A novel outpatient treatment model for patients with severe and enduring anorexia nervosa: an observational study of patient characteristics, treatment goals, and treatment course.

BACKGROUND: Approximately 20-30% of people with anorexia nervosa develop an enduring form of the disorder. In the present study a newly developed outpatient treatment unit for patients with severe and enduring anorexia nervosa was described. The treatment model is flexible, patient-centered, and aims at enhancing quality of life, maintaining medical stability, and minimizing harm. Treatment contents, patient characteristics, treatment goals, and course of treatment from the first five years of operation were described and analyzed. METHODS: The participants (N = 22) consisted of all referrals resulting in an assessment or treatment period at the unit between May 2017 and May 2022. All participants were women. The study was a registry study. Information regarding patient characteristics, treatment goals, and the course of treatment was gathered from medical records. RESULTS: On average, the participants had had a diagnosed eating disorder for 12.80 years, and self-reported eating disorder symptoms for 19 years. Their symptomatology included severe eating disorder symptoms, psychiatric comorbidities, extreme underweight, and co-occurring medical conditions. Their treatment goals commonly concerned improving physical health, reducing eating disorder symptoms, improving psychological well-being, and improving quality of life. The majority of participants for whom this information was available benefited from the treatment (60%) and their treatment goals were met or partly met (66.6%), as measured by evaluations made by the patient or the treatment team. More than two thirds (69.2%) of the participants for whom this information was available remained weight stable or showed an increase in BMI. CONCLUSIONS: This observational study suggests that many individuals with severe and enduring anorexia nervosa may benefit from flexible treatment, aiming at supporting quality of life. The results highlight the importance of coordinating and integrating the treatment of severe and enduring anorexia nervosa and co-occurring psychiatric disorders as well as medical complications. Further research and international dialogue about the how treatment for this vulnerable patient group should best be organized is called for. Trial registration Trial registration number: NCT05708404. Date of registration: 01/23/2023 (retrospectively registered).

Approximately 20­30% of individuals with the eating disorder anorexia nervosa develop an enduring form of the illness. In this study a newly developed treatment unit for patients with severe and enduring anorexia nervosa was described. The treatment is flexible and aims at enhancing quality of life. Patient characteristics, treatment goals, and course of treatment from the first five years of operation were analyzed. The participants were patients treated at the new treatment unit. All participants were women. The study was based on patient records. On average, the participants had had a diagnosed eating disorder for more than 12 years, and self-reported eating disorder symptoms for 19 years. Many participants had severe eating disorder symptoms, other psychiatric illnesses, extreme underweight, and other medical conditions. Their own treatment goals concerned improving physical health, reducing eating disorder symptoms, improving psychological well-being, and improving quality of life. Many participants benefited from the treatment. This study shows that individuals with severe and enduring anorexia can benefit from flexible treatment that supports quality of life.

Effects of family-based treatment on adolescent outpatients treated for anorexia nervosa in the Eating Disorder Unit of Helsinki University Hospital.

BACKGROUND: Family therapy for adolescent anorexia nervosa (AN) has stronger evidence of efficacy in comparison with individual therapy, and family-based treatment (FBT) is the most evaluated in numerous randomized clinical trials. However, few studies have focused on how FBT performs outside of research settings. The current study is the first to assess clinical outcomes of FBT for adolescent AN in Finland, in a specialized outpatient clinic. AIM: The naturalistic outcome of outpatient FBT for adolescent AN was investigated. METHODS: Fifty-two female patients and their families who received FBT at a tertiary eating disorders unit participated in the study. Data on their pre-treatment parameters, treatment details, and condition at the end of treatment (EOT) was collected from their medical records. RESULTS: At EOT, a majority (61.5%) had achieved a full weight restoration [percentage of expected body weight (%EBW) ≥ 95%]. Participants with an %EBW ≥ 95 at EOT had a significantly higher pre-treatment %EBW than those with an EBW < 95% at EOT. Participants with an EBW ≥ 95% at EOT showed significantly higher total weight gain during the treatment period, a higher rate of regular menstrual periods at EOT, significantly lower rates of dietary restrictions, and less cognitive or behavioral symptoms of the eating disorder overall, compared to participants who did not achieve a normal body weight. In 22 cases (42.3%), there was no need for further treatment at the end of FBT. Participants who needed further treatment after FBT, compared to those who did not, showed significantly higher rates of psychiatric comorbidity, history of mental health treatment, and need for psychopharmacological treatment. CONCLUSIONS: In this naturalistic study, and in line with previous studies, FBT for AN appeared to be an effective and sometimes sufficient intervention, especially for patients with milder weight deficit and less severe psychiatric comorbidities. The results show that FBT can be successfully implemented in Finland and suggest that training more ED clinicians in FBT would be beneficial. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study was retrospectively registered on February 8th, 2023, in ClinicalTrials.gov Protocol Registration and Results System, identifier: NCT05734573.

