Schizotypal dimensions are associated with current but not former tobacco consumption.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to study the relationship between tobacco smoking and attenuated psychosis measures taking into account several aspects of tobacco consumption that to date have not been explored and that could help understand this association, such as age of onset, the influence of former consumption and the duration of abstinence. METHODS: We investigated, in a sample of 580 students, the relationship between schizotypy (using the schizotypal personality questionnaire-brief in a Likert format) and smoking status, nicotine dependence (measured with the Fagerström test for nicotine dependence), age of onset of smoking and in former smokers, duration of smoking abstinence. RESULTS: 35.2% of the students were current smokers and 13.4% were former smokers. We found that current but not former smokers had higher scores of schizotypy (total, positive and disorganized) than non-smokers. We found no association between schizotypy scores and nicotine dependence or earlier age of onset of smoking. The duration of smoking abstinence, in former smokers, was inversely correlated to the score of positive and total schizotypy. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that tobacco has a reversible effect on schizotypy, but more studies with a different design (controlled, longitudinal) and a more thorough exploration of potential confounders (e.g. cannabis) are needed before a firm conclusion can be reached.

Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire-Brief: Effect of invalid responding on factor structure analysis and scores of schizotypy.

OBJECTIVES: We assessed the effect of invalid responding on factor structure and on scores of schizotypy through the factor analysis of the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire-Brief (SPQ-B) in a sample of 580 Romanian students using 3 validity items and 5 social desirability items. METHODS: We examined the factor structure of the SPQ-B, we compared the mean SPQ-B scores between reliable and unreliable responders and between high vs. low social desirability responders, and we re-run the factor analysis restricting the sample to the reliable or low social desirability responders. RESULTS: Factor analysis resulted in a 3-factor solution: Cognitive-perceptual, Interpersonal and Disorganized dimensions. Unreliable responders had lower scores of positive, negative and total schizotypy. Subjects with high social desirability scores had lower scores of disorganized schizotypy. Factor analyses in the samples of "good" responders showed minor differences in reliable responders, whereas, after taking into account the effect of social desirability, 2 items correctly loaded on expected dimensions. CONCLUSIONS: Random responding and social desirability could influence scores of schizotypy and factor structure. Simple methods could be used to identify invalid responses. The effect of social desirability could be linked to the phrasing of items.

Metabolic imbalance in affective disorders.

INTRODUCTION: Depression is the most frequent mental disorder encountered in all medical services. Multiple studies have shown that depression may predict the onset of different conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes, stroke and many other. The relation between depression and diabetes is still unclear. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study we evaluated patients with both major depressive disorder and type 1 or 2 diabetes, and observed the evolution of depressive and diabetes symptoms under adequate treatment. This observational, naturalistic study included 43 patients admitted in a psychiatric ward of "Alexandru Obregia" Clinical Hospital, Bucharest, diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and Diabetes mellitus (DM) type 1 or 2. All patients received antidepressant and antidiabetic treatment. RESULTS: The majority of patients were women (60.5%), and the mean age was 49.7 years. Average hospitalization period was 23 days, with longer period of hospitalization of patients with DM type 1. Patients had severe depression. Mean value of fasting glycemia at admission was of 174 mg / dl, but it decreased at discharge, in paralel with the amelioration of depression. CONCLUSIONS: The depression associated with DM type 1 is more severe. These patients require higher doses of antidepressants and longer hospitalization period. Amelioration of depression seems to have a positive impact on the blood sugar level of depressed patients with diabetes.

Nutrition and depression at the forefront of progress.

Depression is a debilitating disorder estimated to become the second cause of morbidity worldwide by the year 2020. The limited efficacy of antidepressant therapy, as well as the major negative consequences of this disorder, has stimulated additional research in order to determine possible adjunctive treatments. There is mounting evidence linking dietary patterns to major depression development. This article presents some of the most significant findings concerning the role of nutrition in major depressive disorder. Although more focused and clear results are needed, the correlation between nutrition and mental health is gaining attention. Now, there is evidence supporting the importance of nutrition in maintaining good mental health. We emphasize multiple findings that support adherence to healthy dietary patterns, taking into account that the production of neurotransmitters need, among others, right amounts of nutrients, a lot of which can only be supplied through diet. Not only certain nutrients are needed for proper brain functioning, but also others can be harmful, promoting depression. The Mediterranean diet has been linked to a low prevalence of depression while fast-food consumption has been found to increase the risk of developing and aggravating this disorder, hence the need for nutritional interventions. From the perspective of discovering modifiable risk factors, the role of nutrition in psychiatry could be more important than it was initially considered.

Social impact of behavioral disorders in psychiatric patients.

Background: Violent behavior is often met in patients with mental health disorders. An important area of research studied different factors that can influence aggressive behavior in psychiatric patients. Objectives: The paper's aim was to compare different characteristics between two groups of patients, who presented with psychiatric disorders and aggressive behavior. Demographic characteristics, diagnosis, use of alcohol, history of brain injury, physical and verbal aggression were analyzed in both groups. Methods: The first group was formed of 23 mentally ill patients framed into the Article 114 Criminal Code who presented aggressive behavior and committed various offences. In the second group, 45 patients admitted at psychiatry without their consent were included, after having committed different acts of aggression. Results: The patients from the first group had significantly more psychiatric admissions in their history than the patients from the second group. A higher percentage of alcohol users was registered in the first group, compared to the second one. More patients with personality disorders and concomitant use of alcohol were present in the first group, compared to the second group. In both groups, aggressive behavior was more frequent in patients having psychotic disorders, compared to other diagnosis. Even if overall aggression was more frequent in the second group, when alcohol use (with or without brain injury) was present, aggressive behavior became more frequent in the first group. Conclusions: Results of the study suggest that when certain conditions are met, they can significantly influence the behavior of psychiatric patients, with notable differences in each group.