Verbal de-escalation to reduce the use of mechanical restraint during nonvoluntary ambulance transfers. / Utilización de la desescalada verbal para reducir la contención mecánica durante los traslados no voluntarios en ambulancia.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the usefulness of annual training in verbal de-escalation techniques for reducing the use of mechanical restraints during nonvoluntary ambulance transfers of patients with mental health problems who need emergency care. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Quasi-experimental before-after study. Patients with mental diseases treated by a psychiatric team and transferred from home without their consent were included from January through December 2008 in Barcelona. Since 2013, the team had been attending annual training sessions in verbal de-escalation based on the recommendations of the BETA project (Best Practices in the Evaluation and Treatment of Agitation). We compared the prevalence of the use of mechanical restraint before and after the team started verbal de-escalation training. We also analyzed variables associated with the need to use restraints. RESULTS: Patients in 633 nonvoluntary transfers were included. Mechanical restraints were used in 42.0% of transfers before de-escalation training and in 20.6% of transfers afterwards, reflecting a 50.1% reduction. Logistic regression identified younger age and the presence of psychotic symptoms as factors associated with the use of restraints; the use of verbal de-escalation was a protective factor (P 0.005). CONCLUSION: Annual training in verbal de-escalation techniques following the BETA project's recommendations led to a 50% reduction in the need to use mechanical restraint during nonvoluntary ambulance transfers of patients with mental health problems.

OBJETIVO: Evaluar la efectividad de la formación anual en desescalada verbal (DV) en la reducción de las contenciones mecánicas (CM) durante los traslados no voluntarios en ambulancia a urgencias de pacientes con enfermedad mental. METODO: Estudio cuasiexperimental antes-después. Se incluyeron todos los pacientes con enfermedad mental trasladados de manera no voluntaria en Barcelona por un equipo de atención psiquiátrica en domicilio, desde enero de 2008 hasta diciembre de 2020. En el año 2013 el equipo al completo inició una formación anual en DV en base a las recomendaciones del proyecto BETA (Best Practices in the Evaluation and Treatment of Agitation). Se ha comparado la prevalencia de CM durante dichos traslados, antes y después de iniciar la formación en DV. Asimismo se han analizado los factores asociados a la necesidad de CM. RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron 633 traslados no voluntarios. Antes de la formación en DV hubo un 42,0% de CM y después fue del 20,6%, lo que supone una reducción del 50,1%. La regresión logística mostró que los factores asociados a la necesidad de CM son una menor edad y la existencia de síntomas psicóticos como factores de riesgo y uso de la DV como factor protector (p 0,005). CONCLUSIONES: La formación anual en DV siguiendo las recomendaciones del proyecto BETA ha permitido una reducción del 50% de la necesidad de CM durante el traslado no voluntario en ambulancia de pacientes con enfermedad mental.

Utilización de la desescalada verbal para reducir la contención mecánica durante los traslados no voluntarios en ambulancia / Verbal de-escalation to reduce the use of mechanical restraint during nonvoluntary ambulance transfers

Objetivo: Evaluar la efectividad de la formación anual en desescalada verbal (DV) en la reducción de las contenciones mecánicas (CM) durante los traslados no voluntarios en ambulancia a urgencias de pacientes con enfermedad mental. Método: Estudio cuasiexperimental antes-después. Se incluyeron todos los pacientes con enfermedad mental trasladados de manera no voluntaria en Barcelona por un equipo de atención psiquiátrica en domicilio, desde enero de 2008 hasta diciembre de 2020. En el año 2013 el equipo al completo inició una formación anual en DV en base a las recomendaciones del proyecto BETA (Best Practices in the Evaluation and Treatment of Agitation). Se ha comparado la prevalencia de CM durante dichos traslados, antes y después de iniciar la formación en DV. Asimismo se han analizado los factores asociados a la necesidad de CM. Resultados: Se incluyeron 633 traslados no voluntarios. Antes de la formación en DV hubo un 42,0% de CM y después fue del 20,6%, lo que supone una reducción del 50,1%. La regresión logística mostró que los factores asociados a la necesidad de CM son una menor edad y la existencia de síntomas psicóticos como factores de riesgo y uso de la DV como factor protector (p < 0,005). Conclusiones: La formación anual en DV siguiendo las recomendaciones del proyecto BETA ha permitido una reducción del 50% de la necesidad de CM durante el traslado no voluntario en ambulancia de pacientes con enfermedad mental. (AU)

