Psychometric Evaluation of the Pediatric Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire in a General Youth Population.

Pediatric Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire is a brief 15-item self-report measure of quality of life and life satisfaction originally developed for clinical populations (6 to 17 years old). The current paper examines the initial factor structure proposed by the developers and underlying psychometric properties of the measure in a non-clinical population of teens. A cross-sectional adolescent sample (N = 3222) completed self-report measures as part of mental health promotion program. A confirmatory factor analysis was conducted with construct validity analyses. The original factor structure was replicated with strong internal consistency (Cronbach α = .912). Strong construct validity (e.g. resilience, well-being, depression, and anxiety) was found. Minimal differences were found based on gender, race, and ethnicity. PQ-LES-Q has strong, replicable psychometric properties, which makes it a generally reliable and valid assessment tool to evaluate the quality of life and life satisfaction in adolescents.

Peripheral loss of EphA4 ameliorates TBI-induced neuroinflammation and tissue damage.

BACKGROUND: The continuum of pro- and anti-inflammatory response elicited by traumatic brain injury (TBI) is suggested to play a key role in the outcome of TBI; however, the underlying mechanisms remain ill -defined. METHODS: Here, we demonstrate that using bone marrow chimeric mice and systemic inhibition of EphA4 receptor shifts the pro-inflammatory milieu to pro-resolving following acute TBI. RESULTS: EphA4 expression is increased in the injured cortex as early as 2 h post-TBI and on CX3CR1gfp-positive cells in the peri-lesion. Systemic inhibition or genetic deletion of EphA4 significantly reduced cortical lesion volume and shifted the inflammatory profile of peripheral-derived immune cells to pro-resolving in the damaged cortex. These findings were consistent with in vitro studies showing EphA4 inhibition or deletion altered the inflammatory state of LPS-stimulated monocyte/macrophages towards anti-inflammatory. Phosphoarray analysis revealed that EphA4 may regulate pro-inflammatory gene expression by suppressing the mTOR, Akt, and NF-κB pathways. Our human metadata analysis further demonstrates increased EPHA4 and pro-inflammatory gene expression, which correlates with reduced AKT concurrent with increased brain injury severity in patients. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, these findings implicate EphA4 as a novel mediator of cortical tissue damage and neuroinflammation following TBI.

Use of a Fully Automated Internet-Based Cognitive Behavior Therapy Intervention in a Community Population of Adults With Depression Symptoms: Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Although internet-based cognitive behavior therapy (iCBT) interventions can reduce depression symptoms, large differences in their effectiveness exist. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an iCBT intervention called Thrive, which was designed to enhance engagement when delivered as a fully automated, stand-alone intervention to a rural community population of adults with depression symptoms. METHODS: Using no diagnostic or treatment exclusions, 343 adults with depression symptoms were recruited from communities using an open-access website and randomized 1:1 to the Thrive intervention group or the control group. Using self-reports, participants were evaluated at baseline and 4 and 8 weeks for the primary outcome of depression symptom severity and secondary outcome measures of anxiety symptoms, work and social adjustment, psychological resilience, and suicidal ideation. RESULTS: Over the 8-week follow-up period, the intervention group (n=181) had significantly lower depression symptom severity than the control group (n=162; P<.001), with a moderate treatment effect size (d=0.63). Moderate to near-moderate effect sizes favoring the intervention group were observed for anxiety symptoms (P<.001; d=0.47), work/social functioning (P<.001; d=0.39), and resilience (P<.001; d=0.55). Although not significant, the intervention group was 45% less likely than the control group to experience increased suicidal ideation (odds ratio 0.55). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that the Thrive intervention was effective in reducing depression and anxiety symptom severity and improving functioning and resilience among a mostly rural community population of US adults. The effect sizes associated with Thrive were generally larger than those of other iCBT interventions delivered as a fully automated, stand-alone intervention. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03244878; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03244878.

