Schizoaffective Disorder

People with schizophrenia from families that express high levels of criticism, hostility, or over involvement, have more frequent relapses than people with similar problems from families that tend to be less expressive of emotions. Forms of psychosocial intervention, designed to reduce these levels of expressed emotions within families, are now widely used.|To estimate the effects of family psychosocial interventions in community settings for people with schizophrenia or schizophrenia-like conditions compared with standard care.|We updated previous searches by searching the Cochrane Schizophrenia Group Trials Register (September 2008).|We selected randomised or quasi-randomised studies focusing primarily on families of people with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder that compared community-orientated family-based psychosocial intervention with standard care.|We independently extracted data and calculated fixed-effect relative risk (RR), the 95% confidence intervals (CI) for

Patients with schizophrenia smoke more heavily than the general population and this contributes to their higher morbidity and mortality from smoking-related illnesses. It remains unclear what interventions can help them to quit or reduce smoking.|To evaluate the benefits and harms of different treatments for nicotine dependence in schizophrenia.|We searched the Cochrane Tobacco Addiction Group Specialized Register and electronic databases including MEDLINE, EMBASE and PsycINFO from inception to April 2010.|We included randomized trials for smoking cessation or reduction, comparing any pharmacological or non-pharmacological intervention with placebo or with another therapeutic control in adult smokers with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder.|Two reviewers independently assessed the eligibility and quality of trials and extracted data. Outcome measures included smoking abstinence, reduction in the amount smoked and any change in mental state. We extracted abstinence and reduction

Cognitive functioning in affective psychosis and schizoaffective disorder is much less studied compared with schizophrenia.|To quantitatively undertake a meta-analysis of the available data that directly compares cognitive functioning across schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder and affective psychosis.|Following a thorough literature review, 31 studies that compared the performances of people with schizophrenia (1979 participants) with that of those with affective psychosis or schizoaffective disorder (1314 participants) were included. To determine the effect of demographic and clinical confounders, meta-regression and subgroup analyses were conducted.|In 6 of 12 cognitive domains, people with schizophrenia performed worse than people with schizoaffective disorder or affective psychosis. However, the between-group differences were small and the distribution of effect sizes showed substantial heterogeneity. The between-group differences were driven by a higher percentage of males,

To evaluate the efficacy of aripiprazole across a range of symptoms-positive, negative, disorganized thought, depression/anxiety, and hostility-in schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder.|Pooled data were analyzed from 5 short-term, double-blind, multicenter studies (published between 1997 and 2007) involving patients hospitalized with acute exacerbation of schizophrenia (5 studies) or schizoaffective disorder (2 studies) and randomly assigned to aripiprazole (N = 875), haloperidol (N = 193), risperidone (N = 95), or placebo (N = 406). Aripiprazole doses ranged from 2 to 30 mg/day. Patients receiving the ineffective 2-mg dose were excluded from the primary analyses presented here. Factor analysis of Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) data was used to evaluate changes from baseline with aripiprazole on 5 symptom factors-positive, negative, disorganized thought, depression/anxiety, and hostility-in 2 population subsets-schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. Pairwise

To examine the efficacy of aripiprazole across symptoms in patients with acute exacerbation of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder.|Data were pooled from five, 4-6-week acute studies. PANSS Total, Positive, Negative, and General Psychopathology Subscale improvements were analyzed, as well as all 30 individual PANSS items.|Aripiprazole had statistically significant decreases versus placebo on PANSS subscales at Week 4, similar to those seen with haloperidol. Aripiprazole-treated patients also showed significant decreases versus placebo in 26 of the 30 PANSS items (all p<0.05).|Aripiprazole demonstrates statistically and clinically significant efficacy across a range of symptoms in schizophrenia.

To examine the effectiveness of a low-intensity home-based aftercare service, 130 patients with schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder or bipolar disorder were randomized to receive either home aftercare or treatment-as-usual. In home aftercare, a general practitioner and a social worker made home visits once in a month after discharge from the hospital wherein they provided education and treatment. In a 1-year follow-up, home aftercare led to greater reduction in rehospitalization rate, more improvement in psychotic symptoms and global illness severity, as well as greater service satisfaction. The implementation of this low-intensity aftercare is recommended, especially in less resourceful settings.

22926613 2012 09 05 2013 01 16 1533-712X 32 5 Oct J Clin Psychopharmacol 720-1 10.1097/JCP.0b013e3182683903 Liang Chih-Sung CS Yang Fei-Wen FW Huang Yao-Chin YC eng Case Reports Letter United States J Clin Psychopharmacol 8109496 0271-0749 0

Higher prevalence rates of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in patients with schizophrenia are getting more and more attention. Uric acid (UA) has been frequently reported to be associated with MetS in the general population. Sex difference in this relationship is inconsistent. As a selective antioxidant, UA has also been found to be reduced in patients with schizophrenia, and this effect may be prominent in men. With the inconsistent presentations, higher rate of MetS but possible lower UA concentrations, the aim of this study was to investigate the relationship by sexes between serum UA concentrations and prevalence of MetS in patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. A total of 637 patients, 342 male and 295 female, were enrolled from 36 psychiatric rehabilitation institutions. Cross-sectional anthropometrical data, biochemical analysis, and serum UA were measured. Serum UA concentrations were divided into quartiles by sexes. Modified National Cholesterol Education Program

Individuals with schizophrenia have significant deficits in premorbid social and academic adjustment compared to individuals with non-psychotic diagnoses. However, it is unclear how severity and developmental trajectory of premorbid maladjustment compare across psychotic disorders. This study examined the association between premorbid functioning (in childhood, early adolescence, and late adolescence) and psychotic disorder diagnosis in a first-episode sample of 105 individuals: schizophrenia (n=68), schizoaffective disorder (n=22), and mood disorder with psychotic features (n=15). Social and academic maladjustment was assessed using the Cannon-Spoor Premorbid Adjustment Scale. Worse social functioning in late adolescence was associated with higher odds of schizophrenia compared to odds of either schizoaffective disorder or mood disorder with psychotic features, independently of child and early adolescent maladjustment. Greater social dysfunction in childhood was associated with

Catatonia, extrapyramidal signs, psychomotor slowing, and (motoric) neurological soft signs are well-known psychomotor symptoms in schizophrenia. This study aims at investigating the interrelations between these symptoms. In addition, associations between psychomotor symptoms, clinical symptoms, and cognitive functioning will be studied.|An extensive test battery containing psychomotor (Bush Francis Catatonia Rating Scale; St Hans Rating Scale; Salptrire Retardation Rating Scale; Neurological Evaluation Scale) and clinical (Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale; Calgary Depression Scale) rating scales as well as instrumental psychomotor tests (Line Copying Task; Finger Tapping Task) and cognitive tasks (Symbol Digit Substitution Test; Stroop Colour Word Test; Continuous Performance Test; Letter Number Sequencing) was administered to a sample of 124 patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder.|Correlational analyses showed that two clusters emerge from our data: first, a

Patients who satisfied any of the following criteria on the basis of automated records of physician diagnosis and visits were excluded: diagnosis of bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or schizoaffective disorder dur- ing ... bipolar disorder

Practice guideline for the treatment of patients with schizophrenia. Second edition.

Patients who satisfied any of the following criteria on the basis of automated records of physician diagnosis and visits were excluded: diagnosis of bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or schizoaffective disorder during the