Gender, age at onset, and duration of being ill as predictors for the long-term course and outcome of schizophrenia: an international multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the current study was to explore the effect of gender, age at onset, and duration on the long-term course of schizophrenia. METHODS: Twenty-nine centers from 25 countries representing all continents participated in the study that included 2358 patients aged 37.21 ± 11.87 years with a DSM-IV or DSM-5 diagnosis of schizophrenia; the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale as well as relevant clinicodemographic data were gathered. Analysis of variance and analysis of covariance were used, and the methodology corrected for the presence of potentially confounding effects. RESULTS: There was a 3-year later age at onset for females (P < .001) and lower rates of negative symptoms (P < .01) and higher depression/anxiety measures (P < .05) at some stages. The age at onset manifested a distribution with a single peak for both genders with a tendency of patients with younger onset having slower advancement through illness stages (P = .001). No significant effects were found concerning duration of illness. DISCUSSION: Our results confirmed a later onset and a possibly more benign course and outcome in females. Age at onset manifested a single peak in both genders, and surprisingly, earlier onset was related to a slower progression of the illness. No effect of duration has been detected. These results are partially in accord with the literature, but they also differ as a consequence of the different starting point of our methodology (a novel staging model), which in our opinion precluded the impact of confounding effects. Future research should focus on the therapeutic policy and implications of these results in more representative samples.

Modeling psychological function in patients with schizophrenia with the PANSS: an international multi-center study.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the current study was to explore the changing interrelationships among clinical variables through the stages of schizophrenia in order to assemble a comprehensive and meaningful disease model. METHODS: Twenty-nine centers from 25 countries participated and included 2358 patients aged 37.21 ± 11.87 years with schizophrenia. Multiple linear regression analysis and visual inspection of plots were performed. RESULTS: The results suggest that with progression stages, there are changing correlations among Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale factors at each stage and each factor correlates with all the others in that particular stage, in which this factor is dominant. This internal structure further supports the validity of an already proposed four stages model, with positive symptoms dominating the first stage, excitement/hostility the second, depression the third, and neurocognitive decline the last stage. CONCLUSIONS: The current study investigated the mental organization and functioning in patients with schizophrenia in relation to different stages of illness progression. It revealed two distinct "cores" of schizophrenia, the "Positive" and the "Negative," while neurocognitive decline escalates during the later stages. Future research should focus on the therapeutic implications of such a model. Stopping the progress of the illness could demand to stop the succession of stages. This could be achieved not only by both halting the triggering effect of positive and negative symptoms, but also by stopping the sensitization effect on the neural pathways responsible for the development of hostility, excitement, anxiety, and depression as well as the deleterious effect on neural networks responsible for neurocognition.

[Borderline personality disorder in the light of developmental psychopathology]. / A borderline személyiségzavar a fejlodéspszichopatológia tükrében.

The incidence of borderline personality disorder (BPD) in psychiatric care has shown growing tendencies. Despite its frequency, it is an underdiagnosed disease. Profound knowledge of etiological factors of BPD is essential for the proper diagnosis and treatment. The present study aims to provide a developmental psychopathological analysis of borderline personality disorder, which includes a thorough review of genetic and environmental etiological factors, an introduction to the functionalist approach of evolutionary perspective, and an overview of age specific characteristics of borderline symptoms. Recent research suggests that in addition to neurobiological and psychosocial factors, genetic vulnerability may be responsible for the development of BPD. Psychosocial background includes childhood trauma, maternal mental illness, maladaptive parenting styles and dysfunctional parent-child relationship, all of which are recognized as contributing factors to the development of insecure or disorganized attachment styles in the infant. Regarding the neurobiological background, changes in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, neurotransmission, endogenous opioid system, and neuroplasticity play a prominent role, the development of which is also affected by childhood traumatic events. Brain imaging studies reveal differences in the limbic system (hippocampus, amygdala) and frontal cortex, which are also involved in stress response, cognition, memory function, and emotion regulation. Early developmental processes may also play an important role in the development of the disorder, as depression during pregnancy or increased stress affects the quality of maternal care and may also affect gene expression through epigenetic mechanisms. With respect to the gene-environment interaction, the interaction of the child's impulsive traits and the invalidating family environment can be highlighted, which can lead to disruption of emotion regulation. The persistence of BPD symptoms is supported by the evolutionary approach concerning several aspects. Fear of abandonment can be explained by the anticipation of exclusion and maladaptive attempts to avoid it. Developmental psychopathological analysis contributes to the development of effective prevention and intervention tools through a better understanding of the background of borderline personality disorder. In terms of prognosis, as a result of effective treatments, symptoms can be reduced, so improvement can be achieved in a large proportion of patients.

Staging of Schizophrenia With the Use of PANSS: An International Multi-Center Study.

INTRODUCTION: A specific clinically relevant staging model for schizophrenia has not yet been developed. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the factor structure of the PANSS and develop such a staging method. METHODS: Twenty-nine centers from 25 countries contributed 2358 patients aged 37.21 ± 11.87 years with schizophrenia. Analysis of covariance, Exploratory Factor Analysis, Discriminant Function Analysis, and inspection of resultant plots were performed. RESULTS: Exploratory Factor Analysis returned 5 factors explaining 59% of the variance (positive, negative, excitement/hostility, depression/anxiety, and neurocognition). The staging model included 4 main stages with substages that were predominantly characterized by a single domain of symptoms (stage 1: positive; stages 2a and 2b: excitement/hostility; stage 3a and 3b: depression/anxiety; stage 4a and 4b: neurocognition). There were no differences between sexes. The Discriminant Function Analysis developed an algorithm that correctly classified >85% of patients. DISCUSSION: This study elaborates a 5-factor solution and a clinical staging method for patients with schizophrenia. It is the largest study to address these issues among patients who are more likely to remain affiliated with mental health services for prolonged periods of time.

The role of stigma and depression in the reduced adherence among young breast cancer patients in Hungary.

BACKGROUND: The main aim of our study was to investigate the role of depression, stigmatization, body shame and self-compassion in the adherence of young Hungarian breast cancer patients aged between 18 and 45 years. METHODS: In a cross-sectional online survey, data were collected from 99 young breast cancer patients (BC). Participants completed self-report questionnaires on socio-demographic and cancer-specific parameters as well as psychological factors (adherence: 12-item Medication Adherence Scale; depression: Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; stigmatization: Stigma Scale for Chronic Illnesses; body shame: Experience of Shame Scale; self-compassion: Self-Compassion Scale). We tested the predictors and mediators of adherence using hierarchical regression, mediation and moderation analysis among BC patients. RESULTS: We found that adherence was significantly associated with body shame and stigmatization in our BC sample. In addition, stigmatization alone was a significant predictor of lower adherence. Finally, in mediation models, where body shame was a mediator, we found a significant direct effect between stigma and adherence, in other words body shame had a significant mediating effect between these variables. According to our moderation analysis, self-compassion as a significant moderator acts as a protective factor in the linear relationship between stigma and lower adherence. CONCLUSIONS: Our results highlight the importance of stigma and body shame in the development of adherence in oncological care among young Hungarian BC patients aged between 18 and 45 years. Assessment of stigma, body shame, self-compassion, and the improvement of the availability of evidence-based psychological interventions may increase the adherence of young Hungarian BC patients, leading to more favourable rates of survival.