Effect of Continuation-Maintenance Electroconvulsive Therapy on Hospitalization: A Retrospective Mirror-Image Study.

Objective: To examine the effect of continuation-maintenance electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) on psychiatric hospitalization in Thai patients. Methods: This retrospective mirror-image study reviewed medical records of Thai patients who received continuation-maintenance ECT at Ramathibodi Hospital, Bangkok, between September 2013 and December 2022. The initiation of continuation-maintenance ECT served as the index event, establishing pre-initiation and post-initiation periods. The primary outcome measured the differences in admissions and admission days before and after continuation-maintenance ECT. Results: Forty-seven patients were included in the study, with diagnoses of schizophrenia (38.3%), schizoaffective disorder (21.3%), and bipolar disorder (19.1%) being the most common. The mean (standard deviation; SD) age was 44.6 (12.2) years. The total duration that patients received continuation-maintenance ECT was 53 ± 38.2 months. Following the initiation of ECT, there was a significant reduction in the median (interquartile range) number of hospitalizations for all patients (2 [2] versus 1 [2], p < 0.001), as well as for the psychotic disorder group (2 [2] versus 1 [2.75], p = 0.006) and the mood disorder group (2 [2] versus 1 [2], p = 0.02). Moreover, there was a significant reduction in the median (interquartile range) length of admission days for all patients after the initiation of continuation-maintenance ECT (66 [69] versus 20 [53], p < 0.001). Specifically, the psychotic disorder group (64.5 [74] versus 15.5 [62], p = 0.02) and mood disorder group (74 [57] versus 20 [54], p = 0.008) demonstrated statistically significant decreases in admission days. Conclusion: Continuation-maintenance ECT may be an effective treatment option for reducing hospitalizations and admission days in patients with various psychiatric diagnoses. However, the study also highlights the need to carefully consider the potential adverse effects of ECT in clinical decision-making.

Prevalence of psychiatric disorders in Thai patients with epilepsy.

BACKGROUND: Many studies have shown that the prevalence of psychiatric disorders in patients with epilepsy (PWE) appears higher than that in general population. However, most epidemiological studies regarding psychiatric comorbidities among PWE were conducted in Western countries. This work aimed to determine the prevalence of psychiatric disorders in Thai PWE, including potential variables that could be associated with psychiatric disorders. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Ramathibodi Hospital. A total of 170 patients (aged 18 years or older) diagnosed as having epilepsy by a neurologist were recruited at the outpatient neurology clinic. Demographic and clinical characteristics were collected. Participants were evaluated for any psychiatric disorders according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition, using a structured diagnostic interview. The prevalence of psychiatric disorders was determined. The associations between potential variables and the presence of psychiatric disorders in PWE were analyzed using chi-square or Fisher's exact tests, t-test, and logistic regression. RESULTS: Among 170 patients, 43 (25.3%) fulfilled diagnostic criteria for one or more psychiatric disorders. The prevalence of depressive disorders was shown to be highest at 17.1%, followed by psychotic disorders (8.2%), bipolar disorder (7.1%), anxiety disorders (5.3%), and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) (2.9%). Electroencephalogram (EEG) abnormalities in the temporal lobe was found to be a significant predictor of having psychiatric disorders in PWE (adjusted odds ratio (OR): 4.01, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.47-10.92, P-value = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of psychiatric disorders among Thai PWE was higher than that in general population. Screening for psychiatric disorders in PWE is recommended, especially among those who have EEG abnormalities in the temporal lobe.

Development and validation of a screening instrument for cognitive fluctuation in patients with neurocognitive disorder with Lewy bodies (NCDLB): the Mayo Fluctuations Scale-Thai version.

BACKGROUND: Prevalence of neurocognitive disorder with Lewy bodies (NCDLB) is low in Asian populations, which may partially reflect its diagnostic difficulty. The Mayo Fluctuations Scale, a short questionnaire that evaluates cognitive fluctuation, has been shown to significantly differentiate NCDLB from Alzheimer's disease. AIM: This study aimed to develop the Mayo Fluctuations Scale-Thai version and assess its validity to screen NCDLB in an elderly population. METHODS: The Mayo Fluctuations Scale was translated into Thai. The process involved back-translation, cross-cultural adaptation, field testing of the prefinal version, as well as final adjustments. From all patients attending the Psychiatric and Memory Clinic at Ramathibodi Hospital, 135 patients accompanied by their primary caregivers were included. Caregivers were interviewed by research assistants using a four-item scale, and psychiatrists determined patients' diagnosis based on the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM)-5 criteria. Evaluations performed by psychiatrists and research assistants were blinded. RESULTS: Seventeen participants had been diagnosed with major NCDLB. At a cut-off score of 2 or over, the Mayo Fluctuations Scale exhibited excellent performance to differentiate major NCDLB from other major neurocognitive disorders (NCDs), with a sensitivity of 94.1% and a specificity of 71.4%, and acceptable performance to differentiate mild NCDLB from other mild NCDs, with a sensitivity of 60% and a specificity of 93.1%. CONCLUSION: The Mayo Fluctuations Scale-Thai version is an excellent screening tool for major NCDLB and an acceptable tool that may be used with other additional tests for mild NCDLB. The tool is practical for use in memory and psychiatric clinics. Further validation studies in participants with other specific clinical conditions are required.

