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Introduction: COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown have provoked a considerable psychological impact in Spain. Some studies have reported greater psychological impact in the younger population. To date, no previous study has focused on depressive disorder (DD) patients based on their age. Objectives: To describe the psychological impact on DD according to age. Methods: Cross-sectional study of an online survey available from 19 to 26 March 2020. Out of a total of 21207 respondents, 608 (2.9%) reported suffering from DD (mean age ±SD = 41.2 years±14.07 [18-82], 80.6% women). The subsample (608) was divided according to age, "youngsters" <45 (57.4%)/"elders" =45. DASS-21 and IES scales were employed. Statistical analyses: Chi-square, t-Student test. Results: Both groups did not differ (p>0.05) in sex, having COVID-19 symptoms, having family/friends infected, or income changes. While youngsters were single more frequently (68.8% vs 14.3%, X² = 179.7, p<0.001), elders had somatic illness more frequently (64.8% vs 39.7% X² =30.401, p<0.001). Youngsters obtained higher scores in depression (4.69 vs 4.1, T=5.413, p<0.001), anxiety (2.86 vs 1.97, T=5.249, p<0.001) and stress (4.48 vs 3.17, T=6.355, p<0.001) DASS-21 subscales, as in intrusive (3.42 vs 3.05, T=1.984, p=0.048) and avoidant (4.64 vs 4.11, T=3.056, p=0.002) IES scores. Conclusions: Despite the group of elders with depression being more vulnerable to severe COVID-19 disease and presenting more frequently somatic comorbidities, younger depressive patients suffered more from depressive, anxiety, stress and avoidant symptoms and intrusive thoughts, in line with previous reports in the general population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Suicidal behavior has a great impact on world public health. The literature describes the possible existence of an association between neurobiological, clinical and cognitive factors in suicidal behavior. Objectives: To determine the possible relationship between clinical variables (history of abuse/maltreatment in childhood), psychopathology (impulsivity traits) and cognitive (decision-making) with a history of suicide attempt and/or current suicidal idea in patients with major depressive disorder. Methods: Cross-sectional study in a sample of adult patients with major depressive disorder inwhich two types of comparisons are made. In the first case, two groups were compared based on the presence or absence of history of suicide attempt. In the second case, two groups were compared based on the presence or absence of suicidal ideation in the same sample of patients. Finally, sociodemographic, clinical and cognitive variables were evaluated in that population sample. divorced/separated, a history of sexual abuse in childhood and an alteration in decision-making, specifically a lower number of choices of deck D in the IGT test, are associated with a higher probability of a personal history of suicide attempt. While a higher score on the Barrat impulsivity scale is associated with a greater probability of presenting current suicidal ideation once the influence of sociodemographic, clinical and cognitive variables has been taken into account. Conclusions: Different sociodemographic, clinical and cognitive factors are associated with the presence of a history of suicide attempt and/or current suicidal ideation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Depressed patients with early traumatic experiences may represent a clinically distinct subtype with worse clinical outcome. Since early traumatic experiences alter the development of systems that regulate the stress response, certain personality features may influence coping strategies, putting individuals with depression and a history of early traumatic experiences at greater risk of suicidal behaviour. Objectives: To determine whether impulsivity mediates the relationship between early traumatic experiences and suicidal behaviour in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). Methods: The sample included 190 patients [mean age (SD)=53.71 (10.37); females: 66.3%], with current MDD. The Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form (CTQ-SF), the List of Threatening Experiences (LTE), and the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11 (BIS-11)were used to assess childhood and adulthood adverse life events and impulsivity. We developed mediation models by bootstrap sampling methods. Results: 81 (42.6%) patients had previous suicide attempts (SA). CTQSF-Total and BIS-11-Total scores were higher in MDD patients with previous SA. Correlation analyses revealed significant correlations between the CTQ-SF-Total and BIS-11-Total, CTQ-SF-Total and HDRS-Total, and BIS-11-Total and HDRS-Total scores. Regression models found that CTQ-SF-Total, BIS-11-Total, and HDRS-Total scores were associated with SA. Mediation analyses further revealed the association between CTQ-SF-Total and SA was mediated by the indirect effect of the BIS-11-Total score (b=0.007, 95% CI=0.001, 0.015), after controlling for sex, HDRS-Total, and LTE-Total. Conclusions: Impulsivity could mediate the influence of childhood trauma on suicidal behaviour. This will help understand the role of risk factors in suicidal behaviour and aid in the development of prevention interventions focused on modifiable mediators when risk factors are non-modifiable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Worse sleep quality and increased inflammatory markers in women with schizophrenia (Sch) have been reported (Lee et al. 2019). However, the physiological mechanisms underlying the interplay between sleep and the inflammatory pathways are not yet well understood (Fang et al. 2016). Objectives: Analyze the relationship between Neutrophil/Lymphocyte (NLR), Monocyte/Lymphocyte (MLR) and Platelet/Lymphocyte (PLR) ratios, and insomnia in Sch stratified by sex. Methods: Final sample included 176 Sch patients (ICD-10 criteria) [mean age: 38.9±13.39; males: 111(63.1%)]. Assessment: PANSS, Calgary Depression Scale (CDSS), and Oviedo Sleep Questionnaire (OSQ) to identify a comorbid diagnosis of insomnia based on ICD-10. Fasting counting blood cell were performed to calculate ratios. Statistics: U Mann-Whitney, logistic regression. Results: Insomnia as comorbid diagnosis was present in 22 Sch (12.5%) with no differences between sex [14 males (12.6%), 8 females (12.3%)], neither in their age. Female patients with insomnia showed increased NLR [2.44±0.69 vs. 1.88±0.80, U=122.00 (p=0.034)]. However, no differences in PLR and MLR were found, neither in any ratio in males. Regression models using insomnia as dependent variable and covariates (age, PANSSpositive, PANSS-negative, CDSS) were estimated. Females: presence of insomnia was associated with NLR [OR=3.564 (p=0.032)], PANSS-positive [OR=1.263 (p=0.013)] and CDSS [OR=1.198 (p=0.092)]. Males: only PANSS-positive [OR=1.123 (p=0.027)] and CDSS scores [OR=1.220 (p=0.005)] were associated with insomnia. Conclusions: NLR represent an inflammatory marker of insomnia in Sch but only in female patients. Improving sleep quality in these patients could help to decrease their inflammatory response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to examine hysteresis of the masticatory system following brief, voluntary lateral positioning of the mandible. Hysteresis was studied in ten healthy subjects, as a function of both time and distance that the mandible was held laterally off the midline. So that the effects of distance of lateral stretch on hysteresis could be studied, subjects positioned their jaws to the left or right of the midline distances of 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 mm for ten s. So that the effects of time could be studied, the distance of lateral stretch was held a constant 8 mm for durations of two, four, six, 12, 16, and 20 s. Following each voluntary lateral stretch, subjects relaxed the muscles using EMG biofeedback and allowed the mandible to reposition itself passively. Hysteresis was defined as the difference in the mandibular resting position between pre- and post-stretch recordings. Mean hysteresis effects ranged from 0. 7 mm to 1.8 mm. Hysteresis effects were found to increase with both distance and time; after eight s, however, no additional effect of time was noted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Emerging evidence suggests a potential association between "leaky gut syndrome" and low-grade systemic inflammation in individuals with psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia. Gut dysbiosis could increase intestinal permeability, allowing the passage of toxins and bacteria into the systemic circulation, subsequently triggering immune-reactive responses. This study delves into understanding the relationship between plasma markers of intestinal permeability and symptom severity in schizophrenia. Furthermore, the influence of lifestyle habits on these intestinal permeability markers was determined., Methods: Biomarkers of intestinal permeability, namely lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP), lipopolysaccharides (LPS), and intestinal fatty acid binding protein (I-FABP), were analyzed in 242 adult schizophrenia patients enrolled in an observational, cross-sectional, multicenter study from four centers in Spain (PI17/00246). Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected, including psychoactive drug use, lifestyle habits, the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale to evaluate schizophrenia symptom severity, and the Screen for Cognitive Impairment in Psychiatry to assess cognitive performance., Results: Results revealed elevated levels of LBP and LPS in a significant proportion of patients with schizophrenia (62% and 25.6%, respectively). However, no statistically significant correlation was observed between these biomarkers and the overall clinical severity of psychotic symptoms or cognitive performance, once confounding variables were controlled for. Interestingly, adherence to a Mediterranean diet was negatively correlated with I-FABP levels ( beta  = -0.186, t  = -2.325, p  = 0.021), suggesting a potential positive influence on intestinal barrier function., Conclusions: These findings underscore the importance of addressing dietary habits and promoting a healthy lifestyle in individuals with schizophrenia, with potential implications for both physical and psychopathological aspects of the disorder.

