A Young Japanese Patient with Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 3 Presenting Depressive State with Cenesthopathy and Delusion: a Case Report.

Depressive state is a common complication of spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3). To the best of our knowledge, cases of SCA3 presenting with cenesthopathy have not been described. Here, we present a case of a severe depressive state with cenesthopathy and delusion in a young Japanese man with SCA3. A 43-year-old Japanese man with SCA3 developed a severe depressive state with associated cenesthopathy and delusion. He was treated with escitalopram (10 mg/day) and olanzapine (2.5 mg/day). Computed tomography showed atrophy of the cerebellum, bilateral superior cerebellar peduncle, and tegmentum of the pons. Single-photon emission computed tomography demonstrated reduced blood flow in the cerebellum, vermis, and brainstem. After 8 weeks, his depressive state and delusion improved; however, his cenesthopathy persisted. We encountered a case of a severe depressive state with cenesthopathy and delusion in a young Japanese man with SCA3. This case supports previous studies that the cerebellum could have a role beyond motor functions.

Course and symptom and functional correlates of passivity symptoms in schizophrenia: an 18-year multi-follow-up longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND: Change in the experience of oneself may lay the groundwork for the development of additional hallucinations and delusions in individuals with schizophrenia. However, to date, the course and symptom and functioning correlates of passivity symptoms (cf. thought insertion, thought withdrawal) have not been measured consistently over long periods of time. Information on the course and correlates of passivity symptoms is essential for developing models of their contribution to schizophrenic illness. METHOD: Eighty-two individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder were recruited at an index hospitalization and reassessed at three or more follow-ups over the following 18 years. RESULTS: The results indicate that a small group of participants report passivity symptoms at all follow-ups, many reported passivity symptoms at some follow-ups, and the majority of individuals never reported passivity symptoms. The prevalence of passivity symptoms was similar to that for delusions of reference and persecutory delusions. Notably, when individuals did experience passivity symptoms, they also had a greater number of additional psychotic symptoms than individuals without passivity symptoms. Further, the presence of passivity symptoms was associated with work impairment at some assessments. CONCLUSIONS: Passivity symptoms present episodically, at a similar rate as delusions of reference and persecutory delusions, and when present, they are associated with having a higher number of additional psychotic symptoms, as well as having some impact on work functioning. These results suggest that passivity symptoms may increase vulnerability to additional psychotic symptoms and greater work impairment.

Historical and clinical considerations on Ekbom's syndrome.

Ekbom's syndrome represents a relatively uncommon neuropsychiatric condition characterized by the recurrent and bizarre fixed delusional belief to be infested by small organisms or even unanimated materials ('Morgellons disease'), without any objective evidence of infestation/parasitosis. The condition, mainly diagnosed in a nonpsychiatric setting, is supposed to be largely underestimated and, hence, undermanaged. The present comprehensive review aims at investigating Ekbom's syndrome, from a historical, epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic perspective, by providing diagnostic-treatment strategies in managing this condition in routine psychiatric clinical settings. The prototypical patient is a middle-aged woman (or a younger subject in those cases in which substance and/or alcohol abuse is implicated), often single, divorced or widowed (loneliness component and social withdrawal), who has already consulted several specialists due to skin lesions associated with a firm and delusional belief to be infested. The identification and diagnosis are challenging due to poor patient's insight, poor knowledge and collaboration between specialists and differential diagnoses to be considered before asking for a psychiatric referral. Management and treatment strategies mainly derive from isolated case reports or observational studies with a small sample size. Further randomized clinical trials should be performed to evaluate the efficacy of newer antipsychotic drugs, including long-acting injectable formulations.

Different response patterns in hallucinations and delusions to antipsychotic treatment.

Introduction: Psychosis is a multifaceted clinical phenomenon in which the various symptoms may show a differential response to treatment. Important information may be lost when heterogeneous symptoms are grouped together in global sum scores when studying treatment effects.Aims: The aim of this study was to compare the level and rate of change in the two separate symptoms hallucinations and delusions during the acute psychotic phase, and to explore whether potential temporal differences depend on diagnosis or patients being previously medicated with antipsychotics or not.Method: Patients admitted with active symptoms of schizophrenia or related psychotic disorders were included in the Bergen Psychosis Project (BPP) (N = 226), a prospective, pragmatic, study of four second-generation antipsychotics. The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale were assessed at baseline, one, three and six months.Results: Over the total follow-up period, latent growth curve models showed greater reductions in delusions than in hallucinations. However, the percentage of the total reduction was found to be larger in hallucinations than that of delusions in the first interval (91% vs. 64%). The levels and changes in these variables were dependent on diagnosis and whether or not patients had a life-time history of antipsychotic use.Conclusion: Focusing on separate symptoms rather than general symptom clusters could offer clinicians a useful approach when evaluating the early response of antipsychotics.ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT00932529; URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/.

A survey of doctors on diagnosis and treatment of dementia with Lewy bodies: examination and treatment of behavioural and psychological symptoms.

