scholarly journals Using Twitter to assess attitudes to schizophrenia and psychosis

2019 ◽  
Vol 43 (4) ◽  
pp. 158-166 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giorgianna L. Passerello ◽  
James E. Hazelwood ◽  
Stephen Lawrie
Keyword(s):  
Psychotic Disorder ◽  
Clinical Implications ◽  
Dyadic Interactions ◽  
Negative Attitudes ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Schizophrenic Psychosis

Aims and methodSchizophrenia is a psychotic disorder that is stereotypically stigmatised as untreatable and associated with violence. Several authorities have suggested that changing the name, for example to psychosis, would reduce such stigmatisation. We aimed to compare attitudes to schizophrenia and psychosis on Twitter to see if psychosis was associated with less negative attitudes. Tweets containing the terms ‘schizophrenia’, ‘schizophrenic’, ‘psychosis’ or ‘psychotic’ were collected on www.twitter.com and were captured with NCapture. On NVivo, tweets were coded into categories based on user type, tweet content, attitude and stigma type by two independent raters. We compared the content and attitudes of tweets referring to schizophrenia/schizophrenic and psychosis/psychotic.ResultsA total of 1120 tweets referring to schizophrenia/schizophrenic and 1080 referring to psychosis/psychotic were identified over two 7-day periods; 424 original tweets for schizophrenia and 416 original tweets for psychosis were included in the analysis. Psychosis was significantly more commonly included in tweets expressing negative attitudes (n=131, 31.5%) than schizophrenia (n=41, 9.7%) (χ² = 237.03, P < 0.0001). Of the personal opinions or dyadic interactions, 125 (53.4%) in the psychosis data set were stigmatising, compared with 33 (24.6%) of those in the schizophrenia set (χ² = 44.65, P < 0.0001).Clinical implicationsThe terms psychosis/psychotic are associated with a significantly higher number of tweets with negative content than schizophrenia/schizophrenic. Together with other evidence, this suggests that changing the name of schizophrenia to psychosis will not reduce negative attitudes toward the condition.Declaration of interestS.L. has received personal fees from Otsuka and Sunovion, and personal and research fees from Janssen.

scholarly journals Attitudes of the general population to psychiatric and physical illness

1999 ◽  
Vol 23 (11) ◽  
pp. 671-674 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen M. Lawrie
Keyword(s):  
General Population ◽  
Psychiatric Disorder ◽  
Psychiatric Disorders ◽  
Random Sample ◽  
Response Bias ◽  
Close Relationships ◽  
Clinical Vignette ◽  
Clinical Implications ◽  
General Tendency ◽  
Negative Attitudes

Aims and methodThe attitudes of members of the general population to people with psychiatric and physical illnesses were examined. We took a random sample of 280 members of the general population listed in the phone directory and sent them a brief clinical vignette about a neighbour with either schizophrenia, depression, diabetes or no illness.ResultsOnly 103 (41%) of the surveyed general population responded. Some unsolicited comments revealed negative attitudes from a small number of subjects. There were, however, no statistically significant differences in general attitudes to sufferers of psychiatric and physical illnesses suggestive of discrimination against the former. Indeed, respondents showed a general tendency to be more supportive of a neighbour with any illness than to those without. In a sub-analysis, however, those who knew someone with schizophrenia were significantly less likely to be sympathetic towards them.Clinical implicationsWe have not detected any general stigmatisation of those with psychiatric disorders, but our results may be attributable to response bias. Discrimination against those with psychiatric disorder may be limited to a relatively small sector of society or may only be manifest in relatively close relationships.

scholarly journals Differences in voice-hearing experiences of people with psychosis in the USA, India and Ghana: Interview-based study

2015 ◽  
Vol 206 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. M. Luhrmann ◽  
R. Padmavati ◽  
H. Tharoor ◽  
A. Osei
Keyword(s):  
Psychotic Disorder ◽  
Auditory Hallucinations ◽  
Local Culture ◽  
Clinical Implications ◽  
Inclusion Criteria ◽  
Diagnostic Labels ◽  
Cultural Boundaries ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Different Cultures ◽  
The Voice

BackgroundWe still know little about whether and how the auditory hallucinations associated with serious psychotic disorder shift across cultural boundaries.AimsTo compare auditory hallucinations across three different cultures, by means of an interview-based study.MethodAn anthropologist and several psychiatrists interviewed participants from the USA, India and Ghana, each sample comprising 20 persons who heard voices and met the inclusion criteria of schizophrenia, about their experience of voices.ResultsParticipants in the USA were more likely to use diagnostic labels and to report violent commands than those in India and Ghana, who were more likely than the Americans to report rich relationships with their voices and less likely to describe the voices as the sign of a violated mind.ConclusionsThese observations suggest that the voice-hearing experiences of people with serious psychotic disorder are shaped by local culture. These differences may have clinical implications.