Effectiveness of paliperidone palmitate vs haloperidol decanoate for maintenance treatment of schizophrenia: a randomized clinical trial.

IMPORTANCE: Long-acting injectable antipsychotics are used to reduce medication nonadherence and relapse in schizophrenia-spectrum disorders. The relative effectiveness of long-acting injectable versions of second-generation and older antipsychotics has not been assessed. OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of the second-generation long-acting injectable antipsychotic paliperidone palmitate with the older long-acting injectable antipsychotic haloperidol decanoate. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Multisite, double-blind, randomized clinical trial conducted from March 2011 to July 2013 at 22 US clinical research sites. Randomized patients (n = 311) were adults diagnosed with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder who were clinically assessed to be at risk of relapse and likely to benefit from a long-acting injectable antipsychotic. INTERVENTIONS: Intramuscular injections of haloperidol decanoate 25 to 200 mg or paliperidone palmitate 39 to 234 mg every month for as long as 24 months. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Efficacy failure, defined as a psychiatric hospitalization, a need for crisis stabilization, a substantial increase in frequency of outpatient visits, a clinician's decision that oral antipsychotic could not be discontinued within 8 weeks after starting the long-acting injectable antipsychotics, or a clinician's decision to discontinue the assigned long-acting injectable due to inadequate therapeutic benefit. Key secondary outcomes were common adverse effects of antipsychotic medications. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference in the rate of efficacy failure for paliperidone palmitate compared with haloperidol decanoate (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.65-1.47). The number of participants who experienced efficacy failure was 49 (33.8%) in the paliperidone palmitate group and 47 (32.4%) in the haloperidol decanoate group. On average, participants in the paliperidone palmitate group gained weight and those in the haloperidol decanoate group lost weight; after 6 months, the least-squares mean weight change for those taking paliperidone palmitate was increased by 2.17 kg (95% CI, 1.25-3.09) and was decreased for those taking haloperidol decanoate (-0.96 kg; 95% CI, -1.88 to -0.04). Patients taking paliperidone palmitate had significantly higher maximum mean levels of serum prolactin (men, 34.56 µg/L [95% CI, 29.75-39.37] vs 15.41 µg/L [95% CI, 10.73-20.08]; P <.001, and for women, 75.19 [95% CI, 63.03-87.36] vs 26.84 [95% CI, 13.29-40.40]; P<.001). Patients taking haloperidol decanoate had significantly larger increases in global ratings of akathisia (0.73 [95% CI, 0.59-0.87] vs 0.45 [95% CI, 0.31-0.59]; P=.006). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: In adults with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, use of paliperidone palmitate vs haloperidol decanoate did not result in a statistically significant difference in efficacy failure, but was associated with more weight gain and greater increases in serum prolactin, whereas haloperidol decanoate was associated with more akathisia. However, the CIs do not rule out the possibility of a clinically meaningful advantage with paliperidone palmitate. TRIAL REGISTRATION: clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01136772.

Curricula for teaching clinical practice guidelines in US psychiatry residency and child and adolescent fellowship programs: a survey study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the characteristics of curricula for teaching the content of clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) in psychiatric residency and child and adolescent fellowship programs as well as to determine if and how the learning of CPG content is applied in clinical care settings. METHODS: We conducted a national online survey of directors of general psychiatry residency and child and adolescent fellowship programs in the USA. The survey questionnaire included 13 brief questions about the characteristics used to teach CPGs in the programs, as well as two demographic questions about each program and director. Descriptive statistics were reported for each questionnaire item by program classification (i.e., child and adolescent vs. general psychiatry). RESULTS: The survey response rate was 49.8% (146 out of 293). Just 23% of programs reported having written goals and objectives related to teaching CPGs. The most frequently taught aspect of CPGs was their content (72% of programs). Didactic sessions were the most frequently employed teaching strategy (79% of programs). Regarding the application of CPG learning in treatment care settings, just 16% of programs applied algorithms in care settings, and 15% performed evaluations to determine consistency between CPG recommendations and care delivery. Only 8% of programs utilized audit and feedback to residents about their adherence to CPGs. Faculty time constraints and insufficient interest were the leading barriers (39% and 33% of programs, respectively) to CPG teaching, although 38% reported no barriers. However, child and adolescent programs less commonly identified insufficient interest among faculty as a barrier to teaching CPGs compared to general programs (20% vs. 43%). Moreover, compared to general programs, child and adolescent fellowship programs taught more aspects of CPGs, used more educational activities to teach the content of specific CPGs, and used more methods to evaluate the teaching of CPGs. CONCLUSIONS: Although the majority of programs provided some teaching of CPGs, the rigorousness of the teaching approaches was limited, especially attempts to evaluate the extent and effectiveness of their use in clinical care. Child and adolescent fellowship programs provided more extensive teaching and evaluation related to CPGs.