Family-based treatment (FBT), a form of family therapy for eating disorders (ED) in young patients, has proven to be effective in numerous large-scale studies. This study aims to evaluate outcomes of the treatment for anorexia nervosa (AN) in a 'real-world' setting in a specialized outpatient clinic in Helsinki, Finland. Fifty-two young female patients seen for treatment between June 2013 and December 2017 were included in the study. Demographic and treatment characteristics, weight, and ED symptoms before and after treatment are reported. At the end of treatment, most patients had a good outcome, including normalization of their body weight and reduced ED symptoms. The majority of patients who needed further treatment after FBT suffered from an additional psychiatric disorder together with AN.

Increased use of antimicrobial medication in bulimia nervosa and binge-eating disorder prior to the eating disorder treatment.

OBJECTIVE: We examined the use of antimicrobial medication as a proxy for infections in large patient cohort treated for binge-eating disorder (BED), bulimia nervosa (BN), and anorexia nervosa (AN) over the five-year period preceding eating disorder treatment. METHOD: Patients (N = 1592) at the Eating Disorder Unit of Helsinki University Central Hospital between 2000 and 2010 were compared with matched general population controls (N = 6368). The study population was linked to the prescription data of antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral medication from the Register on Reimbursed Prescription Medicine. Data were analyzed using regression models. RESULTS: Individuals with BN and BED had received more often antimicrobial medication prescriptions compared to their controls (OR: 1.7, 95% CI: 1.3-2.1; OR: 2.6, 95% CI: 1.4-4.6, respectively), while no significant difference emerged in AN (OR: 0.9, 95% CI: 0.7-1.0, p = 0.10). Of the main drug categories, the respective pattern was seen in antibacterial and antifungal medication, while increased use for antivirals appeared only in BN (OR: 1.6, 95% CI: 1.1-2.3). Measured with the mean number of prescriptions or mean Defined Daily Doses per individual, patients with BN, BED and males with AN had also higher total antimicrobial medication use. DISCUSSION: Indicating increased infections, we found elevated use of antimicrobial medication in BN, BED and in males with AN. Infections may be consequence of hyperglycemia, weight gain, or dysregulation of intestinal microbiota associated with core eating disorder behaviors. Or the other way round; changes in intestinal microbiota due to infections, inflammation, or antibacterial medications might contribute to eating disorders in multiple ways. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Int J Eat Disord 2016; 49:542-552).

[Outcome of eating disorder patients treated in tertiary care]. / Erityishoidon yksikössä hoidettujen syömishäiriöpotilaiden ennuste.

BACKGROUND: We assessed the outcome of eating disorder patients treated in a specialized treatment setting. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Register-based follow-up study of adults (n = 2 450, 95% women, age range 18-62 years). For each patient four background-matched controls were selected. RESULTS: The hazard ratio for all-cause mortality was 6.51 in anorexia, 2.97 in bulimia and 1.77 in BED. Autoimmune diseases were more common in patients than in controls. Bulimia and BED were associated with increased type 2 diabetes risk. Pregnancy and childbirth rates were lower among patients than among controls. CONCLUSIONS: Eating disorders are associated with multiple health problems and increased mortality risk.

[Current Care Guideline: Eating disorders]. / Syömishäiriöt.