BACKGROUND: Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is a progressive form of dementia, accompanied by a range of behavioural and psychological symptoms. The aim of this study was to identify current clinical practice for the treatment of DLB in Japan. METHODS: We conducted a survey of medical doctors engaged in the management of dementia in Japan. Participants were divided into two groups: psychiatrists (Group P) and neurologists or neurosurgeons (Group NS). Doctors completed a questionnaire and we analysed their responses to compare the two groups with regard to diagnosis and treatment of DLB, and in particular the treatment of behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD). RESULTS: Responses suggested that Group P conducted biomarker examinations less frequently and decided on their own therapeutic strategies more frequently than did Group NS. Both groups most frequently selected hallucinations/delusions as the symptoms given highest treatment priority. More than 70% of respondents in both groups reported having difficulties in treating BPSD. Atypical antipsychotics were more frequently prescribed by Group P, but were also prescribed in 70% of patients in Group NS. A third of patients received atypical antipsychotics for more than 1 year. CONCLUSIONS: The responses to this survey highlighted the difficulties faced by clinicians managing patients with DLB and identified the need to effectively treat BPSD in such patients.

Locked in and Growing Old: The Psychiatric, Forensic, and Cognitive Correlates of 30 Years of Psychiatric Hospitalization.

OBJECTIVE: As the number of older adults in the United States continues to grow, the population of older adults with severe mental illness in institutional settings (OASIS) is expected to place a significant demand on healthcare resources. This study presents an update to research regarding the clinical characteristics of OASIS inpatients with histories of extensive hospitalization through the use of a newly developed psychiatric measure: the Clinician-Rated Dimension of Psychosis Symptom Severity. METHODS: We investigated an OASIS sample (N = 55) with an average of nearly 30 continuous years of hospitalization at a forensic state psychiatric hospital. RESULTS: The average OASIS patient exhibited the most prominent psychiatric symptoms via delusions and negative symptoms, received psychotropic medications at substantially higher doses than recommended therapeutic levels, rarely committed acts of institutional violence (IV), and performed more than two standard deviations below the normative mean on cognitive testing. More severe hallucination symptoms were associated with higher psychotropic medication dosage, and more severe depressive symptoms were associated with more IV incidents. OASIS inpatients performed moderately worse than general psychiatric inpatients in the areas of overall cognition, immediate memory, and delayed memory; older age was associated with poorer language and attention. No psychiatric or cognitive factors predicted IV incidents. CONCLUSION: These results highlight the continued importance of understanding the psychiatric, forensic, and cognitive factors associated with aging in an institutional setting and how these factors among OASIS inpatients may vary from general psychiatric inpatients.

Treating Hallucinations and Delusions Associated With Parkinson's Disease Psychosis.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: We discuss features of Parkinson's disease psychosis (PDP) including symptomology and pathophysiology. Treatment options, including non-pharmacologic strategies, dose reduction of offending agents, and the addition of non-dopaminergic antipsychotics, are addressed. The efficacy of second-generation antipsychotics and novel agents is examined. RECENT FINDINGS: Pimavanserin, a 5-HT2A/C receptor inverse agonist with no other receptor activity, has shown efficacy and tolerability and is now FDA approved for PDP treatment. Research into novel targets is ongoing. PDP is a morbid complication of Parkinson's disease with complex incompletely understood mechanisms. Treatment is directed towards mitigation of psychosis without worsening of motor features.

Delusions of parasitosis: a brief review of the literature and pathway for diagnosis and treatment.

A large proportion of patients seen in dermatology practices have underlying psychological issues associated with their skin diseases. One of the most flagrant examples of this are patients with delusions of parasitosis. These patients have false fixed beliefs that they are infested by parasites and experience cutaneous sensations of crawling, biting, and stinging associated with their delusions. There is no organic skin disorder and all cutaneous manifestations are self-induced. Rather than a psychiatrist, the dermatologist is often designated by the patient to handle the chief complaint, even though the main disorder is psychogenic. In spite of their limited evidence, antipsychotic medications have become the mainstay of therapy for delusions of parasitosis. The dermatologist must therefore be familiar with the approach to diagnosis and the use of antipsychotic or neuroleptic medications, which usually reside in the domain. There are few clinical trials and no substantial randomized controlled trials examining the efficacy of the psychiatrist antipsychotic medication used to treat delusions of parasitosis. This review article synthesizes the current available research and distils it down to analyzes 17 case reports, comprising 37 cases, examining the use of risperidone and olanzapine in the treatment of delusions of parasitosis. These findings are synthesized into a clinical pathway designed to assist dermatologists in effectively managing patients with delusions of parasitosis.

Pimavanserin: A Novel Antipsychotic for Parkinson's Disease Psychosis.