Reporting quality of published reviews of commercial and publicly available mobile health apps (mHealth app reviews): a scoping review protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Reviews of commercial and publicly available smartphone (mobile) health applications (mHealth app reviews) are being undertaken and published. However, there is variation in the conduct and reporting of mHealth app reviews, with no existing reporting guidelines. Building on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, we aim to develop the Consensus for APP Review Reporting Items (CAPPRRI) guidance, to support the conduct and reporting of mHealth app reviews. This scoping review of published mHealth app reviews will explore their alignment, deviation, and modification to the PRISMA 2020 items for systematic reviews and identify a list of possible items to include in CAPPRRI. METHOD AND ANALYSIS: We are following the Joanna Briggs Institute approach and Arksey and O'Malley's five-step process. Patient and public contributors, mHealth app review, digital health research and evidence synthesis experts, healthcare professionals and a specialist librarian gave feedback on the methods. We will search SCOPUS, CINAHL Plus, AMED, EMBASE, Medline, APA PsycINFO and the ACM Digital Library for articles reporting mHealth app reviews and use a two-step screening process to identify eligible articles. Information on whether the authors have reported, or how they have modified the PRISMA 2020 items in their reporting, will be extracted. Data extraction will also include the article characteristics, protocol and registration information, review question frameworks used, information about the search and screening process, how apps have been evaluated and evidence of stakeholder engagement. This will be analysed using a content synthesis approach and presented using descriptive statistics and summaries. This protocol is registered on OSF (https://osf.io/5ahjx). ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval is not required. The findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed journal publications (shared on our project website and on the EQUATOR Network website where the CAPPRRI guidance has been registered as under development), conference presentations and blog and social media posts in lay language.

Subjective quality of life and sexual dysfunction in outpatients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder.

The objective of this research was to examine the association between sexual dysfunction and subjective quality of life in outpatients with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. The authors evaluated a sample of 238 adult outpatients with diagnoses of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder who took quetiapine, olanzapine, or risperidone at study entry with a 1-time rating of the Arizona Sexual Experience Scale and the general life satisfaction scale item of the quality of life index. The authors used multiple linear robust regression and Spearman partial correlation coefficient to examine the relation between subjective quality of life (measured by the general life satisfaction scale item) and sexual functioning (measured by the Arizona sexual experience scale). The authors found a significant negative linear relation between the Arizona Sexual Experience Scale total score and the general life satisfaction scale item for the overall sample (r(s) = -0.16, p = .01), but not separately for men or women. Sexual dysfunction in men and women with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder is associated with decreased subjective quality of life, although the magnitude of the effect size was relatively small. Improving clinicians' awareness of the importance of sexual dysfunction in patients may improve tolerability and subsequent treatment outcomes.

