Schizoaffective Disorder

Over the past three decades, there have been significant changes in the diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia as well as changes in measurement of IQ. The last quantitative review of the literature on premorbid IQ in schizophrenia was published more than two decades ago. Since that time, there have been many published studies of data sets pertaining to this issue. The purpose of the present review was to provide an updated meta-analysis of premorbid IQ in individuals who later develop schizophrenia.|The authors performed a systematic literature search, which yielded 18 studies that met criteria for the meta-analysis. Inclusion criteria were 1) premorbid psychometric measures of IQ in subjects who were later diagnosed with schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or schizophreniform disorder, 2) similar comparison data, and 3) sufficient data for calculation of an effect size. The analogue to the analysis of variance method was used to model between-study variance due to key

Many people with schizophrenia do not achieve a satisfactory treatment response with ordinary antipsychotic drug treatment. In these cases, various add-on medications are used; valproate is one of these.|To review the effects of valproate for the treatment of schizophrenia and schizophrenia-like psychoses.|We searched the Cochrane Schizophrenia Group's register (last update February 2007). This register is compiled by methodical searches of BIOSIS, CINAHL, Dissertation abstracts, EMBASE, LILACS, MEDLINE, PSYNDEX, PsycINFO, RUSSMED, Sociofile, supplemented with hand searching of relevant journals and numerous conference proceedings. We also contacted a pharmaceutical company and authors of relevant studies in order to identify further trials.|We included all randomised controlled trials comparing valproate to antipsychotics or to placebo (or no intervention), whether as the sole agent or as an adjunct to antipsychotic medication for the treatment of schizophrenia and/or

The aim of this study was to assess the 1-year risk of second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) for tardive dyskinesia (TD) in children and adolescents with assumed minimal past exposure to first-generation antipsychotics.|We performed a systematic review and exploratory meta-analysis of long-term studies with SGAs, lasting at least 11 months and reporting on new cases of TD in patients less than 18 years old.|In 10 studies, 783 youth (mean age: 9.74 years, 79.2% prepubertal, 81.6% male, 78.4% white) received risperidone (n = 737, mean dose: 1.58 mg/day), quetiapine (n = 27, mean dose: 378.7 mg/day), or olanzapine (n = 19, mean dose: 10.4 mg/day) for a weighted mean of 329.6 days. Diagnoses included disruptive behavior disorders (n = 688, 87.9%), bipolar disorder (n = 52, 6.6%), schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder (n = 26, 3.3%) and autism spectrum disorders (n = 17, 2.2%). Eight studies were open-label trials, two were retrospective chart reviews, and none included a comparator.

To assess current pharmacotherapeutic options for bipolar disorder, with particular emphasis on the use of antipsychotic agents, Medline and EMBASE were searched between January 1980 and December 2005 using the keywords "schizoaffective disorder" and "bipolar disorder", combined with various antidepressants, antipsychotics, lithium or other mood stabilizers. English-language articles, review articles and original research articles were reviewed. Most data are available for the "mood stabilizers" lithium and valproate. However, these agents have important limitations regarding their tolerability and efficacy in certain groups. Newer anticonvulsants, especially lamotrigine, have demonstrated efficacy across mood-symptom domains. Antidepressants are not generally favoured as monotherapy in patients with bipolar depression or schizoaffective disorder, due to their potential to induce switching to manic states. However, data are emerging for the efficacy of selective serotonin reuptake

Schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder are severe and chronic psychiatric illnesses for which treatment compliance is important in the prevention of relapse. Atypical antipsychotic drugs, such as risperidone, have been found to be effective in the treatment of a range of psychiatric disorders. Although the oral route of administration is generally preferable to injection, some patients (eg, elderly patients or children) find swallowing physically difficult and thus refuse oral treatments. Rapidly disintegrating (RD) oral formulations of these drugs have been developed to improve their acceptability to patients and thus improve compliance.|The aim of this report was to describe the results from clinical studies that have assessed the taste, time to disintegration, and tolerability of RD risperidone tablets, and bioequivalence of RD risperidone tablets (2 x 0.5 mg, 2 mg, and reduced-size 4 mg) versus conventional (CV) risperidone tablets.|This study used data from 10 clinical trials

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