Validity and Reliability of Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale Thai Version (ASRS-V1.1 TH).

BACKGROUND: The adult ADHD Self-Report Scale Thai version (ASRS-V1.1) (18 items) is a questionnaire for screening adult ADHD. AIM: To test the validity and reliability of the 18-question ASRS-V1.1 Thai version (ASRS-V1.1 TH) as a screening tool for adult ADHD. METHODS: The original 18-question ASRS-V1.1 version was translated into Thai. The process was composed of forward-translation, synthesis of the translation, and back translation. Cross cultural adaptation, field testing, and final adjustment were completed consecutively. The 18-question ASRS-V1.1 TH were sent to 1,500 parents of kindergarten and elementary school students in Bangkok, Thailand. The diagnostic interview was randomly selected for 50 parents from the positive result group and 50 parents from the negative result group. The clinical interview for confirming diagnosis was run by 3 psychiatrists who were blinded to the results and used DSM-5 ADHD criteria for diagnosis. RESULTS: The 18-question ASRS-V1.1 TH had satisfactory internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.92: Cronbach's alpha = 0.87 for inattentive scale, Cronbach's alpha = 0.84 for hyperactive / impulsive scale). For testing the criteria validity, the questionnaire has an adequate. The AUC from the first 6 questions was 0.80 (95% CI: 0.68-0.92) while from the 18 questions was 0.71(95% CI: 0.55-0.86). CONCLUSIONS: The 18-question ASRS-V1.1TH is a psychometrically reliable and valid measure for screening adult ADHD in Thai clinical samples, especially the first 6 questions of the questionnaire.

Reliability and validity of the Thai self-report version of the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale-Second Edition.

PURPOSE: The self-report version of the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) has been developed to overcome the limitations of the clinician-administered version, which needs to be executed by trained personnel and is time consuming. The second edition of the Y-BOCS (Y-BOCS-II) was developed to address some limitations of the original version. However, there is no self-report version of the Y-BOCS-II at the moment. This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the developed Thai self-report version of the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale-Second Edition (Y-BOCS-II-SR-T). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Y-BOCS-II-SR-T was developed from the Thai version of the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale-Second Edition (Y-BOCS-II-T). The Y-BOCS-II-SR-T, the Y-BOCS-II-T, the Thai version of the Florida Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory (FOCI-T), the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D), the nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and the Pictorial Thai Quality of Life (PTQL) instrument were administered to 52 obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) patients. Internal consistency for the Y-BOCS-II-SR-T was calculated with Cronbach's alpha coefficient (α), and the factor analyses were completed. Pearson's correlation was used in determining convergent and divergent validity among the other measures. RESULTS: The mean score of the Y-BOCS-II-SR-T total score was 20.71±11.16. The internal consistencies of the Y-BOCS-II-SR-T total scores, the obsession subscale, and the compulsion subscale scores were excellent (α=0.94, α=0.90, and α=0.89, respectively). The correlation between each item and the Y-BOCS-II-SR-T total score showed strong correlation for all items. Confirmatory factor analysis with model modification showed adequate fit for obsession and compulsion factor models. The Y-BOCS-II-SR-T had strong correlation with the YBOCS-II-T and the FOCI-T (r s>0.90) and weaker correlation with the HAM-D, PHQ-9, and PTQL (r s<0.60), which implied good convergent and divergent validity. CONCLUSION: The Y-BOCS-II-SR-T is a psychometrically sound and valid measure for assessing obsessive-compulsive symptoms.

A study of diagnostic accuracy of the Florida Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory--Thai Version (FOCI-T).