Early diagnosis with intervention is linked to better outcome. In primary care patients in risk for eating disorder should be screened and actively asked about eating disorder symptoms. Treatment is mainly out-patient care and should first be focused on gaining a normal nutritional status. It is important to involve the patient's family in the treatment. A confidential relationship between health care professionals and the patient is important. The patient's own motivation and readiness for recuperation are essential. Different therapeutic and psychosocial approaches are central in the treatment, as the disorders are psychiatric. Medical treatment may bring additional help in treating binge-eating disorder or bulimia nervosa, but it is seldom of help in treating anorexia nervosa.

Highly increased risk of type 2 diabetes in patients with binge eating disorder and bulimia nervosa.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to examine the prevalence and incidence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in a large patient cohort treated for binge eating disorder (BED), bulimia nervosa (BN), and anorexia nervosa. METHOD: Patients (N = 2,342) treated at the Eating Disorder Unit of Helsinki University Central Hospital over the period up to 16 years were compared with matched general population controls (N = 9,368) in three stages: before entering to the treatment for an eating disorder, after the entrance until the end of the study period, and combined any time before, during, and after the treatment. The study population was linked with the oral TSD medication data of 17 years from The Medical Reimbursement Register. Data were analyzed using conditional and Poisson regression models. RESULTS: Before entering to the treatment for eating disorders, the risk of T2D was substantially increased in patients compared with controls (OR 6.6, 95% CI 4.0-10.7). At the end of the study period, the lifetime prevalence of T2D was 5.2% among patients, 1.7% among controls (OR 3.4, 95% CI 2.6-4.4), and in male patients, it was significantly higher compared with females. Of those treated for BED, every third had T2D by the end of the study period (OR 12.9, 95% CI 7.4-22.5), whereas the same was true for 4.4% of those with BN (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.7-3.5). DISCUSSION: Our findings provide strong support for the association between T2D and clinically significant binge eating. Disturbed glucose metabolism may contribute to the onset and maintenance of BED and BN.

The increased risk for autoimmune diseases in patients with eating disorders.

OBJECTIVE: Research suggests autoimmune processes to be involved in psychiatric disorders. We aimed to address the prevalence and incidence of autoimmune diseases in a large Finnish patient cohort with anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder. METHODS: Patients (N = 2342) treated at the Eating Disorder Unit of Helsinki University Central Hospital between 1995 and 2010 were compared with general population controls (N = 9368) matched for age, sex, and place of residence. Data of 30 autoimmune diseases from the Hospital Discharge Register from 1969 to 2010 were analyzed using conditional and Poisson regression models. RESULTS: Of patients, 8.9% vs. 5.4% of control individuals had been diagnosed with one or more autoimmune disease (OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.5-2.0, P<0.001). The increase in endocrinological diseases (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.8-3.2, P<0.001) was explained by type 1 diabetes, whereas Crohn's disease contributed most to the risk of gastroenterological diseases (OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.4-2.5, P<0.001). Higher prevalence of autoimmune diseases among patients with eating disorders was not exclusively due to endocrinological and gastroenterological diseases; when the two categories were excluded, the increase in prevalence was seen in the patients both before the onset of the eating disorder treatment (OR 1.5, 95% CI 1.1-2.1, P = 0.02) and at the end of the follow-up (OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.1-1.8, P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: We observed an association between eating disorders and several autoimmune diseases with different genetic backgrounds. Our findings support the link between immune-mediated mechanisms and development of eating disorders. Future studies are needed to further explore the risk of autoimmune diseases and immunological mechanisms in individuals with eating disorders and their family members.