A single assessment with the Brief Adherence Rating Scale (BARS) discriminates responders to long-acting injectable antipsychotic treatment in patients with schizophrenia.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if a single baseline adherence assessment (Brief Adherence Rating Scale [BARS]) could identify patients who are likely to respond to long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotic treatment. METHOD: The current secondary analysis included a sub-sample of adult outpatients (N = 176) with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder who participated in the "A Comparison of Long-Acting Injectable Medications for Schizophrenia (ACLAIMS)" trial and had a baseline BARS assessment and a baseline and month 3 Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) rating. The main outcome was LAI treatment response, defined as a ≥ 20% decrease (baseline to month 3) on the PANSS total score. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) and Area Under the Curve (AUC) analysis was conducted to determine the optimal cutpoint of baseline BARS adherence in discriminating LAI treatment response at month 3. A logistic mixed model estimated the odds of response to LAI treatment at month 3 from the optimal baseline BARS cutpoint. RESULTS: The ROC analysis determined that the single baseline BARS rating (cutoff ≤66%), indicating low adherence, best discriminated patients likely to respond to LAI treatment (AUC = 0.603, SE = 0.046, 95% binomial exact CI = 0.527 to 0.676, p = 0.025), with 38% sensitivity and 85% specificity. The logistic mixed model analysis revealed that patients with ≤66% BARS adherence had 3.464 times the predicted odds (95% CI = 1.604 to 7.480, p = 0.001) of responding to LAI treatment than those who were >66% BARS adherent. CONCLUSION: A single baseline BARS assessment discriminated response to LAI treatment suggesting it is a reasonable tool to identify candidates for LAI antipsychotic treatment.

Feasibility and Acceptability of the Youth Aware of Mental Health (YAM) Intervention in US Adolescents.

Suicide is the second leading cause of death among US adolescents, and rates of suicide among youth have been increasing for the past decade. This study assessed the feasibility and acceptability of the universal, school-based Youth Aware of Mental Health (YAM) program, a promising mental health promotion and suicide primary prevention intervention, in US youth. Using an uncontrolled design, the feasibility and acceptability of delivering and studying YAM were assessed in Montana and Texas schools. Thirteen of 16 (81.3%) schools agreed to support YAM delivery, and five Montana and 6 Texas schools were included in analyses. Facilitators delivered YAM in 78 classes (1,878 students) as regular high school curriculum. Of the total number of students who received YAM, 519 (27.6%) provided parental consent and assent. 436 (84.0%) consented students participated in pre- and post-surveys. Students, parents, and school staff found YAM highly acceptable based on satisfaction surveys. In summary, this study found YAM feasible to implement in US schools. Results also suggest students, parents, and school staff supported school-based programs and were highly satisfied with the YAM program. A randomized controlled trial is warranted to test the efficacy of YAM in promoting mental health and preventing suicidal thoughts and behaviors in US adolescents.

The Youth Aware of Mental Health Intervention: Impact on Help Seeking, Mental Health Knowledge, and Stigma in U.S. Adolescents.

PURPOSE: Suicide is a leading cause of death among U.S. youth aged 12-18 years. Youth Aware of Mental Health (YAM), a promising, universal, school-based mental health promotion/suicide primary prevention intervention for adolescents, has been evaluated in Europe but not in the U.S. The present study used an uncontrolled, pretest/post-test design to document the potential for YAM to reduce suicidal ideation, attempt, and suicide. A demonstration that help seeking behaviors, mental health literacy, and mental health stigmatizing attitudes improve after the intervention would suggest that the program is promising in the U.S., as well as in Europe, and that further investigation is merited. METHODS: YAM was delivered to 1,878 students in 11 schools as part of regular school curricula. A subset of these students (n = 436) completed surveys before and 3 months postdelivery. Surveys included five questions about help seeking behaviors, a measure of intent to seek help (General Help Seeking Questionnaire), two mental health literacy scales, and two mental illness stigma scales (Reported and Intended Behavior Scale and Personal Stigma and Social Distance Scale). Both McNemar's test and repeated measures linear models were used to determine whether the survey outcomes changed after YAM delivery. RESULTS: Among the 436 adolescents (286 and 150 in Montana and Texas, respectively), significant increases were found pre- to post-intervention in three of five help seeking behaviors, along with improved mental health literacy and decreased mental health-related stigma. Intent to seek help was unchanged. CONCLUSIONS: Several help seeking behavioral factors, mental health knowledge, and stigma improved post-YAM intervention. All three domains are likely protective against suicide. A randomized controlled trial testing the efficacy of YAM in preventing suicidal behaviors is warranted.

