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Zusammenfassung Hintergrund Das Delirium tremens (DT) ist eine weit verbreitete und potentiell vital bedrohliche Komplikation des Alkoholentzugs. Die medikamentöse Behandlung eines DT spielt sowohl eine wichtige Rolle in der stationären suchtmedizinischen Versorgung als auch in anderen medizinischen Fachbereichen, in denen ein Alkoholentzugsdelir sekundär durch die Hospitalisierung auftreten kann. Patienten im DT müssen hochdosiert mit Benzodiazepinen (bei geriatrischen Patienten kurzwirksame Benzodiazepine zur Vermeidung einer Akkumulierung) oder Clomethiazol sowie bei produktiv-psychotischen Symptomen zusätzlich antipsychotisch behandelt werden. Eine differenzierte Empfehlung zur konkreten Behandlung mit Antipsychotika im DT fehlt bisher. Die hier vorliegende Übersicht diskutiert die Empfehlungen der Fachgesellschaften mit anderen in der Literatur zugänglichen Ergebnissen bezüglich der Wahl eines Antipsychotikums zur Behandlung des DT. Ziel: Systematische Darstellung relevanter Antipsychotika zur Behandlung des DT. Methode Es erfolgte eine systematische Literaturrecherche in Pubmed und Scopus nach Original- und Übersichtsarbeiten zu Antipsychotika im Alkoholentzug und DT. Letztmalig erfolgte eine Suche am 22. Mai 2022. Weiter wurden internationale Leitlinien berücksichtigt. Die Übersichtsarbeit wurde mittels PROSPERO registriert (https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/); CRD42021264611. Ergebnisse Haloperidol wird besonders auf der Intensivstation empfohlen. Die Datenlage zur differentiellen Verwendung von atypischen Antipsychotika im DT ist weiter insuffizient. Insgesamt gilt es, die Medikation immer in Kombination mit Benzodiazepinen durchzuführen und potentielle Komplikationen wie das maligne neuroleptische Syndrom, QTc-Verlängerungen und extrapyramidal-motorische Störungen sowie komplikative Entzugskrampfanfälle durch Senkung der Krampfschwelle, unter der Verwendung von Antipsychotika, zu beachten. Schlussfolgerung Die Behandlung mit Antipsychotika im DT sollte nach der Erfahrung des Behandlers erfolgen. Eine klare Empfehlung außer die Gabe von Haloperidol existiert nicht.

Non-invasive brain stimulation techniques such as repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) offer a promising alternative to psychotherapeutic and pharmacological treatments for depression. This paper aims to present a practical guide for its clinical implementation based on evidence from the literature as well as on the experience of a group of leading German experts in the field.The current evidence base for the use of rTMS in depression was examined via review of the literature. From the evidence and from clinical experience, recommendations for the use of rTMS in clinical practice were derived. All members of the of the German Society for Brain Stimulation in Psychiatry and all members of the sections Clinical Brain Stimulation and Experimental Brain Stimulation of the German Society for Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, Psychosomatics and Mental Health were invited to participate in a poll on whether they consent with the recommendations.Among rTMS experts, a high consensus rate could be identified for clinical practice concerning the setting and the technical parameters of rTMS treatment in depression, indications and contra-indications, the relation of rTMS to other antidepressive treatment modalities and the frequency and management of side effects.

Social interaction difficulties are a hallmark of psychotic disorders, which in some cases can be definitely traced back to autoimmunological causes. Interestingly, systemic and intrathecal inflammation have been shown to significantly influence social processing by increasing sensitivity to threatening social stimuli, which bears some resemblance to psychosis. In this article, we review evidence for the involvement of systemic and intrathecal inflammatory processes in psychotic disorders and how this might help to explain some of the social impairments associated with this group of disorders. Vice versa, we also discuss evidence for the immunomodulatory function of social interactions and their potential role for therapeutic interventions in psychotic disorders.