Pregnancy, obstetric, and perinatal health outcomes in eating disorders.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess pregnancy, obstetric, and perinatal health outcomes and complications in women with lifetime eating disorders. STUDY DESIGN: Female patients (n = 2257) who were treated at the Eating Disorder Clinic of Helsinki University Central Hospital from 1995-2010 were compared with unexposed women from the population (n = 9028). Register-based information on pregnancy, obstetric, and perinatal health outcomes and complications were acquired for all singleton births during the follow-up period among women with broad anorexia nervosa (AN; n = 302 births), broad bulimia nervosa (BN; n = 724), binge eating disorder (BED; n = 52), and unexposed women (n = 6319). RESULTS: Women with AN and BN gave birth to babies with lower birthweight compared with unexposed women, but the opposite was observed in women with BED. Maternal AN was related to anemia, slow fetal growth, premature contractions, short duration of the first stage of labor, very premature birth, small for gestational age, low birthweight, and perinatal death. Increased odds of premature contractions, resuscitation of the neonate, and very low Apgar score at 1 minute were observed in mothers with BN. BED was associated positively with maternal hypertension, long duration of the first and second stage of labor, and birth of large-for-gestational-age infants. CONCLUSION: Eating disorders appear to be associated with several adverse perinatal outcomes, particularly in offspring. We recommend close monitoring of pregnant women with either a past or current eating disorder. Attention should be paid to children who are born to these mothers.

Suicide attempts and mortality in eating disorders: a follow-up study of eating disorder patients.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to explore the prevalence of hospital-treated suicide attempts in a large clinical population of eating disorder patients. METHOD: Follow-up study of adults (N=2462, 95% women, age 18-62 years) admitted to the Eating Disorder Clinic of Helsinki University Central Hospital in the period 1995-2010. For each patient, four controls were selected and matched for age, sex and place of residence. The end point events were modeled using Cox's proportional hazard model, taking matching into account. RESULTS: We identified 156 patients with eating disorder (6.3%) and 139 controls (1.4%) who had required hospital treatment for attempted suicide. Of them, 66 (42.3%) and 37 (26.6%) had more than one attempt. The rate ratio (RR) for suicide attempt in patients with eating disorder was 4.70 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.41-15.74]. In anorexia nervosa, RR was 8.01 (95% CI 5.40-11.87), and in bulimia nervosa, it was 5.08 (95% CI 3.46-7.42). In eating disorder patients with a history of suicide attempt, the risk of death from any cause was 12.8%, suicide being the main cause in 45% of the deaths. CONCLUSION: Suicide attempts and repeated attempts are common among patients with eating disorders. Suicidal ideation should be routinely assessed from patients with eating disorders.

Prevalence and correlates of eating disorders among young adults in Finland.

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the epidemiology of eating disorders in a population-based sample of young adults. METHOD: A mental health questionnaire was sent to a nationally representative two-stage cluster sample of 1863 Finns aged 20-35 years. All screen-positives and a random sample of screen-negatives were invited to participate in a Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders (SCID-I) interview. Case records from all lifetime mental health treatments were also obtained and were used to complement the diagnostic assessment. RESULTS: The lifetime prevalence of anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, eating disorder not otherwise specified and any eating disorder among women were 2.1%, 2.3%, 2.0% and 6.0%, respectively, while there was only one man with an eating disorder. Unlike other mental disorders, they are associated with high education. Of women diagnosed with lifetime eating disorder, 67.9% had at least one comorbid Axis I psychiatric disorder, most commonly depressive disorder. While 79.3% of women with lifetime eating disorder had had a treatment contact, only one third of persons with current eating disorder had a current treatment contact. Women whose eating disorder had remitted still experienced more psychological distress and had lower psychosocial functioning that women without lifetime Axis I disorders. CONCLUSION: Eating disorders are the fourth largest group of mental disorders among young women. They tend to be comorbid, often remain untreated and are associated with residual symptoms after the remission of eating disorder symptoms.

Reproductive health outcomes in eating disorders.

