Clinical risk model to predict 28-day unplanned readmission via the accident and emergency department after discharge from acute psychiatric units for patients with psychotic spectrum disorders.

BACKGROUND: Unplanned readmissions rates are an important indicator of the quality of care provided in a psychiatric unit. However, there is no validated risk model to predict this outcome in patients with psychotic spectrum disorders. AIMS: This paper aims to establish a clinical risk prediction model to predict 28-day unplanned readmission via the accident and emergency department after discharge from acute psychiatric units for patients with psychotic spectrum disorders. METHOD: Adult patients with psychotic spectrum disorders discharged within a 5-year period from all psychiatric units in Hong Kong were included in this study. Information on the socioeconomic background, past medical and psychiatric history, current discharge episode and Health of the Nation Outcome Scales (HoNOS) scores were used in a logistic regression to derive the risk model and the predictive variables. The sample was randomly split into two to derive (n = 10 219) and validate (n = 10 643) the model. RESULTS: The rate of unplanned readmission was 7.09%. The risk factors for unplanned readmission include higher number of previous admissions, comorbid substance misuse, history of violence and a score of one or more in the discharge HoNOS overactivity or aggression item. Protective factors include older age, prescribing clozapine, living with family and relatives after discharge and imposition of conditional discharge. The model had moderate discriminative power with a c-statistic of 0.705 and 0.684 on the derivation and validation data-set. CONCLUSIONS: The risk of readmission for each patient can be identified and adjustments in the treatment for those with a high risk may be implemented to prevent this undesirable outcome.

Cognitive performance is impaired in euthymic Chinese patients with Bipolar 1 Disorder.

BACKGROUND: Data from euthymic patients with Bipolar Disorder (BD) has shown cognitive impairment and the notion that sufferers of BD achieve full recovery between illness episodes is questionable. These findings have not been replicated in a Chinese population. The present study examined the cognitive profile of euthymic Chinese patients with Bipolar 1 Disorder (BD-1) and matched healthy control participants. METHODS: Euthymic patients with BD-1 and matched controls (n=104 in total) completed serial measures to assess mood and also completed an IQ test and the Central Nervous System Vital Signs (CNSVS) computerized battery assessing memory (verbal and visual), executive functions, attention, psychomotor and processing speed. RESULTS: Patients with BD-1 performed worse than controls on all cognitive domains. When using 2 or more scores below the 5th percentile as a cutoff for neurocognitive impairment, 46.2% of the patients with BD-1 and none of the control sample scored in this range (p<.001). Correlational analysis among the illness variables in BD-1 revealed that cognitive performance was inversely correlated with the number of manic episodes and duration of illness. LIMITATIONS: It was not possible to determine the causal relationship between associated illness and performance. The effect of medication on cognitive performance requires further study. CONCLUSIONS: Euthymic Chinese patients with BD-1 demonstrate marked cognitive impairments and these correlated with illness parameters. Cognitive impairment in BD may be independent of language and culture.

Schizophrenia with prominent catatonic features ('catatonic schizophrenia') III. Latent class analysis of the catatonic syndrome.

No reports have yet been published on catatonia using latent class analysis (LCA). This study applied LCA to a large, diagnostically homogenous sample of patients with chronic schizophrenia who also presented with catatonic symptoms. A random sample of 225 Chinese inpatients with DSM-IV schizophrenia was selected from the long-stay wards of a psychiatric hospital. Their psychopathology, extrapyramidal motor status and level of functioning were evaluated with standardized rating scales. Catatonia was rated using a modified version of the Bush-Francis Catatonia Rating Scale. LCA was then applied to the 178 patients who presented with at least one catatonic sign. In LCA a four-class solution was found to fit best the statistical model. Classes 1, 2, 3 and 4 constituted 18%, 39.4%, 20.1% and 22.5% of the whole catatonic sample, respectively. Class 1 included patients with symptoms of 'automatic' phenomena (automatic obedience, Mitgehen, waxy flexibility). Class 2 comprised patients with 'repetitive/echo' phenomena (perseveration, stereotypy, verbigeration, mannerisms and grimacing). Class 3 contained patients with symptoms of 'withdrawal' (immobility, mutism, posturing, staring and withdrawal). Class 4 consisted of 'agitated/resistive' patients, who displayed symptoms of excitement, impulsivity, negativism and combativeness. The symptom composition of these 4 classes was nearly identical with that of the four factors identified by factor analysis in the same cohort of subjects in an earlier study. In multivariate regression analysis, the 'withdrawn' class was associated with higher scores on the Scale of Assessment of Negative Symptoms and lower and higher scores for negative and positive items respectively on the Nurses' Observation Scale for Inpatient Evaluation's (NOSIE). The 'automatic' class was associated with lower values on the Simpson-Angus Extrapyramidal Side Effects Scale, and the 'repetitive/echo' class with higher scores on the NOSIE positive items. These results provide preliminary support for the notion that chronic schizophrenia patients with catatonic features can be classified into 4 distinct syndromal groups on the basis of their motor symptoms. Identifying distinct catatonic syndromes would help to find their biological substrates and to develop specific therapeutic measures.