The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) is the most widely used rating scale to assess psychotic symptoms in patients with schizophrenia and other primary psychoses. However, a definitive consensus regarding its dimensional structure remains elusive. The present work aims to determine the number of dimensions of the scale through a network analysis approach in a sample of individuals experiencing first-episode schizophrenia spectrum disorder (FE-SSD) with minimal or no prior exposure to antipsychotic treatment. Baseline data of 446 participants (age 25.96 ± 5.99 years, 70% males) enrolled in the OPTiMiSE trial were analysed. Exploratory Graph Analysis (EGA) was conducted to evaluate the dimensionality of the PANSS, and a bootstrap approach (bootEGA) was employed to assess model stability. The analysis was replicated, excluding unstable items with stability values below 0.75, until a stable model was achieved. The analysis of the 30 items of the PANSS revealed inadequate structural consistency, resulting in the exclusion of 9 unstable items. The final model comprised 21 symptoms distributed across four communities (Positive, Cognitive/Disorganised, Excited/Aggressive and Negative) but lacked a depressive domain. In conclusion, we propose a concise version of the PANSS, incorporating 21 items, to better assess the core symptoms of the first episode of SSD. This revised version provides clinicians with a robust psychometric tool with reduced administration time, but the complementary administration of a dedicated instrument for evaluating affective symptoms is advisable., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Brain damage related to alcohol consumption is associated with impairments in cognitive functions, among which memory and verbal learning stand out. The main objective is to evaluate memory and verbal learning in a sample of 111 patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD) versus 78 with major depressive disorder (MDD) and 100 healthy controls. The evaluation included sociodemographic and clinical variables, the Hamilton Depression Scale (HDRS) and the California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT). One-way ANOVA was used for comparisons between the 3 groups and two-way ANCOVAS including different covariates. The one-way ANOVA shows that patients with AUD and MDD had scores similar to each other and lower than those of the control group (p < 0.001), with the exception of the Cued CVLT (worse scores in MDD vs AUD, p < 0.001). After including age, sex and years of completed studies as covariates, the differences between the AUD and MDD groups persisted compared to the control group (p ≤ 0.003) in all indices except for the Immediate Free CVLT and the Cued CVLT (worse performance in MDD vs AUD, p = 0.022 and p = 0.035, respectively). In the second ANCOVA, after controlling for depression severity, differences were only detected between AUD patients and healthy controls (p ≤ 0.007). Patients with AUD present a significant impairment in learning and verbal memory when compared with patients with MDD and with healthy people.