BackgroundAlthough clinically effective treatment is available for schizophrenia, recovery often is still hampered by persistent poor psychosocial functioning, which in turn is limited by impairments in neurocognition, social cognition, and social behavioral skills. Although cognitive remediation has shown general efficacy in improving cognition and social functioning, effects still need to be improved and replicated in appropriately powered, methodologically rigorous randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Existing evidence indicates that effects can most likely be optimized by combining treatment approaches to simultaneously address both social cognitive and social behavioral processes.ObjectivesTo assess whether Integrated Social Cognitive and Behavioral Skill Therapy (ISST) is more efficacious in improving functional outcome in schizophrenia than the active control treatment Neurocognitive Remediation Therapy (NCRT).MethodsThe present study is a multicenter, prospective, rater-blinded, two-arm RCT being conducted at six academic study sites in Germany. A sample of 180 at least partly remitted patients with schizophrenia are randomly assigned to either ISST or NCRT. ISST is a compensatory, strategy-based program that targets social cognitive processes and social behavioral skills. NCRT comprises mainly drill and practice-oriented neurocognitive training. Both treatments consist of 18 sessions over 6 months, and participants are subsequently followed up for another 6 months. The primary outcome is all-cause discontinuation over the 12-month study period; psychosocial functioning, quality of life, neurocognitive and social cognitive performance, and clinical symptoms are assessed as secondary outcomes at baseline before randomization (V1), at the end of the six-month treatment period (V6), and at the six-month follow-up (V12).DiscussionThis RCT is part of the German Enhancing Schizophrenia Prevention and Recovery through Innovative Treatments (ESPRIT) research network, which aims at using innovative treatments to enhance prevention and recovery in patients with schizophrenia. Because this study is one of the largest and methodologically most rigorous RCTs on the efficacy of cognitive remediation approaches in schizophrenia, it will not only help to identify the optimal treatment options for improving psychosocial functioning and thus recovery in patients but also allow conclusions to be drawn about factors influencing and mediating the effects of cognitive remediation in these patients.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT 02678858, German Study Register DRKS 00010033

Objective It is well established that long-term hypothyroidism is associated with cognitive deficits. Based on recent literature, we hypothesized that pharmacologically induced euthyroidism would lead to improved cognitive performance compared to a hypothyroid state. Methods We analyzed data from 14 nondepressed thyroidectomized female patients after differentiated thyroid carcinoma during hypothyroidism (due to a four-week withdrawal of thyroid hormone, T1) and euthyroidism brought about by substitution with L-thyroxine (T2). At both measurement points, patients completed a cognitive test battery as our dependent measure and Beck’s Depression Inventory to control depressive states. Results A Wilcoxon signed-rank tests revealed a significant improvement in the Rey–Osterrieth complex figure test (cognitive reproduction), Z = −3.183, p = 0.001, and the D2 concentration score, Z = −1.992, p = 0.046 in euthyroidism compared to hypothyroidism. Conclusions Our results confirm that hormone replacement therapy with L-thyroxine promotes cognitive reproduction and concentration in thyroidectomized female patients after differentiated thyroid carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE Hypothermia is a potentially lethal adverse reaction to typical and atypical antipsychotic drugs (APD). Among predisposing factors are advanced age and comorbid somatic diseases. The aim of this study was to assess the incidence of hypothermia and quantify risk factors. METHOD Charts of N = 3002 psychogeriatric inpatients were screened for incidence of hypothermia (body core temperature

