Development and validation of a mental health screening tool for asylum-seekers and refugees: the STAR-MH.

BACKGROUND: There is no screening tool for major depressive disorder (MDD) or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in asylum-seekers or refugees (ASR) that can be readily administered by non-mental health workers. Hence, we aimed to develop a brief, sensitive and rapidly administrable tool for non-mental health workers to screen for MDD and PTSD in ASR. METHODS: The screening tool was developed from an extant dataset (n = 121) of multiply screened ASR and tested prospectively (N = 192) against the M.I.N.I. (Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview) structured psychiatric interview. Rasch, Differential Item Functioning and ROC analyses evaluated the psychometric properties and tool utility. RESULTS: A 9-item tool with a median administration time of six minutes was generated, comprising two 'immediate screen-in' items, and a 7-item scale. The prevalence of PTSD &/or MDD using the M.I.N.I. was 32%, whilst 99% of other diagnosed mental disorders were comorbid with one or both of these. Using a cut-score of ≥2, the tool provided a sensitivity of 0.93, specificity of 0.75 and predictive accuracy of 80.7%. CONCLUSIONS: A brief sensitive screening tool with robust psychometric properties that was easy to administer at the agency of first presentation was developed to facilitate mental health referrals for asylum-seekers and new refugees.

Morphine use in cancer care: A survey of attitudes and perceptions in general practice patients.

BACKGROUND: Morphine is widely prescribed for patients with cancer, although a number of attitudes have been cited as barriers to its use, including fear, addiction and associations with death. The aim of this study was to explore the nature of these beliefs, and assess the extent to which these attitudes exist in a general practice patient population that may require morphine in the future. METHODS: A 30-item survey was distributed through general practices in Victoria, Australia. RESULTS: Of the 379 questionnaires distributed, 290 were collected (76.5%). Participants were predominantly neutral on questions regarding the effect of morphine on the duration of life. Morphine was seen to be prescribed responsibly (73.5%), even while most perceived its potential for addiction (69.7%). Participants with experience of morphine use had more negative perceptions regarding its efficacy. DISCUSSION: Conversations regarding morphine use should include a discussion about the beliefs and experiences of the individual, many of which may reinforce the utility of morphine.

Classification of eating disorders: comparison of relative prevalence rates using DSM-IV and DSM-5 criteria.

DSM-5 contains substantial changes to eating disorder diagnoses. We examined relative prevalence rates of DSM-IV and DSM-5 eating disorder diagnoses using Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire diagnostic algorithms in 117 community out-patients. DSM-5 criteria produced a reduction in combined 'other specified feeding or eating disorder' and 'unspecified feeding or eating disorder' from 46% to 29%, an increase in anorexia nervosa diagnoses from 35% to 47%, the same number of bulimia nervosa diagnoses and a 5% rate of binge eating disorder diagnoses.

Flexible receiver for multiband orthogonal frequency division multiplexing signals at the millimeter waveband based on optical downconversion.

A novel (to our knowledge) and flexible photonics-based downconversion scheme is proposed for wireless receivers in base stations. It allows simultaneous detection of multiple signals at carriers up to tens of gigahertz, enabling communications at millimeter waves. Experiments demonstrate the effective downconversion of Wi-Fi signals at 2.4 and 39.8 GHz with the error vector magniture <-43 dB.

Tobacco smoking among people living with a psychotic illness: the second Australian Survey of Psychosis.

OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were to (a) describe patterns of tobacco smoking among Australians living with a psychotic illness and (b) explore the association between smoking and measures of psychopathology, psychiatric history, psychosocial functioning, physical health, substance use and demographic characteristics. METHODS: Data were from 1812 participants in the 2010 Australian Survey of High Impact Psychosis. Participants were aged 18-64 years and resided in seven mental health catchment sites across five states of Australia. Bivariate statistics were used to compare smokers with non-smokers on the measures of interest, and to compare ICD-10 diagnostic categories on measures of smoking prevalence, nicotine addiction and quitting history. Multivariate logistic regression was used to test whether (a) demographics and psychiatric history were associated with having ever smoked and (b) whether symptoms and psychosocial functioning were independently associated with current smoking, after controlling for demographics, psychiatric history and substance use. RESULTS: The prevalence of current tobacco smoking was 66.6% (72% of men and 59% of women); lifetime prevalence was 81%. In univariate analyses, individuals with a diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder were most likely to be smoking tobacco (70%) and were more nicotine dependent. Smokers reported worse perceived physical health, lower body mass index and waist circumference, and more lifetime medical conditions. A younger age of illness onset, male gender and low education were associated with having ever smoked. Associations with current smoking included low education, male gender, no formal employment, worse negative symptoms, higher daily caffeine consumption, and alcohol dependence and substance abuse/dependence. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of tobacco smoking is high amongst people with a psychotic disorder, and is associated with adverse mental health symptoms as well as high rates of other substance use, poorer subjective physical health, and a higher risk of the many known health consequences of smoking.

The impact of alcohol and illicit drugs on people with psychosis: the second Australian National Survey of Psychosis.

OBJECTIVE: To provide the most up-to-date prevalence estimates of alcohol and illicit drug use among individuals with psychosis in Australia, and explore correlates associated with a lifetime diagnosis of both alcohol abuse/dependence and cannabis abuse/dependence. METHOD: This paper uses data from the Survey of High Impact Psychosis (SHIP), conducted as a follow-up to the first Australian National Low Prevalence (Psychotic) Disorders Study (1997-1998). The SHIP was a national study, carried out across five states, in which a sample of 1825 individuals was recruited through a two-phase sampling framework. RESULTS: Alcohol and illicit drug use was highly prevalent for the entire sample. There were few significant differences in the prevalence or frequency of use across the diagnostic categories examined. Substantial increases in substance abuse/dependence were noted since the 1997-1998 survey (51% diagnosed with alcohol abuse/dependence, 51% with cannabis abuse/dependence and 32% with other illicit drug abuse/dependence, compared to 28%, 23% and 12% respectively, in the 1997-1998 survey by Kavanagh et al., 2004). Factors significantly associated with both lifetime alcohol and cannabis dependence included male gender, younger age, single marital status, lower educational attainment, shorter duration of illness, lifetime presence of hallucinations, higher negative syndrome score and lower body mass index (BMI). A number of other factors were found to be differentially associated with either lifetime alcohol or cannabis dependence. CONCLUSIONS: The use of alcohol and illicit substances is common among people with a psychotic illness, with a concerning upward trend in rates of substance abuse/dependence since the 1997-1998 survey. Clinicians should be aware of the potential impact of concurrent substance use and provide integrated treatment for individuals presenting with psychotic illnesses. More research and investment in new intervention programs is required.

What is OSFED? The predicament of classifying 'other' eating disorders.

The transition from DSM-IV to DSM-5 relaxed diagnostic criteria for anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, and recognised a third eating disorder, binge eating disorder. However, a large proportion of cases remain in the ill-defined category of 'other specified feeding and eating disorders'. We sought to investigate the utility of a proposed solution to classify this group further, subdividing based on the dominant clinical feature: binge eating/purging or restraint. Cluster analysis failed to identify clusters in a treatment-seeking sample based on symptoms of restraint, binge eating, purging and over-evaluation of shape and weight. Further investigation of this highly heterogeneous group is required.

Delusional versus nondelusional body dysmorphic disorder.

This study assessed demographic and clinical features in 65 subjects with body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) and compared the 39 (60%) with the delusional form (receiving an additional diagnosis of delusional disorder, somatic type) with those who did not meet delusionality criteria. Delusional and nondelusional patients did not statistically differ on most demographic and clinical variables. Delusional patients, however, had significantly more severe BDD symptoms at both baseline and follow-up assessments than those of nondelusional patients. Furthermore, poorer insight was significantly associated with more severe BDD symptoms at both baseline and follow-up. Overall improvement in BDD symptom severity was similar for the 2 groups. Our results support other studies in the view that BDD and its delusional variant have more similarities than differences and that the delusional variant may be simply a more severe form of BDD. Implications for the diagnostic classification of BDD and future research directions are discussed.

