Psychiatry - Research Publications

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    An International Society of Bipolar Disorders task force report: Precursors and prodromes of bipolar disorder
    Faedda, GL ; Baldessarini, RJ ; Marangoni, C ; Bechdolf, A ; Berk, M ; Birmaher, B ; Conus, P ; DelBello, MP ; Duffy, AC ; Hillegers, MHJ ; Pfennig, A ; Post, RM ; Preisig, M ; Ratheesh, A ; Salvatore, P ; Tohen, M ; Vazquez, GH ; Vieta, E ; Yatham, LN ; Youngstrom, EA ; Van Meter, A ; Correll, CU (WILEY, 2019-12)
    OBJECTIVES: To clarify the clinical features preceding the onset of bipolar disorder (BD) has become a public health priority for the prevention of high morbidity and mortality. BD remains frequently under- or misdiagnosed, and under- or mistreated, often for years. METHODS: We assessed the predictive value of precursors and prodromes of BD. We assessed precursors of first-lifetime manic or hypomanic episodes with/without mixed features in retrospective and prospective studies. The task force evaluated and summarized separately assessments of familial risk, premorbid personality traits, retrospective, and prospective studies. RESULTS: Cyclothymic features, a family history of BD, retrospectively reported attenuated manic symptoms, prospectively identified subthreshold symptoms of hypomania, recurrence of depression, panic anxiety and psychotic features, have been identified as clinical precursors of BD. The prodromal symptoms like [hypo]mania often appears to be long enough to encourage early identification and timely intervention. CONCLUSIONS: The predictive value of any risk factor identified remains largely unknown. Prospective controlled studies are urgently needed for prevention and effective treatment.
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    "Is "early intervention" in bipolar disorder what it claims to be?' Malhi etal
    McGorry, PD ; Ratheesh, A ; Berk, M ; Conus, P (WILEY, 2018-05)
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    Personality disorder among youth with first episode psychotic mania: An important target for specific treatment?
    Hasty, MK ; Macneil, CA ; Cotton, SM ; Berk, M ; Kader, L ; Ratheesh, A ; Ramain, J ; Chanen, AM ; Conus, P (WILEY, 2022-03)
    AIM: Personality disorder is a common co-occurrence ('comorbidity') among patients with bipolar disorder and appears to affect outcome negatively. However, there is little knowledge about the impact of this comorbidity in the early phases of bipolar disorder. We examined the prevalence and effect of personality disorder co-occurrence on outcome in a cohort of youth with first episode mania with psychotic features. METHODS: Seventy-one first episode mania patients, aged 15-29, were assessed at baseline, 6, 12, and 18 months as part of a randomized controlled trial of olanzapine and chlorpromazine as add-on to lithium in first episode mania with psychotic features. The current study involved secondary analysis of trial data. RESULTS: A co-occurring clinical personality disorder diagnosis was present in 16.9% of patients. Antisocial and narcissistic personality disorders were the most common diagnoses. Patients with co-occurring personality disorder had higher rates of readmission to hospital, lower rates of symptomatic recovery and poorer functional levels at 6 months, but these differences disappeared after 12 and 18 months. CONCLUSIONS: In the early phase of bipolar disorder, patients with personality disorder comorbidity display delayed symptomatic and functional recovery and increased likelihood to need hospital readmissions. These observations suggest that routine assessment for personality disorder and specific interventions are important in order to improve short-term treatment efficacy in this subgroup.
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    Promotion of Wellbeing for Children of Parents With Mental Illness: A Model Protocol for Research and Intervention
    Reedtz, C ; van Doesum, K ; Signorini, G ; Lauritzen, C ; van Amelsvoort, T ; van Santvoort, F ; Young, AH ; Conus, P ; Musil, R ; Schulze, T ; Berk, M ; Stringaris, A ; Piche, G ; de Girolamo, G (FRONTIERS MEDIA SA, 2019-09-06)
    Background: The main objective of this project is to create a research and intervention model to promote large-scale implementation and evaluations of generic very brief interventions for children of parents with mental disorders (COPMI). Feasible interventions for COPMI aged 0-18 years are highly needed, as this is a large high-risk group in society. Reducing behavioral problems and enhancing wellbeing for families with parents affected by any mental disorder are important preventive initiatives. One key prevention strategy is to reduce the risk and expression of psychopathology in children and to promote wellbeing. The present model protocol offers an intervention for children of parents with mental disorders internationally based on a model already implemented in the Netherlands and Norway. Methods: Participants will be parents receiving treatment in mental health services in participating countries and their minor children aged 6-18 years. Participants should be randomized into an intervention group or control group. Data should be retrieved from electronic patient journals (demographics, DSM 5/ICD-10, SCID, MINI) as well as from assessment measures administered at baseline and follow-up, including the KIDSCREEN-27, Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), Parents' Evaluations of Developmental Status (PEDS), Parenting Sense of Competence (PSOC), Resilience Scale for Adolescence (READ), Guilt and Shame Questionnaire for Adolescents of Parents with Mental Illness (GSQ-APMI), Mental Health Literacy Scale, and Parent-Child Communication Scale. Results: The hypothesis is that there will be improvements of child behavioral and emotional problems, and outcomes in the project will be reported in terms of parent´s diagnosis, child behavioral and emotional problems, child wellbeing, family communication and functioning, as well as participants' satisfaction. Discussion: This multi-site international protocol will focus the attention of European scientific and policy makers toward COPMI. This young segment of the population is presently almost completely neglected in most European health policies, despite having a large burden of disability and being at risk of transgenerational transmission of psychopathology. We will further discuss the feasibility of a very brief intervention aiming at preventing mental disorders in young people.
