scholarly journals Psychosis in youth in Singapore: a case series

BJPsych Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (S1) ◽  
pp. S117-S117
Author(s):  
Pei Ling Lim ◽  
Roselyne Shirley ◽  
Pat Fong

ObjectiveIn this report, we present a case series of children with psychotic symptoms referred to a child consultation liaison psychiatric service within a tertiary paediatric hospital in Singapore. The purpose of this case series is to identify common symptoms at presentation, review the current practices in our hospital for investigation and treatment of first episode psychosis and short-term outcomes.Case reportWe identified 9 cases over a 1 year period, for which 7 were seen whilst admitted to hospital and 2 in the outpatient clinic. There were 6 females and 5 males ranging in age from 11 to 16 years old. The commonest symptoms on presentation were perceptual disturbance (88%) most commonly auditory hallucinations and altered behaviour (55%). Of the 7 children admitted to hospital, all were seen by the neurology team prior to the request for a psychiatric opinion. All admitted patients had blood and radiological investigations carried out. Most of the children were started on a short course of antipsychotic medication with the majority continuing to attend follow-up outpatient.DiscussionOnly 9 cases were identified in this case series over a 1 year period highlighting that psychosis is not a common presentation in the paediatric population. From the history alone, it can be challenging to distinguish between primary and secondary causes of psychosis. Acute onset of symptoms and the presence of other neurological signs should raise the suspicion of an underlying organic cause. Out of 9 cases, only 1 case was treated for a presumed organic aetiology, which is consistent with findings from other authors who only found underlying organic factors in 12.5% of cases.In this case series, we also noted that 45% of cases reported having symptoms for over 1 year before seeking help. This is also seen in the adult population in Singapore. Stigma, denial and lack of information about psychosis may all contribute to delay in seeking help. Although prolonged duration of untreated psychosis has been shown to be associated with poor long-term outcome, we found in our case series that even patients who reported a long duration of symptoms still responded well to medication.ConclusionThere is room for collaboration with our neurology colleagues in the approach towards children with first presentation of psychosis, both in terms of investigations and management. Identifying reasons for disengagement from psychiatric care is an area for further investigations to improve outcomes in our patients.

2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (S1) ◽  
pp. S67-S67
Author(s):  
M. Nordentoft ◽  
R. Wills ◽  
D. Gotfredsen

BackgroundSeveral national guidelines recommend continuous use of antipsychotic medication after a psychotic episode in order to minimize the risk of relapse. However some studies have identified a subgroup of patients who can obtain remission of psychotic symptoms while not being on antipsychotic medication for a long period of time. This study investigated the long-term outcome and characteristics of patients in remission of psychotic symptoms with no use of antipsychotic medication at the 10-year follow-up.MethodsThe study was a cohort study including 496 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (ICD 10: F20 and F22-29). Patients were included in the Danish OPUS Trial and followed up 10 years after inclusion, where patient data was collected on socio-demographic factors, psychopathology, level of functioning and medication.FindingsAmong the patients, 30% had remission of psychotic symptoms at the time of the 10-year follow up with no current use of antipsychotic medication. This favorable outcome was associated with female gender, high GAF-F score, participation in the labor market and absence of substance abuse.InterpretationResults from several RCTs advise against discontinuation of antipsychotic medication, but our results from the 10-year follow-up indicate that a subgroup do obtain long-term remission while not being on antipsychotic medication. Hence, guidelines on antipsychotic medication do not pay sufficient attention to patients who discontinue antipsychotic medication and are still able to obtain remission of psychotic symptoms.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.


2009 ◽  
Vol 24 (S1) ◽  
pp. 1-1
Author(s):  
M. Mattsson

Despite much effort to positively affect long-term outcome in psychosis and schizophrenia many patients are still facing a poor outcome with persistent psychotic symptoms and decline in social functioning. the aim of this study was to examine the relationship between financial strain and social network and five-year outcome of first episode psychosis (FEP). FEP patients were divided into recovered (n = 52) and non-recovered (n = 19). Each personwas matched according to age and gender with fourpersons (n = 284) from a longitudinal populationbasedstudy. All persons had answered an extensivequestionnaire including social network, quantitative and qualitative, financial strain and mental health. Linear regression analysis showed that both financial strain and social network were associated, and had a unique contribution, to outcome. the results indicate that FEP patients might benefit from interventions that reduce financial strain thus facilitating daily life and cultural and social activities.