The Dysmorphic Concern Questionnaire: A screening measure for body dysmorphic disorder.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the use of the Dysmorphic Concerns Questionnaire (DCQ) as a screening measure for body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) and to derive DCQ cutoff scores to facilitate the screening procedure. METHOD: The DCQ was completed by 244 undergraduates (mean = 20.80, SD = 3.10 years) and 57 BDD outpatients (mean = 29.60, SD = 9.44 years) in Melbourne, Australia. The undergraduate sample was screened for eating disorders using the Eating Attitudes Test-26, and for BDD using the Body Dysmorphic Disorder Questionnaire. RESULTS: The BDD outpatients obtained significantly higher scores on the DCQ than the undergraduates. This difference remained statistically significant after controlling for the severity of depression and social anxiety symptoms. A DCQ cutoff score of 9 resulted in the correct classification of 96.4% of BDD patients and 90.6% of undergraduates. CONCLUSIONS: The results supported the use of the DCQ as a brief, sensitive, and specific screening instrument for BDD.

Pharmacogenetic tests and depressive symptom remission: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

AIM: To conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that examined pharmacogenetic-guided decision support tools (DSTs) relevant to depressive symptom remission in major depressive disorder (MDD). PATIENTS & METHODS: Random-effects meta-analysis was performed on RCTs that examined the effect of DSTs on remission rates in MDD. RCT quality was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration Criteria. RESULTS & CONCLUSION: A total of 1737 eligible subjects from five RCTs were examined. Individuals receiving pharmacogenetic-guided DST therapy (n = 887) were 1.71 (95% CI: 1.17-2.48; p = 0.005) times more likely to achieve symptom remission relative to individuals who received treatment as usual (n = 850). Pharmacogenetic-guided DSTs might improve symptom remission among those with MDD.

Elevated ubiquitinated proteins in brain and blood of individuals with schizophrenia.

Dysregulation of the ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) has been linked to schizophrenia but it is not clear if this dysregulation is detectable in both brain and blood. We examined free mono-ubiquitin, ubiquitinated proteins, catalytic ubiquitination, and proteasome activities in frozen postmortem OFC tissue from 76 (38 schizophrenia, 38 control) matched individuals, as well as erythrocytes from 181 living participants, who comprised 30 individuals with recent onset schizophrenia (mean illness duration = 1 year), 63 individuals with 'treatment-resistant' schizophrenia (mean illness duration = 17 years), and 88 age-matched participants without major psychiatric illness. Ubiquitinated protein levels were elevated in postmortem OFC in schizophrenia compared to controls (p = <0.001, AUC = 74.2%). Similarly, individuals with 'treatment-resistant' schizophrenia had higher levels of ubiquitinated proteins in erythrocytes compared to those with recent onset schizophrenia (p < 0.001, AUC = 65.5%) and controls (p < 0.001, AUC = 69.4%). The results could not be better explained by changes in proteasome activity, demographic, medication, or tissue factors. Our results suggest that ubiquitinated protein formation may be abnormal in both the brain and erythrocytes of those with schizophrenia, particularly in the later stages or specific sub-groups of the illness. A derangement in protein ubiquitination may be linked to pathogenesis or neurotoxicity in schizophrenia, and its manifestation in the blood may have prognostic utility.

Blood and brain protein levels of ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2K (UBE2K) are elevated in individuals with schizophrenia.

A number of recent studies have suggested the ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) in schizophrenia is dysfunctional. The purpose of this study was to investigate UBE2K, a ubiquitin-conjugating (E2) enzyme within the UPS that has been associated with psychosis symptom severity, in the blood and brain of individuals with schizophrenia. Whole blood and erythrocytes from 128 (71 treatment-resistant schizophrenia, 57 healthy controls) individuals as well as frozen dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) post-mortem samples from 74 (37 schizophrenia, 37 controls) individuals were obtained. UBE2K gene expression was assayed in whole blood and DLPFC samples, whereas protein levels were assayed in erythrocytes and OFC samples. Elevated levels of UBE2K mRNA were observed in whole blood of individuals with schizophrenia (p = 0.03) but not in the DLPFC, while protein levels were raised in erythrocytes and the OFC (p < 0.001 and p = 0.002 respectively). Findings were not better explained by age, smoking, clozapine plasma levels or duration of illness. Although blood and brain samples were derived from independent samples, our findings suggest peripheral protein levels of UBE2K may serve as a surrogate of brain levels and further supports the notion of UPS dysfunction in schizophrenia. Future studies to determine the pathophysiological effects of elevated UBE2K protein levels in the brain of those with schizophrenia are warranted.

