Centre for Youth Mental Health - Research Publications

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    Gender differences in first episode psychotic mania
    Cotton, SM ; Lambert, M ; Berk, M ; Schimmelmann, BG ; Butselaar, FJ ; McGorry, PD ; Conus, P (BIOMED CENTRAL LTD, 2013-03-13)
    BACKGROUND: The aim of this paper was to delineate the impact of gender on premorbid history, onset, and 18 month outcomes of first episode psychotic mania (FEPM) patients. METHODS: Medical file audit assessment of 118 (male = 71; female = 47) patients with FEPM aged 15 to 29 years was undertaken on clinical and functional measures. RESULTS: Males with FEPM had increased likelihood of substance use (OR = 13.41, p <.001) and forensic issues (OR = 4.71, p = .008), whereas females were more likely to have history of sexual abuse trauma (OR = 7.12, p = .001). At service entry, males were more likely to be using substances, especially cannabis (OR = 2.15, p = .047), had more severe illness (OR = 1.72, p = .037), and poorer functioning (OR = 0.96, p = .045). During treatment males were more likely to decrease substance use (OR = 5.34, p = .008) and were more likely to be living with family (OR = 4.30, p = .009). There were no gender differences in age of onset, psychopathology or functioning at discharge. CONCLUSIONS: Clinically meaningful gender differences in FEPM were driven by risk factors possibly associated with poor outcome. For males, substance use might be associated with poorer clinical presentation and functioning. In females with FEPM, the impact of sexual trauma on illness course warrants further consideration.
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    Aspirin: a review of its neurobiological properties and therapeutic potential for mental illness
    Berk, M ; Dean, O ; Drexhage, H ; McNeil, JJ ; Moylan, S ; O'Neil, A ; Davey, CG ; Sanna, L ; Maes, M (BMC, 2013-03-18)
    There is compelling evidence to support an aetiological role for inflammation, oxidative and nitrosative stress (O&NS), and mitochondrial dysfunction in the pathophysiology of major neuropsychiatric disorders, including depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and Alzheimer's disease (AD). These may represent new pathways for therapy. Aspirin is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug that is an irreversible inhibitor of both cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 and COX-2, It stimulates endogenous production of anti-inflammatory regulatory 'braking signals', including lipoxins, which dampen the inflammatory response and reduce levels of inflammatory biomarkers, including C-reactive protein, tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin (IL)--6, but not negative immunoregulatory cytokines, such as IL-4 and IL-10. Aspirin can reduce oxidative stress and protect against oxidative damage. Early evidence suggests there are beneficial effects of aspirin in preclinical and clinical studies in mood disorders and schizophrenia, and epidemiological data suggests that high-dose aspirin is associated with a reduced risk of AD. Aspirin, one of the oldest agents in medicine, is a potential new therapy for a range of neuropsychiatric disorders, and may provide proof-of-principle support for the role of inflammation and O&NS in the pathophysiology of this diverse group of disorders.
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    Deserves a hearing? A case report of remitting tinnitus with N-acetyl cysteine
    Dean, OM ; Jeavons, S ; Malhi, GS ; Cotton, SM ; Tanious, M ; Kohlmann, K ; Hewitt, K ; Moss, K ; Allwang, C ; Schapkaitz, I ; Robbins, J ; Dodd, S ; Bush, A ; Berk, M (IN HOUSE PUBLICATIONS, 2013-07)
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    Gender differences in first episode psychotic mania
    COTTON, SUSAN ; Lambert, Martin ; BERK, MICHAEL ; Schimmelmann, Benno G. ; Butselaar, Felicity ; MCGORRY, PATRICK ; CONUS, PHILIPPE ( 2013)