Impaired intestinal permeability has recently been suggested as a possible source of chronic inflammation in schizophrenia, but its association with specific psychopathological features remains uncertain. This study aimed to explore the interaction between intestinal permeability, inflammation, and positive and negative symptoms in schizophrenia using a network analysis approach. The study sample comprised 281 adults with schizophrenia (age 40.29 ± 13.65 years, 63.0 % males), enrolled in a cross-sectional observational study assessing intestinal permeability. We estimated the network with a Gaussian graphical model, incorporating scores from 14 individual items of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), along with body mass index (BMI), and plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) and lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) levels. We calculated strength centrality and expected influence and used bridge centrality statistics to identify the bridge nodes. Distinct but highly interconnected clusters emerged for positive and negative symptoms. The biological variables were closely associated with each other. LBP was positively linked with CRP and BMI, but only indirectly connected to psychopathology. CRP exhibited direct positive relationships with various PANSS items and bridged LBP and BMI with psychopathology. Bridge nodes included Conceptual Disorganisation (P2), Active Social Avoidance (G16), Suspiciousness/Persecution (P6), and CRP. These findings support the role of gut-derived inflammation as a mechanism underlying greater symptom severity in schizophrenia and emphasise the importance of addressing dietary habits not only to enhance physical health but also to contribute to improving psychotic symptoms., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest FDS has received grants from the Spanish Foundation of Psychiatry and Mental Health and the European Psychiatric Association. LGB has been a consultant to and/or has received honoraria/grants from the Spanish Foundation of Psychiatry and Mental Health, European Psychiatric Association, Otsuka, Lundbeck, Janssen-Cilag and Pfizer. MPGP has been a consultant to and/or has received honoraria/grants from Angelini, Alianza Otsuka-Lundbeck, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Janssen-Cilag, Lundbeck, Otsuka, and Pfizer. MB has been a consultant for, received grant/research support and honoraria from, and been on the speakers/advisory board of ABBiotics, Adamed, Angelini, Casen Recordati, Janssen-Cilag, Menarini, Rovi and Takeda. GA has received continuing medical education (CME)–related honoraria or consulting fees from Janssen-Cilag, Lundbeck, Lundbeck and Otsuka, and Angelini. SA has been supported by Sara Borrell doctoral programme (CD20/00177) and M-AES mobility fellowship (MV22/00002), from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), and co-funded by European Social Fund “Investing in your future”. All other authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest related to the current work., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Introduction: Neutrophil/lymphocyte (NLR), monocyte/lymphocyte (MLR), and platelet/lymphocyte (PLR) ratios, and systemic inflammatory index (SII) represent peripheral markers of inflammation associated with different severe mental disorders., Material and Methods: In this study, these parameters were analyzed in a sample of 622 participants [197 patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), 154 with bipolar disorder (BD), 176 with schizophrenia (SCH), and 95 healthy controls (HC)]. Sociodemographic and clinical data of patients were recorded., Results: Differences in age and sex were detected among groups (p<0.001), with SCH patients being younger and MDD patients being older. After stratifying by sex, these ratios were compared using the nonparametric ANCOVA (Quade's test) using age as a covariate. In males, no significant statistical differences were found between groups. However, differences were observed in MLR in the subgroup of females [MDD: 0.23 (SD=0.09); BD: 0.23 (SD=0.11); SCH: 0.24 (SD=0.11); HC: 0.29 (SD=0.13); F=5.376, p=0.001]. Post hoc testing revealed that there are MLR differences between HC versus MDD and between HC versus BD, with higher values in HC versus the other two groups. On the other hand, no differences were found in either males or females for any of the studied ratios, among the three diagnostic groups., Conclusions: MLR is reduced in MDD and BD patients versus HC, but exclusively in the female group. However, based on the analyzed indices, it is not possible to differentiate among the three diagnostic groups of patients. As a limitation of this study, note that the effects of psychopharmacological treatments and smoking have not been controlled for., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier España S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

The early psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown is greater in people with mental disorders. This study explored the differences in the psychological impact on people with an anxiety disorder by sex in Spain.