scholarly journals Evolutionary Dynamics Based on Comparative Genomics of Pathogenic Escherichia coli Lineages Harboring Polyketide Synthase (pks) Island

mBio ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Arya Suresh ◽  
Sabiha Shaik ◽  
Ramani Baddam ◽  
Amit Ranjan ◽  
Shamsul Qumar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Genomics ◽  
Maximum Likelihood ◽  
High Throughput ◽  
Core Genome ◽  
Polyketide Synthase ◽  
Clinical Implications ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Content Type ◽  
E Coli ◽  
The Core

ABSTRACT The genotoxin colibactin is a secondary metabolite produced by the polyketide synthase (pks) island harbored by extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC) and other members of the Enterobacteriaceae that has been increasingly reported to have critical implications in human health. The present study entails a high-throughput whole-genome comparison and phylogenetic analysis of such pathogenic E. coli isolates to gain insights into the patterns of distribution, horizontal transmission, and evolution of the island. For the current study, 23 pks-positive ExPEC genomes were newly sequenced, and their virulome and resistome profiles indicated a preponderance of virulence encoding genes and a reduced number of genes for antimicrobial resistance. In addition, 4,090 E. coli genomes from the public domain were also analyzed for large-scale screening for pks-positive genomes, out of which a total of 530 pks-positive genomes were studied to understand the subtype-based distribution pattern(s). The pks island showed a significant association with the B2 phylogroup (82.2%) and a high prevalence in sequence type 73 (ST73; n = 179) and ST95 (n = 110) and the O6:H1 (n = 110) serotype. Maximum-likelihood (ML) phylogeny of the core genome and intergenic regions (IGRs) of the ST95 model data set, which was selected because it had both pks-positive and pks-negative genomes, displayed clustering in relation to their carriage of the pks island. Prevalence patterns of genes encoding RM systems in the pks-positive and pks-negative genomes were also analyzed to determine their potential role in pks island acquisition and the maintenance capability of the genomes. Further, the maximum-likelihood phylogeny based on the core genome and pks island sequences from 247 genomes with an intact pks island demonstrated horizontal gene transfer of the island across sequence types and serotypes, with few exceptions. This study vitally contributes to understanding of the lineages and subtypes that have a higher propensity to harbor the pks island-encoded genotoxin with possible clinical implications. IMPORTANCE Extraintestinal pathologies caused by highly virulent strains of E. coli amount to clinical implications with high morbidity and mortality rates. Pathogenic E. coli strains are evolving with the horizontal acquisition of mobile genetic elements, including pathogenicity islands such as the pks island, which produces the genotoxin colibactin, resulting in severe clinical outcomes, including colorectal cancer progression. The current study encompasses high-throughput comparative genomics and phylogenetic analyses to address the questions pertaining to the acquisition and evolution pattern of the genomic island in different E. coli subtypes. It is crucial to gain insights into the distribution, transfer, and maintenance of pathogenic islands, as they harbor multiple virulence genes involved in pathogenesis and clinical implications of the infection.

scholarly journals Implementation of CYP2D6 copy-number imputation panel and frequency of key pharmacogenetic variants in Finnish individuals with a psychotic disorder

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Häkkinen ◽  
JI. Kiiski ◽  
M. Lähteenvuo ◽  
T. Jukuri ◽  
K. Suokas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Control ◽  
Psychotic Disorder ◽  
Sensitivity And Specificity ◽  
Copy Number ◽  
Clinical Decision Making ◽  
Clinical Decision ◽  
Data Quality Control ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Ultrarapid Metabolizers ◽  
Related Individuals