BACKGROUND: The Florida Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory (FOCI) is a self-reported measure to assess the symptoms and severity of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), which can be completed in five minutes. Although preliminary studies have shown its good psychometric properties, the study of receiver operating characteristics (ROC) to use it as a screening tool has never been reported elsewhere. This study aimed to use the ROC analysis to determine the optimal cut-off score of the Thai version of the FOCI (FOCI-T). METHODS: A total of 197 participants completed the FOCI-T, the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and the Pictorial Thai Quality of Life (PTQL), and they were also interviewed with the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) for their diagnosis. The ROC analyses of the FOCI-T Severity Scores were computed to determine the best cut-off score. RESULTS: When the Thai version of the MINI was used in the interview, it was found that 38 participants were diagnosed with OCD, 43 participants were non-OCD, and 116 participants were healthy adults. The ROC analyses indicated that the FOCI-T Severity Scale could significantly distinguish OCD patients from non-OCD patients and healthy adults. The area under curve was estimated to be 0.945 (95%CI = 0.903-0.972). A cut-off score of ≥ 5 provided the best sensitivity (0.92) and specificity (0.82). CONCLUSION: The Thai version of the Florida Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory has demonstrated its good predictive abilities, so it could be used as a brief screening tool to detect obsessive-compulsive disorder patients with high sensitivity and specificity.

Psychiatric comorbidities in patients with major depressive disorder.

BACKGROUND: Psychiatric comorbidities are common in major depressive disorder (MDD). They may worsen outcome and cause economic burden. The primary objective was to examine the prevalence of psychiatric comorbidities in MDD. The secondary objectives were to compare the presence of comorbidities between currently active and past MDD, and between patients with and without suicidal risk. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study. A total of 250 patients with lifetime MDD and age ≥18 years were enrolled. The Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI), Thai version, was used to confirm MDD diagnosis and classify comorbidities. MDD diagnosis was confirmed in 190, and 60 patients were excluded due to diagnosis of bipolar disorder. RESULTS: Of the 190 MDD patients, 25.8% had current MDD and 74.2% had past MDD. Eighty percent were women. The mean age at enrollment was 50 years, and at MDD onset was 41 years. Most patients were married (53.2%), employed (54.8%), and had ≥12 years of education (66.9%). There were 67 patients (35.3%) with one or more psychiatric comorbidities. Comorbidities included dysthymia (19.5%), any anxiety disorders (21.1%) (panic disorder [6.8%], agoraphobia [5.8%], social phobia [3.7%], obsessive-compulsive disorder [OCD] [4.7%], generalized anxiety disorder [5.3%], and post-traumatic stress disorder [4.2%]), alcohol dependence (0.5%), psychotic disorder (1.6%), antisocial personality (1.1%), and eating disorders (0%). Compared with past MDD, the current MDD group had significantly higher OCD (P<0.001), psychotic disorder (P=0.048), past panic disorder (P=0.017), and suicidal risk (P<0.001). Suicidal risk was found in 32.1% of patients. Patients with suicidal risk had more comorbid anxiety disorder of any type (P=0.019) and psychotic disorder (P=0.032). CONCLUSION: Several comorbidities were associated with MDD. Patients with active MDD had higher comorbid OCD, psychotic disorder, past panic disorder, and suicidal risk. Patients with suicide risk had higher comorbid anxiety and psychotic disorders.

Development and validation of a screening instrument for bipolar spectrum disorder: The Mood Disorder Questionnaire Thai version.

BACKGROUND: The Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ) has been translated to many languages and has been used in many countries as a screening instrument for bipolar disorder. The main objective of this study was to evaluate validity of the Thai version of the MDQ as a screening instrument for bipolar disorder in a psychiatric outpatient sample, and to determine its optimum question #1 item threshold value for bipolar disorder. METHODS: The English language Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ) was translated into Thai. The process involved back-translation, cross-cultural adaptation, field testing of the prefinal version, as well as final adjustments. Two hundred and fifty major depressive disorder outpatients were further assessed by the Thai version of the MDQ and the Thai version of the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI). During the assessment, reliability and validity analyses, and receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis were performed. RESULTS: The Thai version of the MDQ screening had adequate internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha =0.791, omega total =0.68, and omega hierarchical =0.69). The optimal question #1 item threshold value was at least five positive items, which yielded adequate sensitivity (76.5%), specificity (72.7%), positive predictive value (74.3%), and negative predictive value (75.0%). The ROC area under the curve (AUC) for this study was 0.82 (95% confidence interval: 0.70 to 0.90). CONCLUSION: The Thai version of the MDQ had some useful psychometric properties for screening for bipolar disorder in a mood disorder clinic setting, with a recommended question #1 item threshold value of at least five positive items.