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This study established the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the Suicide Intent Scale (SIS) in a clinic- and community-based sample of 36 patients and 592 respondents, respectively. Results showed that the Chinese SIS demonstrated good inter-rater and test-retest reliability. Factor analysis generated three factors (Precautions, Planning, and Seriousness) explaining 92.9% of the total variance with high internal consistency. It was moderately correlated with depressive symptoms. Results suggest that the Chinese SIS is a reliable and valid instrument for use in assessing the extent of suicidal intention among subjects with deliberate self-harm in ethnic Chinese populations.

The article presents information on a study which compared the efficacy of risperidone and olanzapine in schizophrenic patients with tardive dyskinesia on treatment with first-generation antipsychotics. The randomized controlled study, conducted from July 2000 to June 2004, enrolled 60 patients with DSM-IV schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder who met the DSM-IV research standard for neuroleptic-induced tardive dyskinesia. It presents in detail the research findings. It concludes that additional studies are needed to confirm the findings.

This study established the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the Suicide Intent Scale (SIS) in a clinic- and community-based sample of 36 patients and 592 respondents, respectively. Results showed that the Chinese SIS demonstrated good inter-rater and test-retest reliability. Factor analysis generated three factors (Precautions, Planning, and Seriousness) explaining 92.9% of the total variance with high internal consistency It was moderately correlated with depressive symptoms. Results suggest that the Chinese SIS is a reliable and valid instrument for use in assessing the extent of suicidal intention among subjects with deliberate self-harm in ethnic Chinese populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study investigated the prevalence and changing trends of mental disorders and the effects of gender and urbanization among adolescents in Taiwan. Method: A random sample of seventh- grade students (N=1,070) was recruited from one urban and one rural junior high school in which 1,051 (98.2%) and 1,035 (96.7%) were reassessed in the second and third years, respectively. A two-stage case identification was conducted by mental health professionals with the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children—Epidemiologic Version, supplemented by information from the Child Behavior Checklist. Results: The weighted 3-month prevalence rates across the 3 consecutive years for overall psychiatric disorders were 20.3%, 22.7%, and 14.8%, respectively. The most prevalent psychiatric condition was attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in the first 2 years and substance use disorders in the third. During the 3 years, the rates for ADHD, specific phobia, and social phobia decreased, and the rates for major depression and substance use disorders, conversely, increased. Although conduct disorder, ADHD, and substance use disorders were more prevalent among boys, the rates for major depression, social phobia, specific phobia, and adjustment disorder were higher among girls. Rural adolescents had higher rates of conduct disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, and substance use disorders than their urban counterparts. Conclusions: Our findings are similar to those of previous studies among adolescents in prevalence rates, changing trends of most mental disorders, and gender effects. The differential changing trends in various diagnostic groups may imply the importance of specific measures for prevention during adolescence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented in response to the commentary "The Emerging Role of Atypical Antipsychotics in the Treatment of Tardive Dyskinesia Induced by Other Atypical Antipsychotics," by Doctors Valos Peritogiannis and Sofia Tsouli which appeared in the July 2011 issue.

A response by Hung-Yu Chan and Susan S. F. Gau to a letter to the editor about their article on the effectiveness of risperidone and olanzapine in patients diagnosed with schizophrenia/schizoaffective disoder and tardive dyskinesia (TD) is presented.

Switching to a different second-generation antipsychotic (SGA) with a lower risk of weight gain is recommended for overweight or obese psychiatric patients undergoing SGA treatment. However, there have been no complete reports regarding the long-term metabolic effects of switching to amisulpride. In this open-label 1-year study, we investigated the effects on body weight and other metabolic profiles when psychiatric patients treated with another SGA were switched to amisulpride treatment. Forty-six schizophrenia or schizoaffective inpatients with a body mass index greater than 27 kg/m were enrolled in the switch group. These patients were cross-titrated to amisulpride treatment and followed up for 1 year prospectively. Another 46 inpatients matched with the baseline body mass index of those in the switch group were enrolled as the control group retrospectively. The results showed that the switch group had greater weight loss than the control group (7.80 +/- 6.67 vs 2.60 +/- 6.23 kg, respectively; repeated-measure analysis of variance, P < 0.0005). During the treatment course, the amisulpride-treated patients showed significantly decreased fasting triglyceride, total cholesterol, glucose, and insulin resistance levels; decreased diastolic blood pressure and pulse rate; and a significant increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels after switching to amisulpride (all with a P < 0.05). The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in amisulpride-treated patients also decreased significantly from 65.2% to 30.4% (McNemar test, P < 0.0005). These findings suggest that switching to amisulpride could be an effective treatment of overweight or obese psychiatric patients treated previously with other SGAs.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of the once-daily atomoxetine compared with placebo in pediatric patients with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in Taiwan., Method: The study sample included 106 patients aged 6-16 years who met the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition (DSM-IV) criteria of ADHD randomly assigned to atomoxetine once daily (n = 72) and placebo once daily (n = 34) in a double-blind, 6-week treatment study. The primary efficacy measure was the total score of the ADHD Rating Scale-IV Parents Version: Investigator Administered and Scored. The secondary efficacy measures included the Clinical Global Impressions--ADHD--Severity and Chinese Conner's Parent and Teacher Rating Scale--Revised: Short Form. Data were analyzed on an intent-to-treat basis and a last-observation-carried-forward approach., Results: The two treatment groups did not differ in demographics and baseline measures. Compared to the placebo group, the atomoxetine group showed significantly greater reductions in ADHD-related symptoms according to the ratings of investigators, parents, and teachers. The treatment effect size of the primary efficacy measure was 0.70 at the end of study. Adverse events reported significantly more frequently with atomoxetine were decreased appetite (36.1%) and nausea (16.6%). No drug-related serious adverse event was observed., Conclusions: Once-daily atomoxetine is an effective, well-tolerable, and safe treatment for children and adolescents with ADHD in Taiwan.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the association between adherence to immediate-release methylphenidate (IR MPH) and maternal psychological distress, parenting style, parent- child relationship, and perceived family support., Methods: The sample consisted of 307 children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (271 boys and 36 girls), 6-17 years of age, who had been treated with IR MPH for the past 6 months. The measures included the Chinese Health Questionnaire, Parental Bonding Instrument, Family APGAR, and Home Behaviors of the Social Adjustment Inventory for Children and Adolescents., Results: Reasons for poor adherence (n = 79; 25.7%) included forgetting medication (72.7%), the medication having no effect (20.0%), and refusing medication (12.7%). Increased age and three-times-daily administration were the major predictors for poor adherence to IR MPH. Poor adherence was associated with increased degree of maternal psychological distress, indifferent parenting, maternal overprotection/control, poor family support, decreased interaction with parents, and increased problems at home., Conclusions: Findings indicate that multiple daily dosing of MPH increases the likelihood of poor adherence, particularly in adolescents, and that poor adherence is associated with impaired maternal/family process. Once-daily administration of MPH is necessary to improve adherence and to decrease the possible exacerbation of tense parent-child relationships caused by poor drug adherence.