Psychiatry and clinical neurosciences
-
Psychiatry Clin. Neurosci. · Dec 2006
Schizotypy, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and dopamine genes.
Previous research has suggested that there may be overlap between schizophrenia and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The relationship between schizotypal personality traits, ADHD features and polymorphisms was evaluated in dopamine-related genes. Thirty-one healthy, Caucasian men completed the Rust Inventory of Schizotypal Cognitions (RISC) and the ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS). ⋯ RISC score was correlated with ASRS score (r = 0.54, P = 0.003). COMT Met homozygotes had higher ASRS scores than Val homozygotes (P = 0.005). These findings are consistent with evidence of overlap between schizophrenia and ADHD and support an involvement of COMT genotype in ADHD features.
-
Psychiatry Clin. Neurosci. · Dec 2006
Comparative StudyCausative factors as cues for addressing the rapid increase in suicide in Mie Prefecture, Japan: comparison of trends between 1996-2002 and 1989-1995.
The number of suicides in Japan has increased from approximately 22 000 per year from 1988 to 1997 to >30 000 per year since 1998. Likewise, the number of suicides has been increasing in Mie Prefecture. The purpose of the present study was to examine the incidence of and circumstances surrounding all suicide cases during 1996-2002 in Mie Prefecture and to compare the data with those from 1989 to 1995. ⋯ They were especially important for women of the younger generation, whereas economic problems were the most common causative factor among men aged 40-64. Physical illness as a causative factor in suicide was high among the elderly, but among the other age groups this factor trailed behind economic difficulties for men and psychiatric disorders for women. To prevent suicide, social cooperation as well as a plenitude of visiting nurses and psychiatric care is required, and early detection and treatment are also important.
-
Psychiatry Clin. Neurosci. · Aug 2006
Randomized Controlled TrialTreatment of partial seizures with gabapentin: double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study.
This double-blind study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of gabapentin 1200 mg/day and 1800 mg/day (t.i.d.) compared to placebo as an adjunctive therapy in patients with refractory epilepsy. Patients were included when they had partial seizures at least eight times during a 12-week baseline period despite treatment with one to two antiepileptic drugs. After baseline, eligible patients were randomized to gabapentin 1200 mg/day, 1800 mg/day, or placebo for 12-week treatment. ⋯ Treatment-related adverse events were reported by approximately 65% of patients receiving gabapentin compared to approximately 46% of patients receiving placebo; somnolence and dizziness were the most common events. Gabapentin 1200 mg/day and 1800 mg/day significantly reduced the frequency of refractory seizures compared to placebo. Favorable tolerability of gabapentin was confirmed also in a Japanese population, consistent with previous global studies.
-
Psychiatry Clin. Neurosci. · Jun 2006
An evaluation strategy for the early detection of postoperative delirium.
The aim of the present study was to identify clinical signs detective of the postoperative delirium at the early stage for nursing management. A total of 66 inpatients undergoing cardiac surgery were interviewed using the Delirium Rating Scale (DRS) and NEECHAM Confusion Scale (NCS) preoperatively and on days 1 and 3 postoperatively. ⋯ Development of delirium was detected early by cognitive impairments in the DRS subscales of perceptual disturbance, hallucination, and cognitive status, and the NCS subscales of attention, command, orientation, and verbal skill. These results suggest that assessment of cognitive status on postoperative day is an important strategy in the early detection of postoperative delirium.
-
Psychiatry Clin. Neurosci. · Aug 2005
Comparative StudyPharmacoeconomic evaluation of schizophrenia in Taiwan: model comparison of long-acting risperidone versus olanzapine versus depot haloperidol based on estimated costs.
Antipsychotics are the keystone in schizophrenia treatment. Although the benefits of the new generation of antipsychotics has been demonstrated over the last decade, the issues of patient compliance and higher purchasing price of atypical antipsychotics remain unresolved. Risperidone is the only atypical antipsychotic agent with long-acting formulation. ⋯ Sensitivity analysis was performed for drug cost-effectiveness and compliance improvement for using long-acting risperidone. The results showed that long-acting risperidone is more cost-effective than either olanzapine or depot haloperidol for treating schizophrenia patients whose conditions are stable and whose illness duration ranges from 1 to 5 years. The comparison model with the Kaplan-Meier decision tree may serve as an alternative to prospectively designed studies for cost-effectiveness of atypical antipsychotics.