OBJECTIVE: Eating disorders are common psychiatric disorders in women at childbearing age. Previous research suggests that eating disorders are associated with fertility problems, unplanned pregnancies, and increased risk of induced abortions and miscarriages. The purpose of this study was to assess how eating disorders are related to reproductive health outcomes in a representative patient population. METHOD: Female patients (N = 2,257) treated at the eating disorder clinic of Helsinki University Central Hospital during 1995-2010 were compared with matched controls identified from the Central Population Register (N = 9,028). Patients had been diagnosed (ICD-10) with anorexia nervosa (AN), atypical AN, bulimia nervosa (BN), atypical BN, or binge eating disorder (BED, according to DSM-IV research criteria). Register-based data on number of children, pregnancies, childbirths, induced abortions, miscarriages, and infertility treatments were used to measure reproductive health outcomes. RESULTS: Patients were more likely to be childless than controls [odds ratio (OR) 1.86; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.62-2.13, p < .001]. Pregnancy and childbirth rates were lower among patients than among controls. BN was associated with increased risk of induced abortion compared to controls (OR 1.85; 95% CI 1.43-2.38, p < .001), whereas BED was associated with elevated risk of miscarriage (OR 3.18; 95% CI 1.52-6.66, p = .002). DISCUSSION: Reproductive health outcomes are compromised in women with a history of eating disorders across all eating disorder types. Our findings emphasize the importance of reproductive health counseling and monitoring among women with eating disorders.

Mortality in eating disorders: a follow-up study of adult eating disorder patients treated in tertiary care, 1995-2010.

Elevated mortality risk in anorexia nervosa has been established, but less is known about the outcomes of bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder. In this follow-up study we determined mortality in adults (N=2450, 95% women) admitted to the eating disorder clinic of the Helsinki University Central Hospital in the period 1995-2010. Most of the patients (80.7%) were outpatients. For each patient four controls were selected and matched for age, sex and place of residence. The matching was taken into account by modelling end-point events using Cox's proportional hazard model. The hazard ratio (HR) for all-cause mortality was 6.51 (95% CI 3.46-12.26) in broad anorexia nervosa (AN), 2.97 (95% CI 1.90-4.65) in broad bulimia nervosa (BN), and 1.77 (95% CI 0.60-5.27) in binge eating disorder (BED). Mortality risk in broad AN was highest during the first years after admission but declined thereafter, while in broad BN the mortality risk started to rise two years after the first admission. The HR for suicide was elevated both in broad AN (HR 5.07; 95% CI 1.37-18.84) and in broad BN (HR 6.07; 95% CI 2.47-14.89). Results show that eating disorders are associated with increased mortality risk even when specialised treatment is available.

Description of long-term polypharmacy among schizophrenia outpatients.

OBJECTIVE: This large nationwide study describes the prevalence and predictors of long-term antipsychotic polypharmacy among patients with schizophrenia. METHODS: A register-based longitudinal study of all people in Finland, who had at least one hospitalization due to schizophrenia during the years 2000-2007 and who were alive on March 1, 2007. Entry to the cohort was defined from the first hospitalization for schizophrenia during the years 2000-2007, and the date of assessment of antipsychotic polypharmacy was March 1, 2007. We studied separately chronic (N = 8,037) and recent onset (N = 8,046) schizophrenia patients. Antipsychotic polypharmacy was defined as overlapping of two or more filled prescriptions of antipsychotics for over 60 days. RESULTS: In a total 16,083 patients with schizophrenia the prevalence of antipsychotic polypharmacy was 46.2 % (N = 7,436, mean age 47.5 years, male 55 %). The longer the duration of schizophrenia, the more common the antipsychotic polypharmacy. Long index hospitalization and being male significantly associated with antipsychotic polypharmacy among all schizophrenia patients. Especially, in chronic schizophrenia patients, the previous use of benzodiazepine like agents was associated with antipsychotic polypharmacy, but the use of antidepressants associated with less frequent antipsychotic polypharmacy. CONCLUSIONS: Antipsychotic polypharmacy was widely prevalent among patients with schizophrenia and it was associated with long hospitalizations and long duration of illness. Benzodiazepine use was associated with increased risk and antidepressant use with decreased risk of antipsychotic polypharmacy when the effect of other clinical and socioeconomic factors was adjusted. Research is needed of risks and benefits of antipsychotic polypharmacy and augmentation of antipsychotic with other psychoactive drugs.

Does originating from a genetic isolate affect the level of cognitive impairments in schizophrenia families?