Objective: To evaluate the usefulness of annual training in verbal de-escalation techniques for reducing the use of mechanical restraints during nonvoluntary ambulance transfers of patients with mental health problems who need emergency care. Methods: Quasi-experimental before-after study. Patients with mental diseases treated by a psychiatric team andtransferred from home without their consent were included from January through December 2008 in Barcelona. Since 2013, the team had been attending annual training sessions in verbal de-escalation based on the recommendations of the BETA project (Best Practices in the Evaluation and Treatment of Agitation). We compared the prevalence of the use of mechanical restraint before and after the team started verbal de-escalation training. We also analyzed variables associated with the need to use restraints. Results: Patients in 633 nonvoluntary transfers were included. Mechanical restraints were used in 42.0% of transfers before de-escalation training and in 20.6% of transfers afterwards, reflecting a 50.1% reduction. Logistic regression identified younger age and the presence of psychotic symptoms as factors associated with the use of restraints; the use of verbal de-escalation was a protective factor (P < 0.005). Conclusions: Annual training in verbal de-escalation techniques following the BETA project’s recommendations led to a 50% reduction in the need to use mechanical restraint during nonvoluntary ambulance transfers of patients with mental health problems. (AU)

Psychiatric Symptoms in Refractory Epilepsy During the First Year After Surgery.

Psychiatric morbidity in drug-resistant epilepsy is frequent. Surgery is the best therapeutic alternative for treating seizures, but the current evidence concerning the effects of surgery on psychiatric disorders (PDs) is inconclusive. We aim to clarify surgery's role in long-term PDs. Using a prospective controlled study, we analyzed the psychopathologic outcomes of patients with drug-resistant epilepsy, comparing those who underwent surgery to those who did not due to not being suitable. Surgical candidates were paired (n = 84) with the immediately following nonsurgical candidates (n = 68). Both groups continued their usual medical treatment. We studied psychiatric changes for each group and analyzed de novo and remission cases. The assessments were made during the presurgical evaluation, and at 6 months (6-M) and 12 months (12-M) after surgery. Finally, we determined associated factors for postsurgical PDs. At 12 months, using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), anxiety improved in both groups (p = 0.000), while depression improved only in the surgical group (p = 0.016). Moreover, all symptom dimensions on the Symptom Checklist-90-R (SCL-90), as well as severity, distress, and total symptoms, decreased only in the surgical group. These ameliorations reached not only statistical significance but also clinical significance for depression (HADS) (p = 0.014) and the interictal dysphoric disorder (p = 0.013). The main predictors for PDs after surgery were as follows: the presurgical and 6-month psychiatric symptoms, the absence of surgery, seizure outcomes, and some antiepileptic and psychiatric drugs. This study provides evidence that surgery for epilepsy could have a role in improving some symptoms of psychiatric disorders 12-M after the surgery.

A prospective study contrasting the psychiatric outcome in drug-resistant epilepsy between patients who underwent surgery and a control group.

OBJECTIVE: Psychiatric morbidity in drug-resistant epilepsy is frequent and has a negative influence on quality of life. Surgery is proven to be the best therapeutic alternative for treating seizures. However, it is inconclusive with the current evidence whether surgery, per se, is a risk factor or promotes amelioration of psychiatric disorders. Until now, most studies have been cross-sectional with small or heterogeneous groups. In addition, the few prospective studies did not have an identical control group. The present study aims to clarify the role of surgery in psychopathologic alterations. METHODS: We analyzed, through a prospective case-control study, the psychopathologic outcomes of patients with drug-resistant epilepsy, comparing those who underwent surgery and those who continued with pharmacologic treatment due to not being suitable for surgery. The assessments were performed during presurgical evaluation and 6 months after surgery. We studied psychiatric changes for each group, compared differences between groups, and also analyzed de novo and remission cases. Finally, we determined associated factors for postsurgical psychiatric disturbances. RESULTS: The surgical group experienced a significant decrease in psychopathologic alterations in comparison with the control group. In addition, distress perception of surgical patients also improved, whereas it did not decrease in the control group. Patients who underwent surgery presented a decrease in depressive and anxiety symptoms, whereas the nonsurgical group increased its anxiety levels. De novo disturbances that appeared after surgery were less frequent than in nonsurgical patients. We observed significant favorable outcomes considering de novo versus remission cases for anxiety, depression, and total symptoms only in the surgical group. The two main predictors for psychiatric disorders after surgery were presurgical psychiatric functioning and surgery. SIGNIFICANCE: Provides evidence that surgery improves psychiatric functioning in drug-resistant epilepsy through a prospective controlled study.

