Five-year illness trajectories across racial groups in the UK following a first episode psychosis.

PURPOSE: Psychosis disproportionally affects ethnic minority groups in high-income countries, yet evidence of disparities in outcomes following intensive early intervention service (EIS) for First Episode Psychosis (FEP) is less conclusive. We investigated 5-year clinical and social outcomes of young people with FEP from different racial groups following EIS care. METHOD: Data were analysed from the UK-wide NIHR SUPEREDEN study. The sample at baseline (n = 978) included White (n = 750), Black (n = 71), and Asian (n = 157) individuals, assessed during the 3 years of EIS, and up to 2 years post-discharge (n = 296; Black [n = 23]; Asian [n = 52] and White [n = 221]). Outcome trajectories were modelled for psychosis symptoms (positive, negative, and general), functioning, and depression, using linear mixed effect models (with random intercept and slopes), whilst controlling for social deprivation. Discharge service was also explored across racial groups, 2 years following EIS. RESULTS: Variation in linear growth over time was accounted for by racial group status for psychosis symptoms-positive (95% CI [0.679, 1.235]), negative (95% CI [0.315, 0.783]), and general (95% CI [1.961, 3.428])-as well as for functioning (95% CI [11.212, 17.677]) and depressive symptoms (95% CI [0.261, 0.648]). Social deprivation contributed to this variance. Black individuals experienced greater levels of deprivation (p < 0.001, 95% CI [0.187, 0.624]). Finally, there was a greater likelihood for Asian (OR = 3.04; 95% CI [2.050, 4.498]) and Black individuals (OR = 2.47; 95% CI [1.354, 4.520]) to remain in secondary care by follow-up. CONCLUSION: Findings suggest variations in long-term clinical and social outcomes following EIS across racial groups; social deprivation contributed to this variance. Black and Asian individuals appear to make less improvement in long-term recovery and are less likely to be discharged from mental health services. Replication is needed in large, complete data, to fully understand disparities and blind spots to care.

Use of digital technology in addiction disorders.

The expanding use of digital technology in mental health has widened the scope of emerging addiction interventions. This review focus on the use of technological advances in the field of addiction and mental health. We discuss about how these advances has been implemented in addiction treatment and research. Further, we also mention about the utilisation of these services in India.

Effectiveness of NIMHANS ECHO blended tele-mentoring model on Integrated Mental Health and Addiction for counsellors in rural and underserved districts of Chhattisgarh, India.

The present study was conducted to ascertain the effectiveness of Project ECHO, a Hub and Spokes tele-mentoring model to bridge the urban-rural divide in mental health and addiction care in the context of a developing country like India. The Counsellors from 11 rural and underserved districts of Chhattisgarh were periodically connected to NIMHANS multidisciplinary specialists by smartphone app and underwent virtual mentoring to learn and translate "best practices" in Mental health and Addiction by using "patient-centric learning", a core component of NIMHANS ECHO model. The outcome evaluation was modelled on Moore's evaluation framework focusing on participant engagement, satisfaction, learning, competence and performance. Over the period of 6 months i.e. 12 tele-ECHO clinics, 41 patients case summaries were discussed by the Counsellors with NIMHANS Hub Specialists. Half of the counsellors could join >80% clinics and overall there were no drop-outs. There was a significant increase in learning and self-confidence after six months. The participants liked "relevance of the courses to clinical practices". "group based discussions" and "a reduction in professionals isolation". The results indicate promise of the NIMHANS ECHO tele-mentoring model as one with potential for capacity-building in mental health and addiction for remote and rural areas by leveraging technology.

Family Loading and Morbidity Risk of Attention-deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Patients with Alcohol-dependence Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and substance-use disorders often co-occur. AIM: Aim of this study was to look at the family loading of ADHD (in adults and children) in patients with alcohol-dependence syndrome (ADS) along with the estimation of morbidity risk (MR) for developing ADHD. METHODS: Thirty-five male patients with ADS along with their 369 first-degree relatives (FDRs) - both children and adults - were recruited. RESULTS: ADHD and residual ADD (ADDRT) were significantly more common in the early-onset (EO) ADS group and their FDR. In ADHD children, high MR (27.27%) for developing EO of ADS was noted. DISCUSSION: Findings from this study raise an avenue for research in the Indian population about the shared risk between ADS and ADHD.

Cannabis induced psychosis and subsequent psychiatric disorders.

INTRODUCTION: Long term change in diagnosis of patients having Cannabis induced psychosis (CIP) at the index evaluation is well recognised. Some patients are known to achieve complete remission while others go on to develop independent schizophrenia or mood disorders. AIMS: To study the long-term course of CIP and factors influencing it. METHOD: Patients diagnosed as CIP (ICD 10: F12.5), admitted at NIMHANS, a tertiary neuropsychiatry centre at Bangalore, over the past 10 years were identified from medical records. 200 case records were identified and screened in detail. 57 met inclusion criteria and 35 patients could be followed up. Mean follow up duration was 5.75 years. RESULTS: Patients who completely abstained from cannabis after the 1st episode had no relapse of psychiatric illness. They showed marked improvement in socio-occupational functioning as well. All those who relapsed to cannabis use had a recurrence of illness. Half the patients with predominantly non-affective psychosis progressed to an independent psychiatric disorder; while only 7.7% patients with predominantly affective psychosis developed an independent disorder (p=0.01). Besides this, early onset of cannabis use (≤18years), younger age at onset of 1st episode, positive family history of psychiatric illness, being unmarried and lower socio-economic status were associated with poor prognosis. Abstinence later in the course of illness did not improve outcome significantly. CONCLUSION: Abstaining from cannabis early in the course of illness is critical for good recovery. The course of CIP is variable and categorising CIP into affective vs. non-affective psychosis can be useful in clinical practice.

Adherence to Buprenorphine Maintenance Treatment in Opioid Dependence Syndrome: A Case Control Study.

BACKGROUND: Opioid Use disorders are emerging as a serious public health concern in India. Opioid substitution treatment is one of the emerging forms of treatment in this population which needs more evidence to increase its availability and address prejudices towards the same. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a case control study with retrospective design reviewing the charts of patients with opioid dependence syndrome registered between January 2005 to December 2012. Adherence to treatment was the outcome variable assessed in this study. RESULTS: The odds of the Buprenorphine Maintenance Treatment (BMT) group remaining in treatment is 4.5 (P < 0.005) times more than Naltrexone Maintenance Treatment (NMT) group and 7 times (P < 0.001) more than Psychosocial intervention (PST) alone group. DISCUSSION: We believe that these study findings will help in reducing the prejudice towards BMT and encourage further research in this field. CONCLUSION: BMT has a better adherence rate than other treatments in opioid use disorders.