Offspring outcomes when a parent experiences one or more major psychiatric disorder(s): a clinical review

We sought evidence on quantifiable offspring outcomes, including problems, needs and strengths, associated with their experience of major parental psychiatric disorder(s), focusing on schizophrenia, affective illnesses and personality disorder(s). We were motivated by the absence of any systematic exploration of the needs of offspring of parents in secure hospitals. Seven electronic databases were searched to identify systematic reviews of studies quantifying offspring outcomes when a parent, or parent surrogate, has major psychiatric disorder(s). Our search (updated in February 2018) identified seven high-quality reviews, which incorporated 291 unique papers, published in 1974–2017. The weight of evidence is of increased risk of poor offspring outcomes, including psychiatric disorder and/or behavioural, emotional, cognitive or social difficulties. No review explored child strengths. Potential moderators and mediators examined included aspects of parental disorder (eg, severity), parent and child gender and age, parenting behaviours, and family functioning. This clinical review is the first review of systematic reviews to focus on quantifiable offspring problems, needs or strengths when a parent has major psychiatric disorder(s). It narratively synthesises findings, emphasising the increased risk of offspring problems, while highlighting limits to what is known, especially the extent to which any increased risk of childhood problems endures and the extent to which aspects of parental disorder moderate offspring outcomes. The absence of the reviews’ consideration of child strengths and protective factors limits opportunity to enhance offspring resilience.

A Self-inflicted Hot Oil Burn in a Male With a Major Psychiatric Disorder: A Case Report

Introduction: Suicide is a major challenge to public health worldwide, and self-inflicted burn is one of the most violent suicide methods. Case Presentation: In this case, a self-inflicted hot oil burn in a male with schizotypal personality and major depressive disorder is reported. Conclusion: Psychiatric disorders, marital problems, and economic poverty are mentioned as risk factors for self-inflicted burn. Thus, these risk factors should be considered in the management of self-inflicted burn patients.

Cognitive Loss

This chapter discusses dementia, memory loss, and other cognitive dysfunction. Dementia is diagnosed when cognitive or behavioral symptoms interfere with the ability to function at work or at usual activities. This represents a decline from previous levels and is not explained by delirium or major psychiatric disorder. The criteria for dementia include a minimum of 2 of the following cognitive or behavioral impairments: 1) impaired ability to acquire and remember new information, 2) impaired reasoning and handling of complex tasks, 3) impaired visuospatial abilities, 4) impaired language functions, and 5) changes in personality, behavior, or comportment.

Terminal delirium misdiagnosed as major psychiatric disorder: Palliative care in a psychiatric inpatient unit

Background:Delirium is a neuropsychiatric condition characterized by acute change in cognition and disturbance of consciousness. A similar state during the final days of life is termed “terminal delirium.”Method:We present three cases with end-stage chronic medical problems without any significant psychiatric history who were admitted to an inpatient psychiatric unit or a locked dementia unit for management of “depression,” “dementia,” or “psychosis.”Conclusions:Early diagnosis of terminal delirium helps prevent patients, family members, and staff from undergoing severe emotional distress and facilitates appropriate end-of-life care.

Cognitive Profile of Paranoid Schizophrenia on LNNB

Schizophrenia is a major psychiatric disorder characterized by a disruption in affective, cognitive and social domains, which results in compromised ability to adapt to a changing environment and to function adequately in the community. Schizophrenia is often accompanied by gross and progressive impairment in different functional areas of a person. They are mostly seen in the form of – cognitive impairment (executive functions, information processing, attention, learning and memory), psychomotor activity, speech, thought process, perception, and abstraction. These deficits are evident in nearly all individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia, and their impact on the employment, social relationships and living status of patients is devastating. However, there could be differences among cognitive profiles of different schizophrenia subtypes. Luria Nebraska Neuropsychological Battery (LNNB) is a widely used standardized neuropsychological tool for cognitive assessment. In the present study, 30 male paranoid schizophrenia patients were assessed on the LNNB- Form I to see the profile of cognitive functioning on this tool.

Epigenetic mechanisms in schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a major psychiatric disorder that lacks a unifying neuropathology, while currently available pharmacological treatments provide only limited benefits to many patients. This review will discuss how the field of neuroepigenetics could contribute to advancements of the existing knowledge on the neurobiology and treatment of psychosis. Genome-scale mapping of DMA methylation, histone modifications and variants, and chromosomal loopings for promoter-enhancer interactions and other epigenetic determinants of genome organization and function are likely to provide important clues about mechanisms contributing to dysregulated expression of synaptic and metabolic genes in schizophrenia brain, including the potential links to the underlying genetic risk architecture and environmental exposures. In addition, studies in animal models are providing a rapidly increasing list of chromatin-regulatory mechanisms with significant effects on cognition and complex behaviors, thereby pointing to the therapeutic potential of epigenetic drug targets in the nervous system.

Frequency of Major Psychiatric Disorders in Patients with HIV in Health Care Centers of Rafsanjan and Kerman in 2012

Background: Psychiatric disorders are common in HIV-infected patients and for sure have direct impact on both prevention and management of diseases in these patients. In this research, the prevalence of major psychiatric disorders including mood, anxiety, and psychotic disorders in HIV-infected patients of Rafsanjan and Kerman health care centers were determined.Materials and Methods: Eighty three HIV-infected patients were interviewed by a psychiatrist in above-mentioned health centers and their information was registered through a standard CIDI questionnaire (version 2.1) and was statistically analyzed.Results: In this study, Out of 83 participants, 71 cases (85.5%) were males and 12 (14.5%) were females. Their age range was from 21 to 62 years old. Sixty-nine cases (83.1%) were diagnosed with at least one major psychiatric disorder and 14 cases (16.9%) with none. Among the HIV-infected patients, 54 cases (65.1%) suffered from a mood disorder, 21 (25.3%) had psychotic and 41 (49.4%) had anxiety disorders.Conclusion: The current study showed that major psychiatric disorders were more common in HIV-infected patients in comparison to normal communities, so on-time diagnosis and therapy and proper management of these problems could be truly a promising step in global control of HIV in this part of Iran.