Multi-slice computed tomographic angiography for stenosis detection in forearm hemodialysis arteriovenous fistulas.

PURPOSE: A method of diagnosing the extent and severity of arteriovenous fistula (AVF) stenoses is multislice computed tomographic angiography (MS-CTA). The aim of this prospective study was to assess the accuracy of MS-CTA for the detection and grading of stenoses in AVF in comparison to digital subtraction angiography (DSA), which was used as the gold standard of reference. METHODS: Fifteen hemodialysis (HD) patients with dysfunctioning forearm AVF were included. These AVFs were evaluated by both DSA and MS-CTA and were read in a prospective, blinded manner by two radiologists experienced in vascular imaging. RESULTS: ROC analysis revealed areas under the curve of 0.90+/-0.07 for observer I and 0.87+/-0.08 for observer II at a stenosis cut-off level of >or=50% diameter reduction. The combined results for MS-CTA showed sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive values of 82%, 98%, 82% and 98% for stenoses>or=50% and 71%, 99%, 77% and 98% for stenoses>or=75%. Inter-observer agreement for the detection of stenoses>or=50% diameter reduction was 0.70 and 1.0, for MS-CTA and DSA, respectively. CONCLUSION: MS-CTA can provide good visualization of forearm HD access AVF and has moderate sensitivity, but high specificity for the detection of flow-limiting stenoses.

Exploring the moderating effects of dopaminergic polymorphisms and childhood adversity on brain morphology in schizophrenia-spectrum disorders.

Genetic and environmental etiologies may contribute to schizophrenia and its associated neurobiological profile. We examined the interaction between dopaminergic polymorphisms, childhood adversity and diagnosis (schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder) on dopamine-related brain structures. Childhood adversity histories and structural MRI data were obtained from 249 (153 schizophrenia/schizoaffective, 96 controls) participants registered in the Australian Schizophrenia Research Bank. Polymorphisms in DRD2 and COMT were genotyped and a dopaminergic risk allelic load (RAL) was calculated. Regression analysis was used to test the main and interaction effects of RAL, childhood adversity and diagnosis on volumes of dopamine-related brain structures (caudate, putamen, nucleus accumbens, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and hippocampus). A schizophrenia/schizoaffective diagnosis showed significant main effects on bilateral hippocampus, left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and bilateral putamen volumes. RAL showed a significant main effect on left putamen volumes. Furthermore, across the whole sample, a significant two-way interaction between dopaminergic RAL and childhood adversity was found for left putamen volumes. No brain structure volumes were predicted by a three-way interaction that included diagnosis. Our finding suggests the left putamen may be particularly sensitive to dopaminergic gene-environment interactions regardless of diagnosis. However, larger studies are needed to assess whether these interactions are more or less pronounced in those with schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorders.

Body image inflexibility mediates the relationship between body image evaluation and maladaptive body image coping strategies.

Body image inflexibility, the unwillingness to experience negative appearance-related thoughts and emotions, is associated with negative body image and eating disorder symptoms. The present study investigated whether body image inflexibility mediated the relationship between body image evaluation and maladaptive body image coping strategies (appearance-fixing and experiential avoidance) in a college and community sample comprising 156 females aged 18-51 years (M=22.76, SD=6.96). Controlling for recruitment source (college vs. community), body image inflexibility fully mediated the relationship between body image evaluation and maladaptive body image coping strategies. Results indicated that an unwillingness to experience negative appearance-related thoughts and emotions is likely responsible for negative body image evaluation's relationship to appearance-fixing behaviours and experiential avoidance. Findings support extant evidence that interventions that explicitly target body image inflexibility, such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, may have utility in treating body dissatisfaction in nonclinical populations.

