Clinician treatment choices for post-traumatic stress disorder: ambassadors survey of psychiatrists in 39 European countries.

BACKGROUND: Considering the recently growing number of potentially traumatic events in Europe, the European Psychiatric Association undertook a study to investigate clinicians' treatment choices for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). METHODS: The case-based analysis included 611 participants, who correctly classified the vignette as a case of PTSD, from Central/ Eastern Europe (CEE) (n = 279), Southern Europe (SE) (n = 92), Northern Europe (NE) (n = 92), and Western Europe (WE) (N = 148). RESULTS: About 82% woulduse antidepressants (sertraline being the most preferred one). Benzodiazepines and antipsychotics were significantly more frequently recommended by participants from CEE (33 and 4%, respectively), compared to participants from NE (11 and 0%) and SE (9% and 3%). About 52% of clinicians recommended trauma-focused cognitive behavior therapy and 35% psychoeducation, irrespective of their origin. In the latent class analysis, we identified four distinct "profiles" of clinicians. In Class 1 (N = 367), psychiatrists would less often recommend any antidepressants. In Class 2 (N = 51), clinicians would recommend trazodone and prolonged exposure therapy. In Class 3 (N = 65), they propose mirtazapine and eye movement desensitization reprocessing therapy. In Class 4 (N = 128), clinicians propose different types of medications and cognitive processing therapy. About 50.1% of participants in each region stated they do not adhere to recognized treatment guidelines. CONCLUSIONS: Clinicians' decisions for PTSD are broadly similar among European psychiatrists, but regional differences suggest the need for more dialogue and education to harmonize practice across Europe and promote the use of guidelines.

Clinical decision-making style preferences of European psychiatrists: Results from the Ambassadors survey in 38 countries.

BACKGROUND: While shared clinical decision-making (SDM) is the preferred approach to decision-making in mental health care, its implementation in everyday clinical practice is still insufficient. The European Psychiatric Association undertook a study aiming to gather data on the clinical decision-making style preferences of psychiatrists working in Europe. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional online survey involving a sample of 751 psychiatrists and psychiatry specialist trainees from 38 European countries in 2021, using the Clinical Decision-Making Style - Staff questionnaire and a set of questions regarding clinicians' expertise, training, and practice. RESULTS: SDM was the preferred decision-making style across all European regions ([central and eastern Europe, CEE], northern and western Europe [NWE], and southern Europe [SE]), with an average of 73% of clinical decisions being rated as SDM. However, we found significant differences in non-SDM decision-making styles: participants working in NWE countries more often prefer shared and active decision-making styles rather than passive styles when compared to other European regions, especially to the CEE. Additionally, psychiatry specialist trainees (compared to psychiatrists), those working mainly with outpatients (compared to those working mainly with inpatients) and those working in community mental health services/public services (compared to mixed and private settings) have a significantly lower preference for passive decision-making style. CONCLUSIONS: The preferences for SDM styles among European psychiatrists are generally similar. However, the identified differences in the preferences for non-SDM styles across the regions call for more dialogue and educational efforts to harmonize practice across Europe.

PHENOMENOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF SUICIDAL BEHAVIOR IN PATIENTS WITH COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT IN RECURRENT DEPRESSIVE DISORDER.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to determine the characteristics of suicidal behaviour (SB) in patients with cognitive impairment in recurrent depressive disorder (RDD). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: The article presents a phenomenological analysis of suicidal behavior in 123 patients with recurrent depressive disorder. The study of cognitive dysfunctions in patients with recurrent depressive disorder included an analysis of the severity of cognitive impairment and the characteristics of cognitive processes, executive functions, and the specifics of social functioning. The study of the features of suicidal behavior included an analysis of the severity of suicidal risk, diagnosis of symptoms, stress level, suicidal behavior in the past, communication capabilities, reactions of significant others, and the severity of autoaggressive predictors. A complex of research methods was used: clinical-psychopathological, psychometrical, psychodiagnostical and statistical. RESULTS: Results: It was determined that patients with recurrent depressive disorder have specific characteristics of suicidal behavior, which included: a moderate to low level of suicidal risk; the severity of symptoms of depression, tension, anxiety, guilt, hopelessness and exhaustion; repeated visits to doctors for help; presence and recurrence of stress factors; anamnestic burden; violation of communications; the presence of autoaggressive predictors. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: It was found that a weak level of cognitive deficit, a tendency to catastrophisation and self-blame, low switchability and increased focus on negative stimuli in patients with recurrent depressive disorder was associated with a high risk of their suicidal behavior.

Efficacy and Safety of the 3-Month Formulation of Paliperidone Palmitate vs Placebo for Relapse Prevention of Schizophrenia: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

IMPORTANCE: Treatment nonadherence and relapse are common problems in patients with schizophrenia. The long-acting 3-month formulation of paliperidone palmitate, owing to its extended elimination half-life, may offer a valuable therapeutic option for these patients. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the 3-month formulation of paliperidone palmitate vs placebo in delaying time to relapse of schizophrenia symptoms. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This randomized, multicenter trial conducted from April 26, 2012, through April 9, 2014, in 8 countries consisted of 4 phases: 3-week screening phase, flexible-dose 17-week open-label transition phase, 12-week open-label maintenance phase, and open-ended double-blind (DB) phase. Of the 506 patients enrolled (aged 18-70 years; DSM-IV-TR diagnosis of schizophrenia), 305 were randomized to 3-month paliperidone palmitate (n = 160) or placebo (n = 145) in the DB phase. INTERVENTIONS: Patients received once-monthly doses of the 1-month formulation of paliperidone palmitate (50, 75, 100, or 150 mg eq) during the transition phase, followed by a single dose of the 3-month formulation (3.5 times the stabilized dose of once-monthly paliperidone palmitate) during the maintenance phase. Stabilized patients were randomized to receive either a fixed dose of 3-month paliperidone palmitate (175, 263, 350, or 525 mg eq) or placebo once every 3 months during the DB phase. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Time from randomization to the first relapse event (time to relapse) in the DB phase. RESULTS: In the interim analysis, time to first relapse was significantly different in favor of the paliperidone palmitate group vs the placebo group (hazard ratio = 3.45; 95% CI, 1.73-6.88; P < .001); median time to relapse was 274 days for placebo but not estimable for 3-month paliperidone palmitate. An independent data monitoring committee recommended early study termination due to efficacy. In the DB phase, 183 of 305 patients (62% with 3-month paliperidone palmitate; 58% with placebo) had at least 1 treatment-emergent adverse event; those noted more frequently in the group receiving paliperidone palmitate than in the placebo group were headache (9% vs 4%), weight increased (9% vs 3%), nasopharyngitis (6% vs 1%), and akathisia (4% vs 1%). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Compared with placebo, the 3-month formulation of paliperidone palmitate administered 4 times yearly significantly delayed time to relapse in patients with schizophrenia. The 3-month formulation was generally tolerable and has a safety profile consistent with other marketed paliperidone formulations. TRIAL REGISTRATION: clinicaltrials.gov Identifier:NCT01529515.