AbstractPurposeWe constructed a CYP2D6 copy-number imputation panel by combining copy-number information to GWAS chip data. In addition, we report frequencies of key pharmacogenetic variants in individuals with a psychotic disorder from the genetically bottle-necked population of Finland.MethodsWe combined GWAS chip and CYP2D6 copy-number variation (CNV) data from the Breast Cancer Pain Genetics study (BrePainGen) to construct an imputation panel (N=902) for CYP2D6 CNV. The resulting data set was used as a CYP2D6 CNV imputation panel in 9,262 non-related individuals passing genotype data quality control procedures. The panel performance was evaluated by genotyping the CNV from a subset (N=297) of SUPER-Finland participants.ResultsCYP2D6 CNV was imputed correctly in 272 (92%) individuals. Sensitivity and specificity for detecting a duplication were 0.986 and 0.946, respectively. Sensitivity and specificity for detecting a deletion using imputation were 0.886 and 0.966, respectively. Based on imputation, the frequency of a CYP2D6 duplication and deletion in the whole SUPER-Finland sample with 9,262 non-related individuals passing quality control were 8.5% and 2.7%, respectively. We confirm the higher frequency of CYP2D6 ultrarapid metabolizers in Finland compared with non-Finnish Europeans. Additionally, we confirm a 21-fold enrichment of the UGT1A1 decreased function variant rs4148323 (also known as 211G>A, G71R or UGT1A1*6) in Finland compared with non-Finnish Europeans. Similarly, the NUDT15 variant rs116855232 was highly enriched in Finland.ConclusionOur results demonstrate that imputation of CYP2D6 CNV is possible. The methodology is not accurate enough to be used in clinical decision making, but it enables studying CYP2D6 in large biobanks with genome-wide data. In addition, it allows for researchers to recontact patients with certain pharmacogenetic variations through biobanks. We show that bottle-necked populations may have pharmacogenetically important variants with allele frequencies very different from the main ancestral group. Future studies should assess whether these differences are large enough to cause clinically significant changes in trial results across different ancestral groups.

EMOTIONAL ATTITUDES LINKED TO COMMON OBJECTS: PRACTICAL AND CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 395-405
Author(s):  
Bożydar L.J. Kaczmarek ◽  
Marcin Stencel ◽  
Michał Grzegorczyk ◽  
Izabela Marczak ◽  
Maria Pąchalska
Keyword(s):  
Negative Affect ◽  
Mobile Phone ◽  
Brain Damage ◽  
Emotional Responses ◽  
Consumer Electronics ◽  
Clinical Implications ◽  
Negative Attitudes ◽  
Four Dimensions ◽  
Emotional Changes ◽  
Alcohol Transport

Studies concerning emotional changes following brain damage neglect the emotional responses that might arise in reaction to the stimuli used in their examination of such patients. Yet those reactions may be quite forceful often provoking feeling of anxiety or panic and dismay. A questionnaire designed to reveal associations and emotional attitudes was presented to 96 extramural students. Four categories of products and the products within those categories were selected. The categories included: sweets; alcohol; transport, and consumer electronics. In addition, 174 participants of various ages and professions produced associations linked to emotionally loaded words. A list of associations and their dominance scores were created. It revealed that transport (4.9) and consumer electronics (5) were given the highest mean scores. Also, the terms car (5.3) and mobile phone (5) aroused the highest levels of emotion. The significance of the emotional attitudes of the participants to objects were determined within particular dimensions that measured likableness, interest, goodness, and attractiveness. The terms beer, chocolate, car and mobile phone were reported to be most acceptable in all four dimensions. The above data suggests that the emotional attitude awakened by a particular object finds its expression in all of the dimensions examined. The studies revealed the significance of primary subconscious affects for creating positive or negative attitudes. This should be taken into account by therapists since objects which evoke a negative affect may trigger a patient’s reluctance to take part in the rehabilitation procedure.

scholarly journals Destigmatising schizophrenia: does changing terminology reduce negative attitudes?

2008 ◽  
Vol 32 (11) ◽  
pp. 419-422 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Kingdon ◽  
Selvarej Vincent ◽  
Sylvia Vincent ◽  
Yoshihiro Kinoshita ◽  
Douglas Turkington
Keyword(s):  
Health Promotion ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Clinical Experience ◽  
Clinical Implications ◽  
Negative Attitudes ◽  
Limited Success ◽  
Related Group ◽  
Promotion Campaigns ◽  
Current Terminology

Aims and MethodHealth promotion campaigns using current terminology have had limited success in reducing stigma to schizophrenia. Terminology and subgroups based on historical precedent, clinical experience and psychosocial research have been developed to provide an alternative to existing terminology, and the attitudes to schizophrenia and alternative terminology of a sample of medical students (n=241) were compared.ResultsOverall attitudes were significantly less negative with the alternatives. the students were less negative about the potential for recovery in relation to all the subgroups than for schizophrenia. Concerns about dangerousness were also less prominent with the exception of the drug-related group.Clinical ImplicationsSubgroups and alternative terminology should be further explored in programmes to destigmatise schizophrenia.

scholarly journals Workplace-based assessment: attitudes and perceptions among consultant trainers and comparison with those of trainees