Background: Network analysis has been used to explore the interplay between psychopathology and functioning in psychosis, but no study has used dedicated statistical techniques to focus on the bridge symptoms connecting these domains. The current study aims to estimate the network of depressive, negative, and positive symptoms, general psychopathology, and real-world functioning in people with first-episode schizophrenia or schizophreniform disorder, focusing on bridge nodes., Methods: Baseline data from the OPTiMiSE trial were analyzed. The sample included 446 participants (age 40.0 ± 10.9 years, 70% males). The network was estimated with a Gaussian graphical model, using scores on individual items of the positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS), the Calgary depression scale for schizophrenia, and the personal and social performance scale. Stability, strength centrality, expected influence (EI), predictability, and bridge centrality statistics were computed. The top 20% scoring nodes on bridge strength were selected as bridge nodes., Results: Nodes from different rating scales assessing similar psychopathological and functioning constructs tended to cluster together in the estimated network. The most central nodes (EI) were Delusions, Emotional Withdrawal, Depression, and Depressed Mood. Bridge nodes included Depression, Conceptual Disorganization, Active Social Avoidance, Delusions, Stereotyped Thinking, Poor Impulse Control, Guilty Feelings, Unusual Thought Content, and Hostility. Most of the bridge nodes belonged to the general psychopathology subscale of the PANSS. Depression (G6) was the bridge node with the highest value., Conclusions: The current study provides novel insights for understanding the complex phenotype of psychotic disorders and the mechanisms underlying the development and maintenance of comorbidity and functional impairment after psychosis onset.

Introduction: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) forced Spain to implement unprecedented lockdown restriction. In this context, different factors could worsen sleep quality, but the impact of the pandemic and lockdown on sleep is still mostly unknown. In this cross-sectional study, we describe self-reported sleep disturbances in people without mental health disorders from a large Spanish sample (n = 15,070)., Methods: During the early phase of the lockdown (19-26 March), an online survey was launched using a snowball sampling method and included sociodemographic and clinical data along with the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) and the Impact of Event Scale (IES). Two items of the IES were employed to assess sleep characteristics. Descriptive and bivariate analysis and logistic regression models were performed., Results: Difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep were reported by 23.9% of the sample and was associated in the regression model with age (OR = 1.008, p = .003), female sex (OR = 1.344, p < .001), an income reduction >50% (OR = 1.248, p = .037), having one (OR = 1.208, p = .029) and two or more (OR = 1.299, p = .035) elderly dependents, drinking alcohol (OR = 1.129, p = .024), and a higher score on DASS-21 depression (OR = 1.148, p < .001), anxiety (OR = 1.218, p < .001), or stress (OR = 1.302, p < .001) subscales, whereas being able to enjoy free time (OR = 0.604, p < .001) and painting or listening to music (OR = 0.853, p = .012) were protective factors. Dreams related to COVID-19 were reported by 12.9% of the sample and were associated in the regression model with female sex (OR = 1.617, p < .001), being married (OR = 1.190, p = .015), self-employed (OR = 1.373, p = .032), or a civil servant (OR = 1.412, p = .010), having been tested for COVID-19 (OR = 1.583, p = .012), having infected family or friends (OR = 1.233, p = .001), reading news about coronavirus (OR = 1.139, p = .023), drinking alcohol (OR = 1.251, p < .001), and higher scores on DASS-21 depression (OR = 1.102, p < .001), anxiety (OR = 1.222, p < .001), or stress (OR = 1.213, p < .001) subscales, while protective factors were older age (OR = 0.983, p < .001) and being retired (OR = 0.625, p = .045)., Conclusions: These findings could help clinicians and public health systems design and deliver tailored interventions, such as internet-delivered campaigns, to promote sleep quality in the general population.