An observational study of clozapine induced sedation and its pharmacological management.

Clozapine induced sedation is common but its management is unclear. We analyzed the factors associated with clozapine-induced sedation and the efficacy of common pharmacological strategies. We conducted a naturalistic observational study using two years electronic records of a cohort patients and three analyses: a cross sectional analysis of factors associated with total number of hours slept (as an objective proxy of sedation), and two prospective analyses of which factors were associated with changes in hours slept and the efficacy of two pharmacological strategies. 133 patients were included, of which 64.7% slept at least 9h daily. Among monotherapy patients (n=30), only norclozapine levels (r=.367, p=.03) correlated with hours slept. Using the prospective cohort (n=107), 42 patients decreased the number of hours slept, due to decreasing clozapine (40%) or augmenting with aripiprazole (36%). These two strategies were recommended to 22 (20.6%) and 23 (21.5%) subjects respectively but the majority (81.8% and 73.9%) did not reduce number of hours slept. Thus, pharmacological and non-pharmacological factors are involved in sedation. Norclozapine plasma levels correlated with total sleeping hours. Reducing clozapine and aripiprazole augmentation were associated to amelioration of sedation, although both strategies were effective only in a limited numbers of subjects.

Revisión sistemática de la prevalencia y factores asociados a la ira tras un ictus / Prevalence and associated factors of anger post stroke: a systematic review

Introducción. El ictus es una de las primeras causas de muerte e incapacidad, y supone un elevado coste económico. La ira tras un ictus es frecuente, y empeora la funcionalidad y la calidad de vida, aunque todavía es poco comprendida. Objetivo. Conocer la evidencia actual sobre la prevalencia y factores asociados a la ira tras un ictus. Materiales y métodos. Revisión sistemática en Medline de todos los artículos originales que estudian la prevalencia o factores asociados a la ira tras un ictus. Resultados. La prevalencia de la ira tras un ictus es elevada (15-57,2%). La mayoría de los estudios no encuentra asociación entre la ira y el sexo, edad, naturaleza, tamaño, lateralidad, gravedad del ictus y funcionalidad. Ocasionalmente, la ira se ha asociado a localizaciones anteriores y afasia. Los datos de su asociación con déficits motores y deterioro cognitivo son poco concluyentes. Sin embargo, la asociación con antecedentes psiquiátricos, clínica depresiva e incontinencia emocional comórbida se ha replicado ampliamente. Los factores ambientales, difíciles de estudiar, podrían tener relevancia. Conclusión. La prevalencia de la ira tras un ictus es elevada. Se ha asociado a patología psiquiátrica, y otras asociaciones son poco concluyentes. Para un mejor conocimiento de la ira y los factores asociados tras un ictus, sería necesario mejorar sus definiciones e instrumentos de medida

Introduction. Stroke is one of the main causes of death and disability and has a high economic cost. Anger after stroke is common and worsens functionality and quality of life. The study of this comorbidity has been hampered by the lack of standardization in anger's evaluation. Aim. To show the current evidence of anger's prevalence and anger's associated factors after stroke. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Medline systematic review of original papers studying prevalence and associated factors of anger after stroke. Results. Post-stroke anger has a high prevalence (15-57.2%). Most studies have found a lack of association between irritability and sex, age, type, size, laterality and severity of the stroke and functionality. Occasionally anger has been associated with frontal infarcts and aphasia. Data regarding the association between anger and motor deficits and cognitive impairment has been inconclusive while the association between anger and psychiatric history, post stroke emotional incontinence and post stroke depression has been widely replicated. Environmental factors have been difficult to study but may be relevant. CONCLUSION. There is a high prevalence of anger post stroke. Psychiatric factors have been associated to it, while other associations are less conclusive. To improve anger knowledge and management, it would be necessary to improve its definition and assessment

[Prevalence and associated factors of anger post stroke: a systematic review]. / Revisión sistemática de la prevalencia y factores asociados a la ira tras un ictus.