Effects of aripiprazole on prolactin levels in subjects with schizophrenia during cross-titration with risperidone or olanzapine: analysis of a randomized, open-label study.

Hyperprolactinemia, an adverse effect associated with the use of typical antipsychotics and the atypical antipsychotic risperidone, has both acute and chronic clinical consequences. One option for clinical management is switching to an agent with a lower liability for inducing hyperprolactinemia. This post-hoc sub-analysis of an 8-week, open-label study in outpatients with schizophrenia (CN138-215) examined short-term effects on prolactin levels during a switch from risperidone or olanzapine to aripiprazole 30 mg/day. Three switch strategies were used: (I) immediate aripiprazole initiation with simultaneous immediate discontinuation of olanzapine/risperidone; (II) immediate aripiprazole initiation while tapering off olanzapine/risperidone over 14 days; (III) titrating aripiprazole upwards while tapering off olanzapine/risperidone over 14 days. Changes in prolactin levels from baseline to each last observation carried forward time point were compared with t-tests using Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons. This sub-analysis included 269 subjects: 105 previously treated with risperidone; 164 previously treated with olanzapine. Mean baseline prolactin levels (ng/mL) were within normal range for the three olanzapine groups (Group-I, 11.7; Group-II, 13.2; Group-III, 11.2), but above normal for the risperidone groups (Group-I, 39.7; Group-II, 48.5; Group-III, 33.5). Following aripiprazole initiation, mean prolactin levels decreased significantly (p<0.001) at week-1 and were maintained to week-8 in all groups irrespective of prior treatment. Previously elevated prolactin levels in the risperidone groups were reduced to within normal range within 1 week, irrespective of switching strategy. Tolerability was good regardless of prior medication or switching strategy. Overall, rapid decreases of prolactin levels were achieved safely with all three aripiprazole switching strategies. Reversal of hyperprolactinemia during the crossover period indicates the safety and potential utility of aripiprazole addition in patients with elevated prolactin.

The Brief Adherence Rating Scale (BARS) validated against electronic monitoring in assessing the antipsychotic medication adherence of outpatients with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder.

Among outpatients with schizophrenia, antipsychotic non-adherence is common, grossly under-detected by patients and their prescribers, and is associated with poor clinical outcomes. Using electronic monitoring (EM) as the reference standard we evaluated the reliability and validity as well as the sensitivity and specificity of a recently developed, brief, pencil-paper, clinician-administered adherence instrument [the Brief Adherence Rating Scale (BARS)] to assess the oral antipsychotic medication adherence of outpatients with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. EM and BARS adherence and symptom severity ratings were gathered at baseline and prospectively at 6 monthly visits in 61 participants (n=35 with schizophrenia; n=26 with schizoaffective disorder). A significant positive relationship was found between mean BARS and EM adherence (beta=0.98; rs=0.59, p<0.0001). Cronbach's coefficient alpha revealed very high internal reliability for the BARS (alpha=0.92). A moderate-to-strong degree of test-retest reliability was also found for the BARS (beta ranged from 0.53 to 0.92 and rs ranged from 0.46 to 0.86). Regarding concurrent validity of the BARS, greater mean BARS adherence was significantly related to lower mean PANSS total scores (beta=-0.40; rs=-0.39, p=0.002) and to lower mean Positive symptom sub-scale scores (beta=-0.08, p=.007; rs=-0.28, p=.02). An initial 3-month monitoring period with the BARS also demonstrated good sensitivity (73%) and specificity (74%) in identifying non-adherent outpatients (defined as <70% mean EM adherence). Relative to EM, the BARS appears to provide valid, reliable, sensitive, and specific estimates of antipsychotic medication adherence of outpatients with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. The BARS appears to be a promising candidate as a brief adherence assessment instrument for feasible use in community-based settings.