Clinical correlates of the caregiving experience for Chinese caregivers of patients with schizophrenia.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the correlation between clinical characteristics and the caregiving experience of caregivers of patients with schizophrenia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Two hundred and one patients with schizophrenia and their caregivers were recruited from a psychiatric clinic. The involvement evaluation questionnaire (IEQ) and the general health questionnaire (GHQ) were administered to the caregivers. The patients were assessed by the Structured Clinical Interview, the positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS) and the global assessment of functioning scale (GAF). Correlation analysis and regression analysis was performed to identify the best predictors of caregiver stress. RESULTS: The most important clinical predictor of caregiver stress as assessed using IEQ was the GAF, followed by PANSS-Pos and Neg scores and admission. Positive symptoms contributed more to overall caregiver stress than negative symptoms. DISCUSSION: Both symptom severity and patient function were important factors in the caregiver experience. Treatment should aim not only to reduce symptoms but also maximize function. Service planning should include psychosocial intervention involving caregivers.

Rating catatonia in patients with chronic schizophrenia: Rasch analysis of the Bush-Francis Catatonia Rating Scale.

BACKGROUND: Catatonic signs and symptoms are frequently observed in patients with chronic schizophrenia. Clinical surveys have suggested that the composition of catatonic syndrome occurring in chronic schizophrenia may be different from what is found in acute psychiatric disorders or medical conditions. Consequently, this patient population may need tailor-made rating instruments for catatonia. The aim of the present study was to examine the suitability and accuracy of using the Bush-Francis Catatonia Rating Scale (BFCRS) in chronic schizophrenia inpatients. METHOD: The unidimensionality (optimal number of items; item fit), and the scoring scheme (the optimal number of scoring categories) of the BFCRS were determined in a random sample of 225 patients with chronic schizophrenia applying Rasch analysis. In addition, differential item functioning (DIF) analysis was also performed. RESULTS: The BFCRS proved to be unidimensional apart from three misfit and one marginally misfit items. The three misfit items were removed from the scale thereby constructing a revised version called BFCRS-R. Since the original BFCRS (BFCRS-O) showed no increase across items across steep gradients (poor endorsability of step calibrations), in BFCRS-R a binary scale ('absent' versus 'present' choices only) was constructed instead of the scoring scheme of 0-3. The 20-item BFCRS-R showed improved psychometric properties in that it had a higher item separation index than BFCRS-O. BFCRS-R mean logit was closer to zero indicating that the items on the scale and the subjects were better matched than in BFCRS-O. DIF analysis showed that certain items of both versions of BFCRS were influenced by the presence of negative symptoms. CONCLUSION: BFCRS-R is shorter and simpler than the original version and having better psychometric properties seems to be better suited for identifying and quantifying catatonia in chronic psychotic patients.

Schizophrenia with prominent catatonic features ('catatonic schizophrenia'). II. Factor analysis of the catatonic syndrome.