ZusammenfassungAufgrund der hohen Wirksamkeit der Elektrokonvulsionstherapie (EKT) in der leitliniengerechten Behandlung therapieresistenter depressiver Episoden und der klinischen Bedeutung kognitiver Beeinträchtigungen ist eine Optimierung des Nebenwirkungsmanagements notwendig. Da kognitive Nebenwirkungen des Verfahrens in Verbindung mit krankheitsbedingten Beeinträchtigungen das soziale Funktionsniveau und das subjektive Wohlbefinden reduzieren können, sollten eine umfassende Aufklärung und ein spezifisches Monitoring potenzieller kognitiver Nebenwirkungen erfolgen. Diese Übersichtsarbeit stellt die klinische Relevanz und die Messverfahren kognitiver Nebenwirkungen dar, die bei einer EKT-Behandlung auftreten können. Es wird diskutiert, welche patientenindividuellen, technischen und pharmakologischen Faktoren die Auswirkung der EKT auf die Kognition moderieren können. Ferner werden die Empfehlungen hinsichtlich des Monitorings kognitiver Nebenwirkungen in nationalen und internationalen Leitlinien zusammengefasst. Bei der EKT werden Beeinträchtigungen der globalen Kognition sowie anterograde und retrograde Gedächtnisstörungen beobachtet. In den ersten beiden Bereichen scheinen diese nur vorübergehend von Bedeutung zu sein, wohingegen das Ausmaß der retrograden Gedächtnisdefizite, darunter vor allem das des autobiografischen Gedächtnisses, nach aktuellem Kenntnisstand nicht klar definiert ist und potenziell länger anhaltend beeinträchtigt sein kann. Ein kontroverses Thema ist diesbezüglich auch die Frage nach geeigneten Testverfahren zur Erfassung dieser Funktionen, um die Dauer möglicher Leistungsabfälle und den Schweregrad ermitteln zu können. Im klinischen Kontext finden hierbei unterschiedliche Verfahren Verwendung, teilweise wird eine Symptomgraduierung aufgrund von Zeitmangel oder methodischer Unsicherheit nicht durchgeführt. Die vorliegenden nationalen und internationalen Leitlinien machen sehr unterschiedliche Vorgaben, wie die kognitiven Beeinträchtigungen im Laufe der Therapie beobachtet und dokumentiert werden sollen. Im deutschen Sprachraum werden keine konkreten Handlungsempfehlungen zur Erfassung von kognitiven Nebenwirkungen erteilt. In diesem Zusammenhang wird eine Überarbeitung der aktuellen Leitlinien empfohlen sowie weiterer Forschungsbedarf identifiziert, um die Erfassung und das Monitoring der Nebenwirkungen zu verbessern und Patienten mit einer erhöhten Anfälligkeit zu identifizieren.

Background:Impulsive–aggressive behavior is a significant challenge in geriatric psychiatry and requires professional evaluation and management.Methods:SOAS-R scales (Staff Observation Aggression Scale-Revision) completed by medical staff on three secure psychiatric wards were analyzed during a period of 12 months. Patients were subdivided into the following two diagnostic subgroups: dementia and other diagnoses.Results:A total of 146 aggressive incidents involving 66 patients were reported (8.8% of patients treated during this period, n = 752). Fifty-seven percent of the incidents involved patients with dementia. In 20% of the incidents, no precipitating event could be identified; this was more common in patients without dementia (p = 0.005). The medical condition of the patient was considered the trigger in 55% of the cases. Aggression was directed at nurses in 82% of the cases. Visible injury was reported in 12 cases, 3 of which required medical treatment. Male gender, the presence of previous aggressive incidents, and the evening shift (in the case of dementia patients) were identified as risk factors.Conclusions:Aggression in dementia is often reactive and seems to be more predictable than if occurring with other diagnoses. Prevention measures such as de-escalations techniques, warning notes in the patient's file with previous aggressive behavior and stepping up for evening shifts are of crucial importance. As nurses were primarily affected, employer support programs, and mental health interventions are proposed to avoid long-term consequences.

Alcohol dependent patients represent a high-risk group for vitamin deficiency, which could lead to variable cognitive dysfunctions and, as an extreme example, to an amnestic-confabulatory syndrome. In this case report, we report about an alcohol dependent 58-year-old patient without focal neurological symptoms with an amnestic-confabulatory syndrome. After substitution of thiamine, vitamin B12 and folic acid, cognitive symptoms completely vanish within a 22-month period of observation.