INTRODUCTION: Stroke is one of the main causes of death and disability and has a high economic cost. Anger after stroke is common and worsens functionality and quality of life. The study of this comorbidity has been hampered by the lack of standardization in anger's evaluation. AIM: To show the current evidence of anger's prevalence and anger's associated factors after stroke. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Medline systematic review of original papers studying prevalence and associated factors of anger after stroke. RESULTS: Post-stroke anger has a high prevalence (15-57.2%). Most studies have found a lack of association between irritability and sex, age, type, size, laterality and severity of the stroke and functionality. Occasionally anger has been associated with frontal infarcts and aphasia. Data regarding the association between anger and motor deficits and cognitive impairment has been inconclusive while the association between anger and psychiatric history, post stroke emotional incontinence and post stroke depression has been widely replicated. Environmental factors have been difficult to study but may be relevant. CONCLUSION: There is a high prevalence of anger post stroke. Psychiatric factors have been associated to it, while other associations are less conclusive. To improve anger knowledge and management, it would be necessary to improve its definition and assessment.

TITLE: Revision sistematica de la prevalencia y factores asociados a la ira tras un ictus.Introduccion. El ictus es una de las primeras causas de muerte e incapacidad, y supone un elevado coste economico. La ira tras un ictus es frecuente, y empeora la funcionalidad y la calidad de vida, aunque todavia es poco comprendida. Objetivo. Conocer la evidencia actual sobre la prevalencia y factores asociados a la ira tras un ictus. Materiales y metodos. Revision sistematica en Medline de todos los articulos originales que estudian la prevalencia o factores asociados a la ira tras un ictus. Resultados. La prevalencia de la ira tras un ictus es elevada (15-57,2%). La mayoria de los estudios no encuentra asociacion entre la ira y el sexo, edad, naturaleza, tamaño, lateralidad, gravedad del ictus y funcionalidad. Ocasionalmente, la ira se ha asociado a localizaciones anteriores y afasia. Los datos de su asociacion con deficits motores y deterioro cognitivo son poco concluyentes. Sin embargo, la asociacion con antecedentes psiquiatricos, clinica depresiva e incontinencia emocional comorbida se ha replicado ampliamente. Los factores ambientales, dificiles de estudiar, podrian tener relevancia. Conclusion. La prevalencia de la ira tras un ictus es elevada. Se ha asociado a patologia psiquiatrica, y otras asociaciones son poco concluyentes. Para un mejor conocimiento de la ira y los factores asociados tras un ictus, seria necesario mejorar sus definiciones e instrumentos de medida.

Leucopenia y neutropenia de rápida evolución inducidas por olanzapina / Leucopenia and neutropenia rapidly evolving induced by olanzapine

Algunos antipsicóticos se asocian a discrasias sanguíneas. El psicofármaco que más produce agranulocitosis es la clozapina (0,5-2% de los pacientes). La olanzapina es un antipsicótico de segunda generación con estructura química similar a la clozapina que tiene un riesgo de leucopenia/neutropenia de 1/10.000 pacientes tratados. Presentamos el caso de un paciente de 32 años sin antecedentes somáticos ni psiquiátricos, hospitalizado por un primer episodio psicótico. En la analítica previa al ingreso no había alteraciones en el hemograma (leucocitos totales 8,92x103/ul, neutrófilos totales 6,99x103/ul). A los tres días de haber iniciado tratamiento con olanzapina 20mg/día el recuento leucocitario había disminuido a 2,46x103/ul (neutrófilos totales 0,64x103/ ul). Tras sustituir la olanzapina, inicialmente por risperidona y posteriormente por zuclopentixol intramuscular, el recuento leucocitario fue aumentando progresivamente. A los doce días de la retirada, el hemograma se había normalizado (leucocitos totales 5,73x103/ul) (AU)

Some antipsychotics drugs are associated with blood dyscrasias. The psychotropic medication most frequently associated with agranulocytosis is clozapine (0,5-2% of patients). Olanzapine is a second-generation antipsychotic with a chemical structure similar to clozapine, with a risk of neutropenic reactions of 1/10.000 treated patients. We report the case of a 32-yearold man without medical or psychiatric records, who was admitted due to a first psychotic episode. In a blood test previous to hospitalization, complete blood cell count was normal (white blood cell count 8,92x103/ul, neutrophilic count 6,99x103/ul). Three days after initiation of olanzapine 20mg/day, WBC count had fallen to 2,46x103/ul (neutrophilic count 0,64x103/ul). After replacing olanzapine, initially for risperidone and later for intramuscular zuclopentixol, WBC count gradually increased. On the twelfth day of olanzapine withdrawal, complete blood cell count had normalized (WBC count 5,73x103/ul) (AU)