Earlier studies have detected differences in the prevalence, symptomatology and genetic risk variants of schizophrenia between a north-eastern Finnish genetic isolate and the rest of Finland. This study compared a population-based isolate sample (145 persons with schizophrenia, 304 first-degree relatives and 32 controls) with a rest of Finland sample (73 persons with schizophrenia, 100 first-degree relatives and 80 controls) in cognitive functioning. Persons from the isolate outperformed persons in the rest of Finland sample in verbal learning, verbal ability and cognitive flexibility in the schizophrenia groups and in verbal learning, speeded processing and attentional control in the relatives groups. The differences between the subsamples remained significant after taking into account an intragenic Reelin STR allele, previously associated with cognitive impairments and almost absent from the isolate, in addition to disorder characteristics and familial loading. In control groups, we observed no differences between the isolate and the rest of Finland. In conclusion, cognitive impairments were milder in schizophrenia patients and their first-degree relatives within than outside the isolate. An absence of differences between the control samples suggests that the differences in schizophrenia families may relate to genetic background, possibly to partly distinct variants affecting the liability inside and outside the isolate.

An association between both low and high birth weight and increased disorganized and negative symptom severity in schizophrenia and other psychoses.

Longitudinal cohort studies have implicated an association between both low and high birth weight and increased schizophrenia risk. In this study, we investigated the effect of birth weight on the symptom severity of psychotic disorders including schizophrenia in a Finnish schizophrenia family study sample. We used a multivariate GEE (General Estimating Equation) regression model to investigate the association of birth weight and symptom severity in 282 subjects with a primary psychotic disorder, 178 of whom had a diagnosis of schizophrenia. The Scales for the Assessment of Positive and Negative Symptoms (SAPS and SANS) were used as a measure of symptom severity. Sex, place of birth and year of birth were adjusted for in the model. Both low and high birth weight were associated with more severe symptoms with respect to bizarre behaviour, affective flattening and attentional impairment. In addition, low birth weight was associated with more severe symptoms with respect to positive formal thought. Our findings suggest that both low and high birth weight can influence the symptom severity of psychotic disorders. Our results implicate an association between both low and high birth weight and disorganized and negative symptoms.

Polypharmacy with antipsychotics, antidepressants, or benzodiazepines and mortality in schizophrenia.

CONTEXT: Polypharmacy is widely used in the treatment of schizophrenia, although it is believed to have major adverse effects on the well-being of patients. OBJECTIVE: To investigate if the use of benzodiazepines, antidepressants, or multiple concomitant antipsychotics is associated with increased mortality among patients with schizophrenia. DESIGN: Registry-based case linkage study. SETTING: Academic research. PATIENTS: We linked national databases of mortality and medication prescriptions among a complete nationwide cohort of 2588 patients hospitalized in Finland for the first time with a diagnosis of schizophrenia between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2007. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Hazard ratios (HRs) were computed for all-cause mortality during the use of antipsychotics, antidepressants, or benzodiazepines in outpatient care, adjusting for the effects of sociodemographic and clinical variables, geographic location, and current and past pharmacological treatments. RESULTS: Compared with antipsychotic monotherapy, concomitant use of 2 or more antipsychotics was not associated with increased mortality (HR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.51-1.44). Similarly, antidepressant use was not associated with a higher risk for mortality (HR, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.28-1.16) and was associated with markedly decreased suicide deaths (HR, 0.15; 95% CI, 0.03-0.77). However, benzodiazepine use was associated with a substantial increase in mortality (HR, 1.91; 95% CI, 1.13-3.22), and this was attributable to suicidal deaths (HR, 3.83; 95% CI, 1.45-10.12) and to nonsuicidal deaths (HR, 1.60; 95% CI, 0.86-2.97). In total, 826 of 904 patients (91.4%) who used benzodiazepines had purchased prescriptions that contained more than 28 defined daily doses, violating treatment guidelines. CONCLUSIONS: Benzodiazepine use was associated with a marked increase in mortality among patients with schizophrenia, whereas the use of an antidepressant or several concomitant antipsychotics was not. Antidepressant use was associated with decreased suicide deaths. The literature indicates that long-term use of benzodiazepines among patients with schizophrenia is more prevalent in other countries (eg, the United States) compared with Finland, which suggests that benzodiazepine use may contribute to mortality among this patient population worldwide.

[How can we help a binge eater?]. / Miten voimme auttaa ahmijaa?