A comparative study of the economic and social functioning of Vietnamese-Australians with low English proficiency living with psychotic illness.

BACKGROUND: Because national surveys of people living with psychotic disorders tend to exclude people with low English proficiency (LEP), little is known of their economic and social functioning. Culturally influenced explanatory models may result in delayed presentation and poorer functioning. AIMS: The study aimed to compare the functioning of LEP Vietnamese-Australian and Australian-born patients with psychosis and to investigate the Vietnamese-Australians' pathways to care. METHOD: In all, 19 LEP Vietnamese-Australians, previously excluded from the Australian Survey of High Impact Psychosis (SHIP), were matched with 15 Australian-born controls, and interviewed by a Vietnamese bilingual mental health professional using the SHIP Interview Schedule. RESULTS: The Vietnamese-Australian patients were significantly more likely to live with family, rate spirituality as important and participate in community rehabilitation programs. Their work, social and independent functioning, was better than the controls. The groups did not differ in mental health services received and satisfaction with services. Although half of Vietnamese-Australians attributed mental illness to supernatural, among other causes, none had consulted traditional healers. CONCLUSIONS: Despite LEP, Vietnamese-Australians with psychosis showed comparable or better functioning than Australian-born patients. Further investigation is recommended into LEP patients' clinical and social recovery and the role of language communities' support networks.

A comparison of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and bipolar disorder: Results from the Second Australian national psychosis survey.

INTRODUCTION: It remains uncertain whether schizoaffective disorder (SAD) is a discrete diagnostic entity, is a variant of either a psychotic mood disorder such as bipolar disorder (BDP) or schizophrenia (SCZ), or exists on a spectral continuum between these disorders. The present study examined whether SCZ, SAD, and BDP differed qualitatively on demographic and clinical variables based on a large Australian dataset. METHODS: This study examined data from the Australian Survey of High Impact Psychosis (SHIP), in which 1469 of the 1825 participants in who had an ICD-10 diagnosis of SCZ (n=857), SAD (n=293), and BDP (n=319) were assessed across a broad range of variables. RESULTS: When compared to patients with SCZ, those with SAD reported more current delusional and thought disorder symptoms, a greater number of lifetime depression, mania, and positive symptoms, and fewer negative symptoms. Relative to the BPD group, the SAD group were younger, endorsed more current positive, delusional, and thought disorder symptoms, fewer lifetime mania symptoms, more lifetime psychotic, hallucination, and delusional symptoms, and recorded lower premorbid IQ scores. Compared to patients with BPD, those with SCZ were significantly younger, endorsed more current psychotic and hallucination symptoms, fewer lifetime depression and mania symptoms, more lifetime psychotic, hallucination, and delusional symptoms, reported more negative symptoms and had lower premorbid IQ and psychosocial functioning scores. LIMITATIONS: Validated psychometric measures of psychotic or mood symptoms were not used. CONCLUSION: This pattern of results is consistent with the conceptualisation of a spectrum of disorders, ranging from BDP at one end, to SAD in the middle, and SCZ at the other end.

[Esophagectomy without thoracotomy: indications and our experience]. / Esofagectomia senza toracotomia: indicazioni e nostra esperienza.

In this paper the Authors report their experience of Orringer operation in 12 patients with oesophageal cancer observed from 1978 to 1992, and stress the possibility to extend the indications to Akijama oesophagectomy without thoracotomy for the treatment of malignant tumors of the entire oesophagus.

[Clinico-diagnostic aspects and therapeutic considerations of the combined surgical and radiotherapeutic approach in 2 cases of sacrococcygeal chordoma: our experience]. / Aspetti clinico-diagnostici e considerazioni terapeutiche dell'approccio combinato chirurgico e radioterapico in due casi di cordoma sacro-coccigeo: nostra esperienza.

Chordomas are rare tumours arising from embryonic notochord tissue remnants. The commonest affected segment is the sacrum. This localization may present diagnostic and therapeutic problems. Two cases of chordoma treated by surgery and radiation are reported.