Due to the efficacy of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in the guideline-based treatment of therapy-resistant depressive episodes and the clinical significance of cognitive impairments, it is necessary to optimize the management of potential side effects. As cognitive side effects of the treatment combined with impairments resulting from the depression may lead to a reduction in the ability to function in social contexts and reduce subjective wellbeing, comprehensive information about and monitoring of potential side effects is essential. In this review we present the clinical relevance and measurement of cognitive side effects that may occur during electroconvulsive therapy. The individual characteristics of the patient as well as the technical and pharmacological parameters that influence the effect of ECT on cognition will be discussed. Furthermore, the recommendations of national and international treatment guidelines for the monitoring of cognitive side effects will be summarized.After ECT, impairments of global cognition, and anterograde as well as retrograde amnesia may occur. While the first two side effects appear to be transient, the extent of retrograde amnesia, particularly for autobiographical information, is not yet well understood and may potentially be present for a longer period. A controversial issue in this context is the question whether there are appropriate instruments for the monitoring of reduction in cognitive performance. In clinical context, a number of different measures are used, and in many cases, monitoring is omitted due to lack of time and methodological uncertainty. Current national and international guidelines make very different suggestions about the monitoring of cognitive side effects during ECT and in German-speaking regions no concrete recommendations are available. In this context, we recommend a revision of current guidelines and identify future areas of research that would further our understanding of the effects of ECT on cognition. These may enable us to keep an eye on these deficiencies better as well as allow us to identify patients that may have a higher risk of developing such impairments.Aufgrund der hohen Wirksamkeit der Elektrokonvulsionstherapie (EKT) in der leitliniengerechten Behandlung therapieresistenter depressiver Episoden und der klinischen Bedeutung kognitiver Beeinträchtigungen ist eine Optimierung des Nebenwirkungsmanagements notwendig. Da kognitive Nebenwirkungen des Verfahrens in Verbindung mit krankheitsbedingten Beeinträchtigungen das soziale Funktionsniveau und das subjektive Wohlbefinden reduzieren können, sollten eine umfassende Aufklärung und ein spezifisches Monitoring potenzieller kognitiver Nebenwirkungen erfolgen. Diese Übersichtsarbeit stellt die klinische Relevanz und die Messverfahren kognitiver Nebenwirkungen dar, die bei einer EKT-Behandlung auftreten können. Es wird diskutiert, welche patientenindividuellen, technischen und pharmakologischen Faktoren die Auswirkung der EKT auf die Kognition moderieren können. Ferner werden die Empfehlungen hinsichtlich des Monitorings kognitiver Nebenwirkungen in nationalen und internationalen Leitlinien zusammengefasst. Bei der EKT werden Beeinträchtigungen der globalen Kognition sowie anterograde und retrograde Gedächtnisstörungen beobachtet. In den ersten beiden Bereichen scheinen diese nur vorübergehend von Bedeutung zu sein, wohingegen das Ausmaß der retrograden Gedächtnisdefizite, darunter vor allem das des autobiografischen Gedächtnisses, nach aktuellem Kenntnisstand nicht klar definiert ist und potenziell länger anhaltend beeinträchtigt sein kann. Ein kontroverses Thema ist diesbezüglich auch die Frage nach geeigneten Testverfahren zur Erfassung dieser Funktionen, um die Dauer möglicher Leistungsabfälle und den Schweregrad ermitteln zu können. Im klinischen Kontext finden hierbei unterschiedliche Verfahren Verwendung, teilweise wird eine Symptomgraduierung aufgrund von Zeitmangel oder methodischer Unsicherheit nicht durchgeführt. Die vorliegenden nationalen und internationalen Leitlinien machen sehr unterschiedliche Vorgaben, wie die kognitiven Beeinträchtigungen im Laufe der Therapie beobachtet und dokumentiert werden sollen. Im deutschen Sprachraum werden keine konkreten Handlungsempfehlungen zur Erfassung von kognitiven Nebenwirkungen erteilt. In diesem Zusammenhang wird eine Überarbeitung der aktuellen Leitlinien empfohlen sowie weiterer Forschungsbedarf identifiziert, um die Erfassung und das Monitoring der Nebenwirkungen zu verbessern und Patienten mit einer erhöhten Anfälligkeit zu identifizieren.