Author(s):  
Sandeep Mohindra ◽  
Manjul Tripathi ◽  
Aman Batish ◽  
Ankur Kapoor ◽  
Ninad Ramesh Patil ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Calvarial Ewing tumor is a relatively rare differential among bony neoplasms. We present our experience of managing primary calvarial Ewing sarcoma (EWS), highlighting their clinical and radiological findings. Method In a retrospective analysis, we evaluated our 12-year database for pathologically proven EWS. A literature search was conducted for the comparative presentation and update on the management and outcome. Result From January 2008 to December 2020, we managed eight patients (male:female = 5:3; age range 6 months to 19 years, mean 11.5 years) harboring primary calvarial EWS. All cases underwent wide local excision; two patients required intradural tumor resection, while one required rotation flap for scalp reconstruction. Mean hospital stay was 8 days. All patients received adjuvant chemo- and radiotherapy. Three patients remained asymptomatic at 5 years of follow-up, while two patients died. Conclusion Primary calvarial EWS is a rare entity. It usually affects patients in the first two decades of life. These tumors can be purely intracranial, causing raised intracranial pressure symptoms, which may exhibit rapidly enlarging subgaleal tumors with only cosmetic deformities or symptoms of both. Radical excision followed by adjuvant therapy may offer a favorable long-term outcome.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed Al Habash ◽  
Abdulrahman Albuainain

AbstractTo characterize changes in intraocular pressure (IOP) and IOP-lowering medications through up to 2 years of follow-up in patients undergoing combined phacoemulsification and excisional goniotomy with the Kahook Dual Blade (phaco-KDB), with simultaneous goniosynechialysis in cases of angle-closure glaucoma. Prospective, non-comparative, interventional case series. Consecutive patients with medically-treated glaucoma and visually-significant cataract underwent combined surgery. Analysis was conducted on open-angle (OAG) and angle-closure (ACG) glaucoma groups separately. Thirty-seven patients with OAG (24 with primary OAG and 13 with pseudoexfoliation glaucoma) and 11 with ACG were enrolled. In OAG eyes, mean (standard error) baseline IOP was 21.1 (0.9) mmHg and through 24 months of follow-up was reduced by 6.4–7.7 mmHg (24.6–32.1%; p ≤ 0.0001 at all time points). In ACG eyes, mean baseline IOP was 20.8 (1.6) mmHg and was reduced by 6.1–8.77 mmHg (23.4–39.0%; p ≤ 0.0353). Mean medications were reduced by 61.9–89.1% (p ≤ 0.0001) in OAG eyes and by 56.3–87.3% (p ≤ 0.0004) in ACG eyes. Phaco-KDB significantly lowered IOP ~ 30% and medications by > 50% through 24 months. This combined procedure provides meaningful long-term reductions in IOP and need for IOP-lowering medication and does not adversely affect visual rehabilitation in eyes with cataract and glaucoma.


Author(s):  
S. Fayyaz ◽  
N. Nkire ◽  
B. Nwosu ◽  
N. Amjad ◽  
A. Kinsella ◽  
...  

Objectives: As Ireland confronts the many challenges of broadening the introduction of early intervention services (EIS) for first episode psychosis (FEP) as national policy, this article describes Carepath for Overcoming Psychosis Early (COPE), the EIS of Cavan–Monaghan Mental Health Service, and presents prospective research findings during its first 5 years of operation. Methods: COPE was launched as a rural EIS with an embedded research protocol in early 2012, following an education programme for general practitioners (GPs). Here, operational activities are documented and research findings presented through to late 2016. Results: During this period, 115 instances of FEP were incepted into COPE, 70.4% via their GP and 29.6% via the Emergency Department. The annual rate of inception was 24.8/100,000 of population aged > 15 years and was 2.1-fold more common among men than women. Mean duration of untreated psychosis was 5.7 months and median time from first psychotic presentation to initiation of antipsychotic treatment was zero days. Assessments of psychopathology, neuropsychology, neurology, premorbid functioning, quality of life, insight, and functionality compared across 10 DSM-IV psychotic diagnoses made at six months following presentation indicated minimal differences between them, other than more prominent negative symptoms in schizophrenia and more prominent mania in bipolar disorder. Conclusions: COPE illustrates the actuality of introducing and the challenges of operating a rural EIS for FEP. Prospective follow-up studies of the 5-year COPE cohort should inform on the effectiveness of this EIS model in relation to long-term outcome in psychotic illness across what appear to be arbitrary diagnostic boundaries at FEP.


2008 ◽  
Vol 123 (3) ◽  
pp. 298-302 ◽  
Author(s):  
R J Sim ◽  
A H Jardine ◽  
E J Beckenham

AbstractA number of authors have suggested that surgery for suspected perilymph fistula is effective in preventing deterioration of hearing and in improving hearing in some cases in the short term. We present long-term hearing outcome data from 35 children who underwent exploration for presumed perilymph fistula at The Children's Hospital, Sydney, Australia, between 1985 and 1992.Methods:The pre-operative audiological data (mean of 500, 1000, 2000 and 4000 Hz results) were compared with the most recently available data (range two to 15 years) and the six-month post-operative data.Results:The short-term results showed no significant change in hearing at six months, with a subsequent, statistically significant progression of hearing loss in both operated and non-operated ears (Wilcoxon signed rank test: operated ear, p < 0.017; non-operated ear, p < 0.009).Conclusion:In this case series, exploratory surgery for correction of suspected perilymph fistula did not prevent progression of long-term hearing loss.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hagen Schmal ◽  
Gian M. Salzmann ◽  
Philipp Niemeyer ◽  
Elia Langenmair ◽  
Renfeng Guo ◽  
...  