Background: A previously published meta-analysis found that about one-third of the general population experienced some mental health problem during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, potentially leading to a late mental health crisis. We aimed to describe the acute, short-term, and long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health., Methods: A one-year online survey (S) was conducted in Spain (April 2020 - March 2021). We recruited 18 180 subjects using a virtual respondent-driven snowball sampling method (S1 April 2020, n = 6108; S2 October-November 2020, n = 6418; S3 March 2021, n = 5654). Participants completed the Spanish Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21)., Results: Overall, our results suggest a progressive increase in the prevalence of anxiety and stress throughout the pandemic waves and relative stability of depression. Women had a greater probability of having depression, anxiety, or stress than men in each survey ( P  < 0.001). The youngest group (aged 18-24) reported a higher probability ( P  < 0.05) of having depression, anxiety, or stress than the older groups in S1 and S2. Middle-aged people (25-59) had a greater probability of being a case in the DASS-21 scales than the oldest group (60+), except for depression in men ( P  = 0.179). In S3, the trend changed: the youngest group showed a decrease in depression and stress while the oldest group showed a dramatic increase (anxiety: men = 664.5%, women = 273.52%; stress: men = 786%, women = 431.37%)., Conclusions: It is plausible to conclude that COVID-19 psychological fatigue exists, especially in middle-aged and older adults. Strategies to assist people who have fewer coping skills should be implemented in the near future., Competing Interests: Competing interests: The authors completed the ICMJE Unified Competing Interest form (available upon request from the corresponding author), and declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2022 by the Journal of Global Health. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Interest in the idea of recovery for certain patients with schizophrenia has been growing over the last decade. Improving symptomatology and functioning is crucial for achieving this. Our study aims to identify those factors that substantially contribute to real-world functioning in these patients. Methods: We carried out a cross-sectional study in stable outpatients with schizophrenia on maintenance antipsychotic monotherapy. Patients : We studied 144 outpatients with schizophrenia (DSM-IV-TR criteria) meeting the following criteria: (1) 18-65 years of age; (2) being clinically stable for at least the previous three months; (3) on maintenance antipsychotic monotherapy (prescriptions ≤ 10 mg olanzapine, ≤200 mg quetiapine, or ≤100 mg levomepromazine as hypnotics were also allowed); and (4) written informed consent. Assessment : We collected information on demographic and clinical variables by using an ad hoc questionnaire. For psychopathology, we employed the Spanish versions of the following psychometric instruments: the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), the Brief Negative Symptom Scale (BNSS-Sp), and the Calgary Depression Scale (CDS). In addition, cognitive domains were assessed using the Verbal Fluency Test (VFT), the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST), and the Trail Making Test, parts A and B (TMT-A and TMT-B). Finally, we employed the Spanish versions of the University of California San Diego Performance-based Skills Assessment (Sp-UPSA) and the Personal and Social Performance (PSP) for assessing functional capacity and real-world functioning, respectively. Statistical analysis : A forward stepwise regression was conducted by entering those variables significantly associated with PSP total score into the univariate analyses (Student's t -test, ANOVA with Duncan's post-hoc test, or bivariate Pearson correlation). Results: A total of 144 patients; mean age 40 years, 64% males, mean length of illness 12.4 years, PSP total score 54.3. The final model was a significant predictor of real-world functioning [ F (7, 131) = 36.371, p < 0.001] and explained 66.0% of the variance. Variables retained in the model: BNSS-Sp abulia, asociality, and blunted affect, PANSS general psychopathology, Sp-UPSA transportation, TMT-B, and heart rate. Conclusion: Our model will contribute to a more efficient and personalized daily clinical practice by assigning specific interventions to each patient based on specific impaired factors in order to improve functioning., Competing Interests: MG-P has been a consultant to and/or has received honoraria/grants from Angelini, Alianza OtsukaLundbeck, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Janssen-Cilag, Lundbeck, Otsuka, and Pfizer. LG-Á has received honoraria from the 7th Framework Program European Union. LG-B has received honoraria/grants from the Spanish Foundation of Psychiatry and Mental Health, European Psychiatric Association, Otsuka, Lundbeck, Angelini, Janssen-Cilag and Pfizer. FS has received grants from the Spanish Foundation of Psychiatry and Mental Health. PS has been a consultant to and/or has received honoraria or grants from Adamed, CIBERSAM, European Comission, GlaxoSmithKline, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Janssen-Cilag, Lundbeck, Otsuka, Pfizer, Plan Nacional Sobre Drogas and Servier. JB has received research grants and served as consultant, advisor, or speaker within the last 5 years for: AB-Biotics, Acadia Pharmaceuticals, Angelini, Casen Recordati, D&A Pharma, Exeltis, Gilead, GSK, Ferrer, Indivior, Janssen-Cilag, Lundbeck, Mundipharma, Otsuka, Pfizer, Reckitt-Benckiser, Roche, Sage Therapeutics, Servier, Shire, Schwabe Farma Ibérica, research funding from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competiveness–Centro de Investigación Biomedica en Red area de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM) and Instituto de Salud Carlos III-, Spanish Ministry of Health, Social Services and Equality—Plan Nacional sobre Drogas—and the 7th Framework Program of the European Union. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 García-Portilla, García-Álvarez, González-Blanco, Dal Santo, Bobes-Bascarán, Martínez-Cao, García-Fernández, Sáiz and Bobes.)

Background: There is little research on self-reported negative symptomatology measures in schizophrenia. The aims of this study were to validate the Spanish version of the Motivation and Pleasure Scale-Self-Report (MAP-SR) and determine the concordance between patient-reported outcome measures for reflecting the severity of negative symptoms of schizophrenia and clinician-rated outcome measures., Method: A sample of 174 subjects who completed the MAP-SR and 104 who completed the Self-Evaluation of Negative Symptoms (SNS) were analyzed. The clinician-reported outcome measures (CROMs) were the Spanish versions of the Clinical Assessment Interview for Negative Symptoms (CAINS) and the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), while the patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) were MAP-SR and SNS. Cronbach's a, bivariate analyses and Lin's concordance correlation coefficient (CCC) were calculated., Results: The Spanish version of the MAP-SR demonstrated excellent reliability (Cronbach's α=.923). Its correlation coefficients were higher with CAINS [CAINS-Total: r=.608, p<.005; CAINS-Motivation and Pleasure subscale(CAINS-MAP): r=.662, p<.005] than with PANSS negative scales [PANSS-Negative scale(PANSS-N): r=.393, p<.005; PANSS-Marder Negative Factor(PANSS-MNF): r=.478, p<.005]. Finally, concordance between clinician and patient ratings was low in all cases, varying from a CCC of 0.661 to .392., Conclusions: We found poor concordance between patient and clinician ratings, hence we believe that the two evaluations are not mutually exclusive but complementary.