Electronic monitoring of antipsychotic medication adherence in outpatients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder: an empirical evaluation of its reliability and predictive validity.

This study examined the reliability and predictive validity of electronic monitoring (EM) in assessing the oral antipsychotic medication adherence of outpatients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. Sixty-one adult outpatients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder who took a single oral antipsychotic medication were assessed monthly over a 6-month study period with EM of medication bottle opening. Symptom severity, as measured by the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) total score, was assessed monthly over the 6-month study period. Cronbach's coefficient alpha revealed very high internal reliability (alpha=0.94). A high degree of test-retest reliability was found (beta ranged from 0.75 to 1.19 and r ranged from 0.63 to 0.90). As for predictive validity, greater mean EM adherence was significantly related to lower mean symptom severity.

Sexual functioning associated with quetiapine switch vs. risperidone continuation in outpatients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder: a randomized double-blind pilot trial.

This study evaluated the effect of switching to quetiapine vs. risperidone continuation on sexual functioning in outpatients with risperidone-associated sexual dysfunction. Outpatients (n=42, age>or=18 years) with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder who experienced risperidone-associated sexual dysfunction were randomized to 6 weeks of double-blind risperidone continuation (mean dose=4.1 mg/day, S.D.=1.2) or quetiapine switch (mean dose=290.0 mg/day, S.D.=55.2) treatment. The five-item Arizona Sexual Experience Scale (ASEX) assessed sexual functioning at baseline and subsequently at weeks 2, 4 and 6. A mixed-model analysis of repeated measures included gender and baseline ASEX and PANSS scores as covariates. There was no significant Treatment Group effect for ASEX total scores and ASEX sub-items, and no significant Treatment GroupxPeriod interaction for ASEX total scores and ASEX sub-items. Treatment Group effects were not significantly different in any of the prospective weeks for ASEX total scores and ASEX sub-items. Adjusted mean ASEX total scores were slightly lower in the quetiapine switch group than in the risperidone continuation group at weeks 2 and 6 (21.27 vs. 22.18 and 18.51 vs. 20.53, respectively), but were nearly identical at week 4 (20.01 vs. 20.15). In this pilot trial, sexual functioning did not differ significantly between outpatients receiving quetiapine switch vs. risperidone continuation, although the quetiapine switch group had slightly lower adjusted mean ASEX total scores at weeks 2 and 6.

Identifying patients and clinical scenarios for use of long-acting injectable antipsychotics - expert consensus survey part 1.

OBJECTIVE: To assess expert consensus on barriers and facilitators for long-acting injectable antipsychotic (LAI) use and provide clinical recommendations on issues where clinical evidence is lacking, including identifying appropriate clinical situations for LAI use. METHODS: A 50-question survey comprising 916 response options was distributed to 42 research experts and high prescribers with extensive LAI experience. Respondents rated options on relative appropriateness/importance using a 9-point scale. Consensus was determined using chi-square test of score distributions. Mean (standard deviation) ratings were calculated. Responses to 29 questions (577 options) relating to appropriate patients and clinical scenarios for LAI use are reported. RESULTS: Recommendations aligned with research on risk factors for nonadherence and poor outcomes for patients with schizophrenia/schizoaffective or bipolar disorder. Findings suggested, contrary to general practice patterns, that LAI use may be appropriate earlier in the disease course and in younger patients. Results for bipolar disorder were similar to those for schizophrenia but with less consensus. Numerous facilitators of LAI prescribing were considered important, particularly that LAIs may reduce relapses and improve outcomes. CONCLUSION: Findings support wider use of LAIs in patients with schizophrenia/schizoaffective and bipolar disorders beyond the setting of poor adherence and earlier use in the disease course.