OBJECTIVE: To review the pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, efficacy, safety, and place in therapy of pimavanserin for the treatment of hallucinations and delusions of Parkinson's disease psychosis (PDP). DATA SOURCES: A comprehensive PubMed search (1966 to January 2017) was conducted using the search terms Parkinson's disease psychosis, hallucinations, delusions, pimavanserin, and ACP-103. Additional data were obtained from references of identified articles, governmental sources, manufacturer product labeling and website, and Clinicaltrials.gov. STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION: All English-language trials evaluating pimavanserin in PDP were included. Data from review articles were included if relevant to clinical practice. One phase II and 3 phase III trials are discussed. DATA SYNTHESIS: Pimavanserin was approved in April 2016 for the treatment of delusions and hallucinations of PDP. One phase II and 2 phase III trials reported no difference for primary outcomes when pimavanserin was compared with placebo. The pivotal phase III ACP-103-020 trial adapted a scale to target more specific symptoms prevalent in PDP and showed that least-squares mean differences of the total PD-adapted Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms score were significantly improved for pimavanserin-treated patients as compared with placebo-treated patients (difference = -3.06; 95% CI [-4.91 to -1.20]; P = 0.0014]). Pimavanserin's adverse effect profile includes urinary tract infections, falls, peripheral edema, hallucinations, confusion, nausea, and headaches. CONCLUSION: Pimavanserin is a novel 5-HT2A inverse agonist that has shown promising results for managing hallucinations and delusions in patients with PDP without worsening motor effects or orthostasis. Yet its high cost and specialty pharmacy access may limit use in clinical practice.

Delusional Disorder Arising From a CNS Neoplasm.

Erotomania arising from a central nervous system (CNS) neoplasm has not been previously described. Here, we present the first known case, to our knowledge, of erotomania with associated persecutory delusions arising following diagnosis and treatment of a left frontal lobe brain tumor.

[The Othello syndrome in Parkinson's disease: an example of a lesser-known delusion]. / Het othellosyndroom bij de ziekte van Parkinson; een voorbeeld van een minder bekende waan.

Delusions are fairly common features of Parkinson's disease. Some delusions are easily recognised, but others are less well-known and can be missed by health professionals. We describe the case of a female patient with Parkinson's disease who believed, erroneously, that her partner was being unfaithful; this type of delusion is also called the Othello syndrome. After psychoeducation and the start of clozapine, the delusion faded and the relationship became more peaceful.

A Systematic Review on the Pharmacological Treatment of Delusional Disorder.

BACKGROUND: Pharmacological treatment is the criterion standard in delusional disorder (DD). No second-generation antipsychotic (SGA) is specifically authorized for the treatment of DD. AIMS: To evaluate the evidence available on pharmacological treatments in adults with DD and to compare first-generation antipsychotics (FGA) versus SGA. METHODS: A systematic review on pharmacological treatment of DD following the PRISMA methodology was conducted. We selected the best evidence available and analyzed it critically assessing both, biases and quality, to finally perform a narrative and quantitative synthesis. RESULTS: The evidence available was mainly limited to observational studies and case series. There were no randomized clinical trials. Three hundred eighty-five DD cases were included (177 of which were on SGAs). Overall, antipsychotics achieved a good response in 33.6%% of the patients. As a group, FGAs showed significant superiority compared to SGAs (good response rates were 39% vs 28%, respectively). We did not find superiority of any specific antipsychotic over another. CONCLUSIONS: There is no strong evidence to make definite recommendations, although antipsychotics in general seem to be an effective treatment for DD with a slight superiority in favor of FGAs as compared with SGAs. Existent data are, albeit, scarce and specific clinical trials on DD, are strongly recommended.

A randomised controlled trial of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) for psychosis: study protocol.

BACKGROUND: Cognitive behavior therapy for psychosis has been a prominent intervention in the psychological treatment of psychosis. It is, however, a challenging therapy to deliver and, in the context of increasingly rigorous trials, recent reviews have tempered initial enthusiasm about its effectiveness in improving clinical outcomes. Acceptance and commitment therapy shows promise as a briefer, more easily implemented therapy but has not yet been rigorously evaluated in the context of psychosis. The purpose of this trial is to evaluate whether Acceptance and Commitment Therapy could reduce the distress and disability associated with psychotic symptoms in a sample of community-residing patients with chronic medication-resistant symptoms. METHODS/DESIGN: This is a single (rater)-blind multi-centre randomised controlled trial comparing Acceptance and Commitment Therapy with an active comparison condition, Befriending. Eligible participants have current residual hallucinations or delusions with associated distress or disability which have been present continuously over the past six months despite therapeutic doses of antipsychotic medication. Following baseline assessment, participants are randomly allocated to treatment condition with blinded, post-treatment assessments conducted at the end of treatment and at 6 months follow-up. The primary outcome is overall mental state as measured using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale. Secondary outcomes include preoccupation, conviction, distress and disruption to life associated with symptoms as measured by the Psychotic Symptom Rating Scales, as well as social functioning and service utilisation. The main analyses will be by intention-to-treat using mixed-model repeated measures with non-parametric methods employed if required. The model of change underpinning ACT will be tested using mediation analyses. DISCUSSION: This protocol describes the first randomised controlled trial of Acceptance and commitment therapy in chronic medication-resistant psychosis with an active comparison condition. The rigor of the design will provide an important test of its action and efficacy in this population. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN12608000210370. Date registered: 18 April 2008.