Background: Epidemic outbreaks have significant impact on psychological well-being, increasing psychiatric morbidity among the population. We aimed to describe the early psychological impact of COVID-19 and its contributing factors in a large Spanish sample, globally and according to mental status (never mental disorder NMD, past mental disorder PMD, current mental disorder CMD)., Methods: An online questionnaire was conducted between 19 and 26 March, five days after the official declaration of alarm and the lockdown order. Data included sociodemographic and clinical information and the DASS-21 and IES questionnaires. We analysed 21 207 responses using the appropriate descriptive and univariate tests as well as binary logistic regression to identify psychological risk and protective factors., Results: We found a statistically significant gradient in the psychological impact experienced in five domains according to mental status, with the NMD group being the least affected and the CMD group being the most affected. In the three groups, the depressive response was the most prevalent (NMD = 40.9%, PMD = 51.9%, CMD = 74.4%, F  = 1011.459, P  < 0.001). Risk factors were female sex and classification as a case in any psychological domain. Protective factors were younger age and ability to enjoy free time. Variables related to COVID-19 had almost no impact except for having COVID-19 symptoms, which was a risk factor for anxiety in all three groups., Conclusions: Our results can help develop coping strategies addressing modifiable risk and protective factors for each mental status for early implementation in future outbreaks., Competing Interests: Competing interests: The authors completed the ICMJE Unified Competing Interest form (available upon request from the corresponding author), and declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2020 by the Journal of Global Health. All rights reserved.)

Background: Depressed patients with early traumatic experiences may represent a clinically and biologically distinct subtype, with worse clinical outcomes and greater risk of suicide. Since early traumatic experiences alter development of systems that regulate the stress response, increasing sensitivity to stress and mood disorders later in life, certain personality features may influence coping strategies, putting individuals with depression and a history of early traumatic experiences at greater risk of suicidal behavior. Objective: To determine whether impulsivity mediates the relationship between early traumatic experiences and suicidal behavior in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). Methods: The total sample consists of 190 patients [mean age ( SD ) = 53.71 (10.37); females: 66.3%], with current MDD (DSM-5 criteria). The Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form (CTQ-SF), the List of Threatening Experiences (LTE), and the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11 (BIS-11) were used to assess childhood and adulthood adverse life events and impulsivity, respectively. We developed mediation models by bootstrap sampling methods. Results: Eighty-one (42.6%) patients had a history of previous suicide attempts (SA). CTQ-SF-Total and BIS-11-Total scores were significantly higher in MDD patients with previous SA. Correlation analyses revealed significant correlations between the CTQ-SF-Total and BIS-11-Total, CTQ-SF-Total and HDRS-Total, and BIS-11-Total and HDRS-Total scores. Regression models found that CTQ-SF-Total, BIS-11-Total, and HDRS-Total scores were associated with SA. Mediation analyses further revealed the association between CTQ-SF-Total and SA was mediated by the indirect effect of the BIS-11-Total score ( b = 0.007, 95% CI = 0.001, 0.015), after statistically controlling for sex, the HDRS-Total, and the LTE-Total. Discussion: Data suggest that impulsivity could mediate the influence of childhood trauma on suicidal behavior. This will help understand the role of risk factors in suicidal behavior and aid in the development of prevention interventions focused on modifiable mediators when risk factors are non-modifiable., (Copyright © 2020 Dal Santo, Carballo, Velasco, Jiménez-Treviño, Rodríguez-Revuelta, Martínez-Cao, Caro-Cañizares, de la Fuente-Tomás, Menéndez-Miranda, González-Blanco, García-Portilla, Bobes and Sáiz.)

Although previous findings identified an association between C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, and impaired cognitive functions in patients with schizophrenia (SZ), little is currently known about the relationship between inflammation, cognition, and sex in SZ. The current study aimed to explore the association between peripheral inflammation and cognitive impairment in SZ as a function of sex. The sample included 132 clinically stable patients with SZ, of whom 82 were males (62.1%) and 50 females (37.9%). Sociodemographic data were collected, an accurate assessment was performed using the Positive and Negative Syndrome (PANSS), Clinical Assessment Interview for Negative Symptoms (CAINS), and Calgary Depression (CDS) scales, and the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB), and CRP levels were tested. A Pearson correlation and multiple regression analyses, including potential confounding factors, were performed. We found an inverse association between CRP levels and performance on visual learning (r = - 0.386, p = 0.006) domain in female patients only, whereas no correlations were found in males. The regression model for women retained age (β = - 0.319, p = 0.017), the CAINS-MAP score (β = - 0.247, p = 0.070), and the CRP (β = - 0.321, p = 0.013) as predictors of visual learning. Our results suggest the possible existence of sex-specific modulation of the association between systemic inflammation and the cognitive features of the illness.

The COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdown restrictions could have adverse consequences for patients with severe mental disorders (SMD). Here, we aim to compare the early psychological impact (depression, anxiety, and stress responses, intrusive and avoidant thoughts, and coping strategies) on people with SMD (n = 125) compared with two control groups: common mental disorders (CMD, n = 250) and healthy controls (HC, n = 250). An anonymous online questionnaire using a snowball sampling method was conducted from March 19-26, 2020 and included sociodemographic and clinical data along with the DASS-21 and IES scales. We performed descriptive and bivariate analyses and multinomial and linear regression models. People with SMD had higher anxiety, stress, and depression responses than HC, but lower scores than CMD in all domains. Most people with SMD (87.2%) were able to enjoy free time, although control groups had higher percentages. After controlling for confounding factors, anxiety was the only significant psychological domain with lower scores in HC than people with SMD (OR = 0.721; 95% CI: 0.579-0.898). In the SMD group, higher anxiety was associated with being single (beta = 0.144), having COVID-19 symptoms (beta = 0.146), and a higher score on the stress subscale of DASS-21 (beta = 0.538); whereas being able to enjoy free time was a protective factor (beta = -0.244). Our results showed that patients with SMD reacted to the pandemic and the lockdown restrictions with higher anxiety levels than the general public, and suggesting this domain could be a criterion for early intervention strategies and closer follow-up., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflict of interest for the submitted work., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Previous cross-sectional studies have found clozapine to N-desmethylclozapine (CLZ:NDMC) ratio to be negatively correlated with cognition in clozapine-treated patients with schizophrenia. However, no work has examined the association between CLZ:NDMC ratio and cognition using a within-subjects design. Here, we investigate the longitudinal effects of changes in the clozapine load and the CLZ:NDMC ratio on cognition whilst controlling for a range of independent factors. We analyzed data from a cohort of seventeen clozapine-treated patients who have been repeatedly assessed with the Brief Assessment of Cognition for Schizophrenia (BACS). The Positive symptoms sub-score of the Clinical Global Impression for Schizophrenia (CGI-P) was used to assess severity of psychosis. Blood samples were collected to measure the plasmatic levels of clozapine (CLZ) and of N-desmethylclozapine, allowing calculation of the CLZ:NDMC ratio. Our analyses included bivariate and partial correlations, along with a mediation model analysis. We found that both plasmatic levels of CLZ and the CLZ:NDMC ratio were negatively correlated with cognitive performance, and that these associations were independent of changes in both daily clozapine dose and severity of psychotic symptoms. Mediation analyses further revealed the association between CLZ concentration and cognition to be partially mediated by changes in the CLZ:NDMC ratio. This is the first longitudinal analysis of the influence of CLZ concentration and CLZ:NDMC ratio on cognition. Our findings suggest that reduction of CLZ concentration and the CLZ:NDMC ratio might favorably affect cognition. Thus, the CLZ:NDMC ratio may represent a promising target for novel therapeutic strategies aiming to ameliorate cognitive impairment in clozapine-treated patients., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest None., (Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Several studies indicate that negative and cognitive symptoms are determining factors of functioning in patients with schizophrenia. However, they do not usually include biological aspects, such as inflammatory markers. The current prospective study aims to identify clinical and biological factors predicting real-world functioning, at baseline and at one-year follow-up, of outpatients in an early stage of schizophrenia. Sample consist of 73 clinically stable patients with schizophrenia, of which 57 completed the one-year follow-up. Accurate psychopathology, functioning, and cognitive assessments were performed at baseline and follow-up (Positive and Negative Syndrome, Brief Negative Symptom, Calgary Depression, Personal and Social Performance Scales, and MATRICS Cognitive Consensus Battery). Biological biomarkers including anthropometric data and blood parameters were collected. Pearson correlation and multiple regression analyses including potential confounding factors were performed. Negative symptoms (especially asociality and avolition), along with the inflammatory biomarker interleukin-2, are the most important determining factors of poor real-world functioning in early-stage schizophrenia. The previous functioning, along with baseline cognitive performance in attention and vigilance, predicts functioning at one-year follow-up in these patients. Strategies aimed at improving negative and cognitive symptoms, as well as modifying certain inflammatory pathways, should be the targets to achieve functional recovery in the first years of schizophrenia., (Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Introduction: Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a multifaceted phenomenon and a major health issue among adolescents. A better understanding of self-injury comorbidities is crucial to improve our ability to assess, treat, and prevent NSSI., Purpose: This study aimed at analyzing some of the psychobehavioral correlates of NSSI: psychological problems, alexithymia, impulsiveness, and sociorelational aspects., Patients and Methods: This was a case-control study. The clinical sample (n=33) included adolescents attending our unit for NSSI and other issues; the controls (n=79) were high-school students. Data were collected using six questionnaires: Youth Self-Report, Barratt's Impulsiveness Scale, Toronto Alexithymia Scale, Children's Depression Inventory, Symptom Checklist-90-R, and Child Behavior Checklist., Results: Cases scored significantly higher in all questionnaires. Habitual self-injurers scored higher on impulsiveness and alexithymia. The gesture's repetition seems relevant to the global clinical picture: habitual self-injurers appear more likely to seek help from the sociosanitary services. We found a difference between the self-injurers' and their parents' awareness of the disorder., Conclusion: Habitual self-injurers show signs of having difficulty with assessing the consequences of their actions (nonplanning impulsiveness) and the inability to manage their feelings. Given the significantly higher scores found for cases than for controls on all the psychopathological scales, NSSI can be seen as a cross-category psychiatric disorder, supporting the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders decision to include it as a pathological entity in its own right.

