctiles o cenestésicas, en las que el objeto externo no puede ser dilucidado (AU)

No disponible

Depersonalization in psychiatric patients: a transcultural study.

There is evidence suggesting that the prevalence of depersonalization in psychiatric patients can vary across cultures. To explore the possible influence of culture on the prevalence of depersonalization, we compared psychiatric inpatient samples from the United Kingdom (N = 31), Spain (N = 68), and Colombia (N = 41) on standardized and validated self-rating measures of dissociation and depersonalization: the Cambridge Depersonalization Scale and the Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES). Colombian patients were found to have lower global scores on the Cambridge Depersonalization Scale and the DES and all its subscales, with the exception of DES-Absorption. No differences were found for measures of depression or anxiety. These findings seem to support the view that depersonalization is susceptible to cultural influences. Attention is drawn to the potential relevance of the sociological dimension "individualism-collectivism" on the experience of the self, and it is proposed that cultures characterized by high individualism may confer vulnerability to depersonalization experiences.

Dorsolateral prefrontal and superior temporal volume deficits in first-episode psychoses that evolve into schizophrenia.

Regions with a likely involvement in schizophrenia may differ between patients with first-episodes of psychosis respectively with and without evolution into schizophrenia following the initial episode. We have used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to assess the volumes of dorsolateral prefrontal (DLPF) and superior temporal gyrus (STG) in a group of 37 first-episode psychotic patients. After an initial MRI study performed by the time of the first episode, the subjects were followed for two years. After this period 22 cases were diagnosed with schizophrenia, while the other 15 did not show clinical evidence for this illness. A Talairach-based tool was used for segmentation and volumetry of the MRI scans. A group of 44 healthy controls was used for comparison and, using lineal regression, to control for the normal effects of age and intracranial volume on the regional parameters of the patients. By the time of their first episode, patients with schizophrenia had significantly less grey matter in the right DLPF and STG regions as compared to both controls and FE without schizophrenia. Nevertheless, these parameters could not predict final diagnosis in a discriminant analysis model. Our findings indicate that subtle structural defects are already found by the time of the first psychotic break in schizophrenia, although clinical implications for these differences seem unclear.

No association between dorsolateral prefrontal gray matter deficit and N-acetyl aspartate ratios in schizophrenia.

The cellular substrates of cortical volume deficit in schizophrenia are unclear. We may hypothesize that, if that deficit was related to a decrease in the amount in neuronal tissue, it should correlate with N-acetyl aspartate levels. We studied a group of 34 schizophrenia patients (of them, 17 first episodes) with both structural and spectroscopic magnetic resonance (MR). Using the data of 50 controls, we were able to calculate for each case residuals of gray matter and cortical cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the dorsolateral prefrontal (DLPF) region, representing the deviation from the expected values in normals, given individual intracranial volume and age. Although our patients showed a significant deficit in gray matter and excess in cortical CSF in the DLPF region, that deficit was unrelated to N-acetyl aspartate levels. This was also true for the chronic and first episode groups analyzed separately. These results do not support a neuronal tissue deficit as contributing to the cortical volume deficit in schizophrenia, at least in the DLPF region.

Cotard's syndrome in adolescents and young adults: a possible onset of bipolar disorder requiring a mood stabilizer?

This paper reviews all reports of Cotard's syndrome (délire de négation) in adolescents and young adults and summarizes four consecutive cases seen at our institution during the past 10 years. Cotard's syndrome occurs infrequently in young people (19 cases have been reported so far, including a 15-year-old boy who died at hospital) but appears to be a severe syndrome in adolescents of both genders. Ten patients received electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) despite their young age. Among the 14 cases reported with at least a 2-year follow-up, 13 patients (93%; 11 female) exhibited a bipolar outcome. The use of mood stabilizers should be considered in this rare, but potentially severe, condition.