2012 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 16-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharmila Menon ◽  
Mark Winston ◽  
Gary Sullivan
Keyword(s):  
Online Survey ◽  
Clinical Implications ◽  
Previous Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Negative Attitudes ◽  
Effective Implementation ◽  
Anonymous Questionnaire ◽  
Attitudes And Perceptions ◽  
Workplace Based Assessment ◽  
Competency Based

Aims and methodTo explore attitudes and perceptions towards workplace-based assessment (WPBA) among psychiatric trainers in Wales and to compare them with those of trainees. To identify current problems and report recommendations made by survey respondents to streamline and successfully implement WPBA. An anonymous questionnaire-based cross-sectional online survey was conducted involving consultant psychiatrists in Wales and the results compared with a previous survey of specialty registrars.ResultsIn total, 104 of 164 consultants participated (63%), compared with 81 of 88 trainees (92%). Both surveys highlighted numerous problems and negative attitudes towards WPBA. Compared with widespread dissatisfaction among trainees, trainers appear more diverse in their opinions, although considerable numbers are dissatisfied with the new competency-based system.Clinical implicationsNegative attitudes harboured by many trainees and trainers constitute a significant hurdle to the effective implementation of WPBA and undermine its efficacy as a tool intended to improve training. Specific measures with the potential to address various shortcomings are discussed, with a view to improving WPBA and rendering it more acceptable to both trainees and trainers – and thus facilitate improvement of training.

scholarly journals Olanzapine in practice: a prospective naturalistic study

1999 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 178-180 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Taylor ◽  
Shameem Mir ◽  
Shubra Mace
Keyword(s):  
Beneficial Effect ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Clinical Implications ◽  
Naturalistic Study ◽  
Schizophrenic Psychosis ◽  
Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale ◽  
Scale Scores ◽  
Psychiatric Rating ◽  
Psychiatric Rating Scale

Aims and methodThe study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the naturalistic use of olanzapine. Prescribers of olanzapine were asked to provide baseline and six-week Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale scores for 56 in-patients. Withdrawals from treatment were also noted.ResultsOlanzapine was not effective in any of the 12 patients with refractory schizophrenia and four patients worsened. In 36 patients with non-refractory schizophrenia, 16 (44%) improved and 10 (28%) were categorised as treatment failures. of eight patients with non-schizophrenic psychosis, only one improved and two were treatment failures.Clinical implicationsOlanzapine is effective in treating non-refractory schizophrenia, but appears to have no beneficial effect in refractory schizophrenia.

scholarly journals Daytime night attire as a therapeutic intervention in an acute adult psychiatric in-patient unit

2008 ◽  
Vol 32 (6) ◽  
pp. 221-224 ◽  
Author(s):  
Camilla Langan ◽  
Colm McDonald
Keyword(s):  
Case Note ◽  
Medical Documentation ◽  
Clinical Implications ◽  
Negative Attitudes ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Psychiatric Units ◽  
Self Harm ◽  
The Republic ◽  
The Right ◽  
Case Note Review

Aims and MethodDressing in-patients in night attire during daytime is currently practised in many in-patient psychiatric units, despite the lack of evidence to support its benefit in reducing absconding or self-harm. Using a triangulation design, we investigated the prevalence of, attitudes towards and associations of this practice in an acute psychiatric in-patient setting in the Republic of Ireland.ResultsCase-note review revealed a high prevalence of this practice (57%) and its significant association with involuntary admission. Nursing staff believed that using night attire was effective at reducing absconding and self-harm, and that only voluntary patients should retain the right to choose their clothes. Most patients interviewed were uncomfortable in night clothes and indicated that they should be entitled to choose what to wear.Clinical ImplicationsNight attire is regularly used for risk-management, despite lack of evidence supporting its efficacy and negative attitudes towards it in many patients. This practice and the reasons for its implementation deserve medical documentation.

The Diagnosis and Assessment of Individuals Prodromal for Schizophrenic Psychosis

CNS Spectrums ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 588-594 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean Addington
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
Effective Treatment ◽  
Diagnostic Criteria ◽  
Psychotic Disorder ◽  
Treatment Strategies ◽  
Accurate Identification ◽  
Prodromal Symptoms ◽  
Schizophrenic Psychosis ◽  
Ultra High Risk ◽  
Set Up

ABSTRACTAccurate identification of individuals in the earliest symptomatic stages of psychosis offers new hope for developing more effective treatment strategies. Recently, research clinics have been set up to identify and possibly treat individuals who are seen as being at ultra-high risk of developing a psychotic disorder. This article reviews and describes measures that are currently being used and further developed in order to determine both the diagnostic criteria for the prodromal state and the severity of these putatively prodromal symptoms.

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