The masseter muscle often has been implicated as a primary cause of postreduction displacement of the fractured zygomatic complex. However, this contention has never been proved. This study compared masseter muscle force in 10 male controls with that in 10 male patients who had sustained unilateral zygomaticomaxillary complex (ZMC) fractures. Calculation of muscle force was based on measured bite force, electromyogram, and radiographic determination of muscle vectors. It was found that the masseter muscle in patients with ZMC fractures developed significantly less force than masseter muscle in controls. Following fracture, the masseter force slowly increased, but at 4 weeks following surgery the majority of patients were still well below control levels. The results of this study cast uncertainty on the role of the masseter muscle in postreduction displacement of the fractured ZMC.

Controlled studies of the reproducibility of data from electronic pulp testing instruments are limited and contain few statistical analyses. The reproducibility of these readings is important if the instrument is to be used for determining differences in sensitivity. Twenty human subjects (16 male) were used in this study. One incisor, one premolar, one molar tooth with small or no restorations, and two gingival soft tissue positions from each upper and lower arch of each subject were stimulated with the Analytic Technology vitality scanner. This procedure was repeated twice with a 5-minute rest between each trial, for a total of three trials. Each subject was then seen again after a period of at least 3 days, at which time the trials were repeated. The collected data were grouped by trial, tooth position, and day. Paired t test analysis of both the absolute difference between any two trials on the same day and the average of the absolute differences between corresponding trials on days 1 and 2 showed no statistically significant differences (p greater than 0.05). Accommodation to the stimulus was evaluated by examining differences in the mean values between the three same-day trials. The Analytic Technology vitality scanner was found to be reproducible both for consecutive same-day trials and for corresponding trials on different days. No same-day trends in meter readings were noted.

A double-blind, placebo-controlled study was carried out to assess the effects of a three-month treatment with a new ACE inhibitor, Benazepril (BNZ), on systemic and renal hemodynamics, and urine protein excretion, in 20 patients with chronic glomerulonephritis, normal blood pressure (130/83 +/- 16/10 mm Hg), and normal renal function (creatine clearance 106 +/- 25 ml/min). Treatments with placebo or BNZ were assigned randomly. A wide range of proteinuria lowering effect was observed in overall population (from 1 to 84%, average 34%). Following the arbitrary level of a 30% reduction, two well-matched subgroups (10 patients for each one) were obtained: "good responders" (average decrease 51%), and "poor responders" (average decrease 17%). The main distinctive feature between the two groups was a higher plasma renin activity level in good than in poor responders. A positive correlation between the fall in proteinuria and blood pressure was found. Although the decrease in blood pressure seems to represent the major factor in determining the reduction in proteinuria, a multiple correlation analysis showed that the most prominent role (71%) was attributable to the combined decrease in blood pressure and filtration fraction, and then also to the efferent arteriole dilatation. Our conclusion is that ACE inhibitors are capable of also reducing proteinuria in patients with renal disease with normal blood pressure, the effect being more pronounced in those exhibiting humoral, systemic and renal hemodynamic patterns, indicating a greater activity of circulating and renal renin angiotensin system.

1. Urinary albumin excretion and the effect of an acute oral protein load (a meat meal) on glomerular filtration rate ('renal functional reserve') were evaluated in 15 essential hypertensive patients with preserved renal function and compared with 12 normal subjects. 2. Seven patients had microalbuminuria (greater than 30 mg/day) that was not correlated with blood pressure values. 3. After an oral protein load, an average increase of 20% in glomerular filtration rate (from 91 +/- 19 to 110 +/- 27 ml min-1 1.73 m-2 was found in the hypertensive patients. This change was not statistically different from that observed in normal controls (from 102 +/- 7 to 124 +/- 9 ml min-1 1.73 m-2). The glomerular response in hypertensive patients was independent of age, duration of hypertension, blood pressure, plasma renin activity, urinary albumin excretion and retinal vascular alterations. 4. All patients were re-evaluated after 6 weeks treatment with a new orally active angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, benazepril. Systolic, diastolic and mean blood pressures were lowered in all the patients, but the drug did not affect the glomerular response to acute protein ingestion or the magnitude of urinary albumin excretion. 5. The findings of a normal 'renal functional reserve' and a lack of change in both urinary albumin excretion and the glomerular response after angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition cast doubt on the existence of increased intraglomerular pressure in hypertensive patients.

A handheld pressure algometer is described for the measurement of pain-pressure thresholds. This instrument has a range of measurement of 0 to 16 N/cm2 and can be modified by changing contact points or springs. Technical specifications, a schematic diagram, application examples, and information concerning construction material availability are provided.