Alcohol dependent patients represent a high-risk group for vitamin deficiency, which could lead to variable cognitive dysfunctions and, as an extreme example, to an amnestic-confabulatory syndrome. In this case report, we report about an alcohol dependent 58-year-old patient without focal neurological symptoms with an amnestic-confabulatory syndrome. After substitution of thiamine, vitamin B12 and folic acid, cognitive symptoms completely vanish within a 22-month period of observation.Alkoholabhängige sind eine Risikopopulation für Vitaminmangelzustände, die zu variablen kognitiven Defiziten bis hin zu einem amnestischen Syndrom führen können. Wir berichten über einen alkoholabhängigen, fokal-neurologisch unauffälligen 58-jährigen Patienten mit amnestischem Syndrom, das sich nach Substitution mit Thiamin, Vitamin B

Background Schizophrenia patients have impairments in facial affect recognition and display scanpath abnormalities during the visual exploration of faces. These abnormalities are characterized by fewer fixations on salient feature areas and longer fixation durations. The present study investigated whether social–cognitive remediation not only improves performance in facial affect recognition but also normalizes patients' gaze behavior while looking at faces. Methods Within a 2 × 2-design (group × time), 16 schizophrenia patients and 16 healthy controls performed a facial affect recognition task with concomitant infrared oculography at baseline (T0) and after six weeks (T1). Between the measurements, patients completed the Training of Affect Recognition (TAR) program. The influence of the training on facial affect recognition (percent of correct answers) and gaze behavior (number and mean duration of fixations into salient or non-salient facial areas) was assessed. Results In line with former studies, at baseline patients showed poorer facial affect recognition than controls and aberrant scanpaths, and after TAR facial affect recognition was improved. Concomitant with improvements in performance, the number of fixations in feature areas (‘mouth’) increased while fixations in non-feature areas (‘white space’) decreased. However, the change in fixation behavior did not correlate with the improvement in performance. Conclusions After TAR, patients pay more attention to facial areas that contain information about a displayed emotion. Although this may contribute to the improved performance, the lack of a statistical correlation implies that this factor is not sufficient to explain the underlying mechanism of the treatment effect.

Cortico-muscular coherence (CMC) at beta frequency (13-30 Hz) occurs particularly during weak to moderate isometric contraction. It is a well-established measure of communication between the primary motor cortex (M1) and corresponding muscles revealing information about the integrity of the pyramidal system. Although the slowing of brain and muscle dynamics during healthy aging has been evidenced, functional communication as determined by CMC has not been investigated so far. Since decline of motor functions at higher age is likely to be associated with CMC changes, the present study aims at shedding light on the functionality of the motor system from a functional interaction perspective. To this end, CMC was investigated in 27 healthy subjects aging between 22 and 77 years during isometric contraction of their right forearm. Neuromagnetic activity was measured using whole-head magnetoencephalography (MEG). Muscle activity was measured by means of surface electromyography (EMG) of the right extensor digitorum communis (EDC) muscle. Additionally, MEG-EMG phase lags were calculated in order to estimate conducting time. The analysis revealed CMC and M1 power amplitudes to be increased with age accompanied by slowing of M1, EMG, and CMC. Frequency changes were particularly found in subjects aged above 40 years suggesting that at this middle age, neurophysiological changes occur, possibly reflecting an early neurophysiological marker of seniority. Since MEG-EMG phase lags did not vary with age, changes cannot be explained by alterations of nerve conduction. We argue that the M1 power amplitude increase and the shift towards lower frequencies might represent a neurophysiological marker of healthy aging which is possibly compensated by increased CMC amplitude.

The reduced metabolic activity in the prefrontal brain lobes, so-called hypofrontality, is associated with increased electrophysiological delta-band activity. Schizophrenia inpatients (N=35) received sham-controlled 10Hz rTMS over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in a randomised design. After treatment, the resting electroencephalography revealed a significant decrease in the delta-band activity, which originated in the right prefrontal cortex and correlated with improvements in facial affect recognition.