Previous factor analyses of catatonia have yielded conflicting results for several reasons including small and/or diagnostically heterogeneous samples and incomparability or lack of standardized assessment. This study examined the factor structure of catatonia in a large, diagnostically homogenous sample of patients with chronic schizophrenia using standardized rating instruments. A random sample of 225 Chinese inpatients diagnosed with schizophrenia according to DSM-IV criteria were selected from the long-stay wards of a psychiatric hospital. They were assessed with a battery of rating scales measuring psychopathology, extrapyramidal motor status, and level of functioning. Catatonia was rated using the Bush-Francis Catatonia Rating Scale. Factor analysis using principal component analysis and Varimax rotation with Kaiser normalization was performed. Four factors were identified with Eigenvalues of 3.27, 2.58, 2.28 and 1.88. The percentage of variance explained by each of the four factors was 15.9%, 12.0%, 11.8% and 10.2% respectively, and together they explained 49.9% of the total variance. Factor 1 loaded on "negative/withdrawn" phenomena, Factor 2 on "automatic" phenomena, Factor 3 on "repetitive/echo" phenomena and Factor 4 on "agitated/resistive" phenomena. In multivariate linear regression analysis negative symptoms and akinesia were associated with 'negative' catatonic symptoms, antipsychotic doses and atypical antipsychotics with 'automatic' symptoms, length of current admission, severity of psychopathology and younger age at onset with 'repetitive' symptoms and age, poor functioning and severity of psychopathology with 'agitated' catatonic symptom scores. The results support recent findings that four main factors underlie catatonic signs/symptoms in chronic schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia with prominent catatonic features ('catatonic schizophrenia'): I. Demographic and clinical correlates in the chronic phase.

This study set out to determine the frequency of catatonic syndrome in chronic schizophrenia and its association with sociodemographic, clinical, and treatment variables. A cross-sectional assessment of a randomly selected cohort of patients (n=225; mean age=42+/-7 years; mean length of illness=20.4+/-7.5 years) with DSM-IV schizophrenia was employed using standard rating instruments for catatonia, drug-induced extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS), and psychotic, depressive, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Using a rather narrow definition of catatonia [the presence of four or more signs/symptoms with at least one having a score '2' or above on the Bush-Francis Catatonia Rating Scale (BFCRS)], 72 subjects (32%) met the criteria for the catatonia group (mean number of catatonic signs/symptoms=5.9+/-2.0; mean sum score of 8.7+/-3.4 on the BFCRS). The frequency distribution of catatonic signs/symptoms in the catatonic group and in the whole sample was very similar, with mannerisms, grimacing, stereotypes, posturing, and mutism being the most frequent. In the logistic regression analysis, catatonic subjects had a significantly earlier age of onset, more negative symptoms, and were more likely to receive benzodiazepines than their noncatatonic counterparts. In multiple regression analysis, the severity of catatonia as indicated by the sum score of BFCRS was predicted only by earlier age of onset and negative symptoms. Using relatively narrow criteria, this study confirmed that, if methodically assessed, catatonic signs and symptoms are prevalent in patients with chronic schizophrenia. Catatonia can be differentiated from EPS. Catatonic features indicate a generally poor prognosis in the chronic phase of schizophrenia.

Tardive dyskinesia in Chinese inpatients with chronic schizophrenia.

The objective of the study was to determine the point prevalence of tardive dyskinesia (TD) in Chinese inpatients with chronic schizophrenia and its association with sociodemographic, clinical and treatment variables and other movement disorders. A cross-sectional assessment of a randomly selected cohort of inpatients (n=225; mean age=42+/-7 years) with DSM-IV schizophrenia was employed using standard rating instruments for TD and other drug-induced movement disorders, in addition to catatonia, and psychotic, negative, depressive and obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Using Schooler and Kane's criteria, 15 subjects (6.7%) had TD. Patients with TD were significantly older and significantly fewer of them were taking antiparkinsonian medication than subjects without TD. There was no significant difference between the TD and non-TD groups with respect to other demographic, clinical and treatment variables including sex, age of onset, length of contact with psychiatric services, current antipsychotic dosage, negative symptoms, catatonia and parkinsonism. The results confirmed the low prevalence of TD in patients with chronic schizophrenia compared to those found in Caucasian patients. The study has also replicated the association of TD in Chinese schizophrenia patients with older age but failed to demonstrate any association between TD and other demographic or clinical characteristics including catatonia.