In primary health care, early recognition of a patient having a binge eating disorder is essential already before the development of overweight. The therapy aims at gaining control over eating, stopping radical attempts at weight reduction and guiding the binge eater to follow a regular meal rhythm and a well-balanced diet. With the help of a regular meal rhythm, food volumes in binge-eating episodes will decrease fairly quickly and the episodes become less frequent. The immediate prognosis of the patient is usually good, but the illness is characterized by a periodic and fluctuating course.

Cognitive impairments in schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder: relationship with clinical characteristics.

The present study aimed to compare population-based familial samples of patients with schizophrenia (n = 218) and schizoaffective disorder (n = 62) and a healthy control group (n = 123). Patients with schizoaffective disorder outperformed patients with schizophrenia in verbal ability, processing speed, visual working memory, and verbal memory. When compared with controls, patients with schizoaffective disorder also had a generalized cognitive impairment. Adjusting for clinical characteristics removed significant differences between the patient groups. Irrespective of the diagnosis, patients with the most severe negative symptoms and highest dose of antipsychotics had the most severe cognitive impairments, whereas mood symptoms were not related to cognitive performance. In conclusion, people with schizoaffective disorder have severe cognitive impairments, but the impairments are milder than in schizophrenia. Mood symptoms may not explain the difference between the diagnostic groups in cognitive functions, but the difference may be related to differences in the severity of negative symptoms.

Attempted suicide in mental disorders in young adulthood.

BACKGROUND: Nationwide general population study establishes the prevalence of suicide attempts in different mental disorders among young adults and their sociodemographic correlates. Current psychiatric symptoms are also examined. METHODS: A random sample of 1,894 young Finnish adults aged 20-34 years were approached to participate in a questionnaire containing several screens for mental health interviews. All screen positives and random sample of screen negatives were invited to an SCID interview. Altogether 546 subjects participated in the interview. Diagnostic assessment and lifetime history of suicide attempts were based on all available systematically evaluated information from the questionnaire, the interview and/or case records. RESULTS: The lifetime prevalence of suicide attempts was 5.6% in men and 6.9% in women. Both mental disorders and poor educational and occupational functioning were associated with lifetime suicide attempts. Lifetime history of suicide attempts was associated with current psychological distress, problems related to substance use and other psychiatric symptoms, even after taking current Axis I disorder into account. Suicide attempts were most common in persons with psychotic disorders (41%). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that continued efforts are needed to outreach and treat effectively young adults with serious mental disorders. Young people who make a suicide attempt should be offered treatment. It seems also important to prevent psychosocial alienation of young people by providing them with adequate education and work possibilities.

Epidemiology of suicide attempts among persons with psychotic disorder in the general population.

OBJECTIVE: To establish the epidemiology of suicide attempts in persons with psychotic disorder identified from the general population and to investigate the associations of suicidal behavior with other clinical characteristics and with physical violence against other people. METHOD: A random sample of 9922 Finnish persons aged 18 years or over was screened for psychotic disorder using multiple sources of information. All screen positives and random sample of screen negatives were invited to an SCID interview. Diagnostic assessment, lifetime history of suicide attempts and violence against others were based on all available systematically evaluated information from the questionnaire, interview and/or case records. RESULTS: Of persons with a lifetime history of any primary or substance-induced psychotic disorder (n = 264), 34.5% (women: 34.1%, men: 34.9%) had a history of at least one suicide attempt. There were no suicide attempts among persons with delusional disorder, while the rate of suicide attempts was higher among persons with substance-induced psychotic disorders (48.8%) than in persons with other psychotic disorders 41.8%) (χ(2) = 4.4, d.f. = 1, P = 0.036). Suicide attempts were associated with younger age, comorbid substance use disorders, depressive symptoms, and physical violence against other people. CONCLUSION: Suicide attempts are common in all psychotic disorders except for delusional disorder. They are particularly common in substance-induced psychotic disorder and in persons with comorbid substance use disorders. They are associated with severe depressive symptoms but not with the severity of psychotic symptoms. Suicidal behavior correlates with physical violence against other people.