Cytokine regulation possibly influences long term outcome following ankle fractures, but little is known about synovial fracture biochemistry. Eight patients with an ankle dislocation fracture were included in a prospective case series and matched with patients suffering from grade 2 osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) of the ankle. All fractures needed external fixation during which joint effusions were collected. Fluid analysis was done by ELISA measuring aggrecan, bFGF, IL-1β, IGF-1, and the complement components C3a, C5a, and C5b-9. The time periods between occurrence of fracture and collection of effusion were only significantly associated with synovial aggrecan and C5b-9 levels (P<0.001). Furthermore, synovial expressions of both proteins correlated with each other (P<0.001). Although IL-1βexpression was relatively low, intra-articular levels correlated with C5a (P<0.01) and serological C-reactive protein concentrations 2 days after surgery (P<0.05). Joint effusions were initially dominated by neutrophils, but the portion of monocytes constantly increased reaching 50% at day 6 after fracture (P<0.02). Whereas aggrecan and IL-1βconcentrations were not different in fracture and OCD patients, bFGF, IGF-1, and all complement components were significantly higher concentrated in ankle joints with fractures (P<0.01). Complement activation and inflammatory cell infiltration characterize the joint biology following acute ankle fractures.


2014 ◽  
Vol 45 (6) ◽  
pp. 1181-1193 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. K. W. Chan ◽  
H. C. So ◽  
C. L. M. Hui ◽  
W. C. Chang ◽  
E. H. M. Lee ◽  
...  

Background.Despite evidence on the short-term benefits of early intervention (EI) service for psychosis, long-term outcome studies are limited by inconsistent results. This study examined the 10-year outcomes of patients with first-episode psychosis who received 2-year territory-wide EI service compared to those who received standard care (SC) in Hong Kong using an historical control design.Method.Consecutive patients who received the EI service between 1 July 2001 and 30 June 2002, and with diagnosis of schizophrenia-spectrum disorders, were identified and matched with patients who received SC first presented to the public psychiatric service from 1 July 2000 to 30 June 2001. In total, 148 matched pairs of patients were identified. Cross-sectional information on symptomatology and functioning was obtained through semi-structured interview; longitudinal information on hospitalization, functioning, suicide attempts, mortality and relapse over 10 years was obtained from clinical database. There were 70.3% (N = 104) of SC and 74.3% (N = 110) of EI patients interviewed.Results.Results suggested that EI patients had reduced suicide rate (χ2(1) = 4.35, p = 0.037), fewer number [odds ratio (OR) 1.56, χ2 = 15.64, p < 0.0001] and shorter duration of hospitalization (OR 1.29, χ2 = 4.06, p = 0.04), longer employment periods (OR −0.28, χ2 = 14.64, p < 0.0001) and fewer suicide attempts (χ2 = 11.47, df = 1, p = 0.001) over 10 years. At 10 years, no difference was found in psychotic symptoms, symptomatic remission and functional recovery.Conclusions.The short-term benefits of the EI service on number of hospitalizations and employment was sustained after service termination, but the differences narrowed down. This suggests the need to evaluate the optimal duration of the EI service.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1098612X2110548
Author(s):  
Catherine Tindale ◽  
Filippo Cinti ◽  
Matteo Cantatore ◽  
Alistair Freeman ◽  
Leonardo Cavaliere ◽  
...  

Case series summary Lung lobe torsion is rare in cats. The aim of this multi-institution retrospective study was to describe clinical and diagnostic findings, treatments and outcomes of lung lobe torsion (LLT) in 10 cats. Dyspnoea and tachypnoea were the most common clinical signs. Pleural effusion was present in nine cats at presentation. Fluid analysis confirmed chylothorax in three cats. Nine cats underwent CT and five cats had thoracic radiographs taken. A diagnosis was made preoperatively in six cats, while in the other four cats it was made at exploratory thoracotomy. Affected lung lobes were the right cranial (n = 4/11), left cranial (n = 4/11) and right middle (n = 3/11). One cat had a concurrent torsion of two lung lobes. Lung lobectomy was successfully performed in all cases. Based on clinical, diagnostic and lung histopathology findings, three cats had idiopathic and seven cats secondary LLT. Intraoperative complications included hypotension and hypothermia in four and five cats, respectively. Postoperative complications occurred in six cats and lead to euthanasia or death in four cats, whereas complications resolved in the other two cats. Three cats were euthanased within 5 weeks of discharge. For the three cats surviving long term, including one euthanased at 252 days postoperatively, owner-described outcomes and quality of life were considered good to excellent. Relevance and novel information Secondary LLT associated with underlying thoracic pathology was associated with high complication rates and poor outcomes. Long-term outcomes of cats undergoing surgery for LLT and surviving the perioperative period were deemed good to excellent.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document