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    A protocol for the first episode psychosis outcome study (FEPOS): ≥15 year follow-up after treatment at the Early Psychosis Prevention and Intervention Centre, Melbourne, Australia
    Cotton, S ; Filia, K ; Watson, A ; Mackinnon, AJ ; Hides, L ; Gleeson, JFM ; Berk, M ; Conus, P ; Lambert, M ; Schimmelmann, B ; Herrman, H ; Rayner, V ; Ratheesh, A ; McGorry, PD (WILEY, 2022-07)
    BACKGROUND: Specialist early intervention (SEI) service models are designed to treat symptoms, promote social and vocational recovery, prevent relapse, and resource and up-skill patients and their families. The benefits of SEI over the first few years have been demonstrated. While early recovery can be expected to translate to better long-term outcomes by analogy with other illnesses, there is limited evidence to support this from follow-up studies. The current study involves the long-term follow-up of a sub-set of first episode psychosis (FEP) patients, with a range of diagnoses, who were first treated at Orygen's Early Psychosis Prevention and Intervention Centre (EPPIC) between 1998 and 2000. The aim of this paper is to present the methodology for this follow-up study. METHODS: Between January 1998 and December 2000, 786 patients between the ages of 15-29 years were treated at EPPIC, located in Melbourne, Australia. Our cohort consists of 661 people (82 were transferred/discharged and 43 were not diagnosed with a psychotic disorder at time of discharge). The 18-month treatment characteristics of this cohort have been extensively examined in the First Episode Psychosis Outcome Study (FEPOS). The ≥15 year outcomes of this cohort are being examined in this study, known as FEPOS15. RESULTS: Participant follow-up is ongoing. In order to extend and assess broader outcomes of the cohort, data linkage with health-related databases will be conducted. CONCLUSION: This study will provide a comprehensive evaluation of the long-term trajectory of psychotic disorders after treatment for FEP in a SEI service.
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    Not in education, employment and training status in the early stages of bipolar I disorder with psychotic features
    Cotton, SM ; Filia, KM ; Lambert, M ; Berk, M ; Ratheesh, A ; Schimmelmann, BG ; Macneil, C ; Hasty, M ; McGorry, PD ; Conus, P (WILEY, 2022-06)
    OBJECTIVE: There is a lack of existing research regarding young people with bipolar I disorder (BD-I) and psychotic features, who are not in education, employment, and training (NEET). Thus, the aims of the study were to: (a) establish rates of NEET at service entry to a specialist early intervention service; (b) delineate premorbid and current variables associated with NEET status at service entry and (c) examine correlates of NEET status at discharge. METHOD: Medical file audit methodology was utilized to collect information on 118 patients with first episode psychotic mania treated at the Early Psychosis Prevention and Intervention Centre (EPPIC), Melbourne, Australia. NEET status was determined using the modified vocation status index (MVCI). Bivariate and multivariable logistic variables were used to examine relationships between premorbid, service entry and treatment variables, and NEET status at service entry and discharge. RESULTS: The NEET rate was 33.9% at service entry, and 39.2% at discharge. Variables associated with NEET status at service entry were premorbid functioning and polysubstance use. NEET status at service entry was the only significant correlate of NEET status at discharge. When service entry NEET was taken out of the model, substance use during treatment was predictive of NEET status at discharge. CONCLUSIONS: NEET status at service entry was related to a history of premorbid decline, and risk factors such as substance use and forensic issues. NEET status can decline during treatment, and utility of vocational intervention programs specifically for BD, in addition to specialist early intervention, needs to be examined.