Hypothermia is a potentially life-threatening side effect of antipsychotic drugs, especially those with strong 5-HT2 antagonist properties. However, the exact underlying mechanism is still under debate. We discuss a case of hypothermia following pipamperone treatment in an elderly female inpatient with Alzheimer's disease, which occurred at day 4 after medication onset and vanished after dose reduction. Thus, this case demonstrates 1) the importance of monitoring body temperature even in low-potency antipsychotics, at least in the elderly, and 2) that in some cases, dose reduction may be a sufficient countermeasure.

Objectives. Training of Affect Recognition (TAR) is a useful approach to restoring cognitive function in schizophrenic patients. Along with improving visual exploration of faces and altering central information processing in relevant brain areas, TAR attenuates impairments in facial affect recognition. In the present study, we investigate the effects of TAR on early electrophysiological correlates of facial affect recognition in schizophrenia. Methods. The study population comprised 12 schizophrenic patients and 14 healthy controls. In each individual, we carried out EEG, concomitant measurements of scanning eye movements and fixation-based low resolution electromagnetic tomography (sLORETA) analyses of brain electric activity. All analyses were performed at baseline and after participation in TAR. Results. In patients, brain activation patterns significantly changed after completing the TAR. Functional improvements were particularly pronounced in the superior parietal and inferior parietal lobes, where trained patients showed a larger increase in activation than untrained healthy controls. Conclusions. The TAR activates compensatory brain processes involved in the perception, attention and evaluation of emotional stimuli. This may underlie the established behavioral effects of the TAR in schizophrenic patients, which include improvements in facial affect recognition and alterations of visual exploration strategies.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder owing to loss of dopaminergic cells. Akinesia - one of the core symptoms of PD - is associated with exaggerated oscillations at beta frequency (13-30 Hz) within the subthalamic nucleus (STN). Thus, enhanced oscillations below 30 Hz are assumed to represent a pathophysiological marker of PD. However, recent data suggest that OFF medication exaggerated beta oscillations within basal ganglia (BG) cortical networks may serve for the compensation of BG dysfunctions. The STN is functionally connected to mesial prefrontal areas like the supplementary motor area (SMA). But, it is still not fully understood how enhanced beta oscillations within the BG exert dominance over the primary motor cortex (M1) thereby yielding motor impairment. The present study, therefore, investigates the effect of dopaminergic state on SMA-M1 functional connectivity using Magnetoencephalography (MEG). MEG data were recorded in 7 patients suffering from PD with preponderance of akinesia during isometric contraction of the right forearm and during rest. Coherence as a measure of functional connectivity between M1 and SMA was calculated OFF and ON medication and correlated with the motor part of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS III) and with disease duration. During rest a significant positive correlation between disease duration and SMA-M1 coherence was found ON but not OFF medication. Conversely, during isometric contraction SMA-M1 coherence and UPDRS III were inversely correlated OFF but not ON medication explaining more than 80% of variance. The results favor the hypothesis that OFF medication exaggerated cortical coherence at beta frequency represents a compensatory mechanism rather than a pathophysiological marker per se.

The posterior parietal cortex and the cerebellum are assumed to contribute to anticipatory motor control. Thus, it is reasonable that these areas act as a functional unit. To identify a neural signature of anticipatory motor control, 11 healthy volunteers performed a bimanual finger-tapping task with respect to isochronous (i.e., regular) and randomized (i.e., irregular) auditory pacing. Neuromagnetic activity was recorded using a 122-channel whole-head neuromagnetometer. Functional interaction between spatially distributed brain areas was determined by measures of tap-related phase synchronization. Assuming that (i) the cerebellum predicts sensory events by an internal model and (ii) the PPC maintains this prediction, we hypothesized that functional interaction between both structures varies depending on the predictability of the pacing signal. During isochronous pacing, functional connectivity within a cerebello-diencephalic-parietal network before tap onset was evident, suggesting anticipatory motor control. During randomized pacing, however, functional connectivity after tap onset was increased within a parietal-cerebellar loop, suggesting mismatch detection and update of the internal model. Data of the present study imply that anticipatory motor control is implemented in a network-like manner. Our data agree well with the hypothesis that functional connectivity in a cerebello-diencephalic-parietal loop might be crucial for anticipatory motor control, whereas parietal-cerebellar interaction might be critical for feedback processing.