Initiating/maintaining long-acting injectable antipsychotics in schizophrenia/schizoaffective or bipolar disorder - expert consensus survey part 2.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to provide recommendations on initiating and maintaining long-acting injectable antipsychotics (LAIs) in individuals with schizophrenia/schizoaffective or bipolar disorder. METHODS: A 50-question survey comprising 916 response options was completed by 34 expert researchers and high prescribers with extensive LAI experience, rating relative appropriateness/importance on a 9-point scale. Consensus was determined using chi-square test of score distributions. Results of 21 questions comprising 339 response options regarding LAI initiation, maintenance treatment, adequate trial definition, identifying treatment nonresponse, and switching are reported. RESULTS: Experts agreed that the most important LAI selection factor was patient response/tolerability to previous antipsychotics. An adequate therapeutic LAI trial was defined as the time to steady state ± 1-2 injection cycles. Experts suggested that oral efficacy and tolerability should be established before switching to an LAI, without consensus on the required time, and that the time for oral supplementation and next injection interval should be determined by the time to attainment of therapeutic LAI levels. Most experts agreed that ≥1 adequate LAI trial is needed to identify the lack of efficacy. There was little agreement about strategies for switching between LAIs. CONCLUSION: Expert guidance may aid clinicians in their decisions regarding initiating/maintaining LAIs in individuals with schizophrenia/schizoaffective or bipolar disorder.

Validity of electronically monitored medication adherence and conventional adherence measures in schizophrenia.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the validity of prescriber, patient, and research assistant ratings of adherence to prescribed oral antipsychotic medication among outpatients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder in comparison with electronic monitoring. METHODS: Adult outpatients with schizophrenia (N=35) or schizoaffective disorder (N=26) received adherence assessments via electronically monitored medication vial caps as well as by monthly prescriber, patient, and research assistant report for up to six months. RESULTS: Electronic monitoring detected greater nonadherence rates (57%) than either prescribers (7%) or patients (5%), though the research assistant ratings were 54%. No directional bias was found between electronic monitoring and assignment of adherence by research assistants, although disagreement occurred in 36% of cases. CONCLUSIONS: Both patients and prescribers grossly overestimated medication adherence, which may interfere with or reduce the effectiveness of diligent medication management.

Erratum to: Neural synchronization deficits linked to cortical hyper-excitability and auditory hypersensitivity in fragile X syndrome.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1186/s13229-017-0140-1.].

Neural synchronization deficits linked to cortical hyper-excitability and auditory hypersensitivity in fragile X syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Studies in the fmr1 KO mouse demonstrate hyper-excitability and increased high-frequency neuronal activity in sensory cortex. These abnormalities may contribute to prominent and distressing sensory hypersensitivities in patients with fragile X syndrome (FXS). The current study investigated functional properties of auditory cortex using a sensory entrainment task in FXS. METHODS: EEG recordings were obtained from 17 adolescents and adults with FXS and 17 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Participants heard an auditory chirp stimulus generated using a 1000-Hz tone that was amplitude modulated by a sinusoid linearly increasing in frequency from 0-100 Hz over 2 s. RESULTS: Single trial time-frequency analyses revealed decreased gamma band phase-locking to the chirp stimulus in FXS, which was strongly coupled with broadband increases in gamma power. Abnormalities in gamma phase-locking and power were also associated with theta-gamma amplitude-amplitude coupling during the pre-stimulus period and with parent reports of heightened sensory sensitivities and social communication deficits. CONCLUSIONS: This represents the first demonstration of neural entrainment alterations in FXS patients and suggests that fast-spiking interneurons regulating synchronous high-frequency neural activity have reduced functionality. This reduced ability to synchronize high-frequency neural activity was related to the total power of background gamma band activity. These observations extend findings from fmr1 KO models of FXS, characterize a core pathophysiological aspect of FXS, and may provide a translational biomarker strategy for evaluating promising therapeutics.