Cigarette smoking in outpatients with chronic schizophrenia in Taiwan: relationships to socio-demographic and clinical characteristics

In individuals with schizophrenia, the prevalence of cigarette smoking is significantly higher than that of the general population; this appears to be associated with specific psychosocial and clinical characteristics. Indeed, some evidence suggests an increased risk of suicide among smokers with schizophrenia. The purpose of this study was to examine the characteristics of smokers with schizophrenia in Taiwan. In this cross-sectional study, 95 outpatients with DSM-IV diagnosis of schizophrenia were recruited and independently interviewed for nicotine dependency with tobacco use. The effects of cigarette smoking on the various measures, especially suicidality, were investigated. The results revealed that smokers with schizophrenia had higher rates of hospitalization, lifetime suicide attempts, antipsychotic treatment side effects, psychopathology, impulsivity, depression, anxiety, and suicidal risk than non-smokers with schizophrenia. When separate analyses were conducted in male and female patients, depressive symptoms were significant predictors of suicidality among males, whereas heavy smoking, anxious symptoms, and hopelessness were significant predictors among females. From this study, we may gain insights into the role of cigarette smoking in patients of schizophrenia in Taiwan. Furthermore, cigarette smoking may influence aspects of suicidality in schizophrenia.     

Prevalence,demographic and clinical correlates of suicide attempts in Chinese medicated chronic inpatients with schizophrenia

The high prevalence of suicide in schizophrenia may be related to its demographic and clinical characteristics. Because suicide prevalence and its associations with clinical variables are less well characterized in Chinese than European patients with schizophrenia, we assessed the suicide attempts in 520 Chinese inpatients with schizophrenia. The suicide attempt data were collected from medical case notes and interviews with the patients and their family members. Patients were rated on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), the Simpson and Angus Extrapyramidal Symptom Rating Scale (SAES), and the Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS). Smoking severity was evaluated using clinician-administered questionnaires and the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND). We found a suicide attempt rate of 9.2% in these schizophrenic inpatients. The attempters were single, had a significantly younger age but more hospitalizations, had higher depressive symptoms, and began smoking at an earlier age, smoked more cigarettes each day and had higher FTND total scores than patients without suicide attempts. The logistic regression analysis also indicated that suicide attempts were associated with the number of hospitalizations, depressive symptoms and FTND total scores. These results suggest that Chinese inpatients with schizophrenia attempt suicide more often than the general population. Further, some demographic and clinical variables are risk factors for suicide attempts in schizophrenia.     

Depression, suicidal behavior and insight in adolescents with schizophrenia

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the interrelationships between depressive symptoms of adolescent schizophrenia, post-psychotic depression (PPD), negative signs, suicidal behavior and insights into the disease. METHODS: Three groups of 16 adolescent inpatients were assessed with regard to: Schizophrenia alone, schizophrenia with PPD and major depressive disorder (MDD). The following measures were used: DSM IV diagnostic criteria, the Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia (CDSS), the PANSS (Positive and Negative Signs of Schizophrenia Scale), (BDI) Beck Depression Inventory, (CCL) Cognitive Check List, (HS) Hopelessness Scale, (SRS) Suicide Risk Scale, (CSPS) Child Suicide Potential Scale and the (SAUMD) Scale to Assess Unawareness of Mental Disorder. RESULTS: Compared with MDD adolescents, PPD adolescents showed few somatic and behavioral symptoms of depression but had equally severe cognitive and affective depressive symptomatology. Suicide risk scores and actual suicidal behavior was prominent in PPD adolescents. A positive and significant correlation was found between PPD symptoms, suicide risk and awareness of disease (insight). Negative symptoms of schizophrenia could be distinguished from PPD symptoms and there was a negative correlation between blunted affect and PPD scores. CONCLUSIONS: PPD can be diagnosed in adolescent schizophrenia. The symptom pattern is different from MDD, therefore, there may be cause to modify DSM IV provisional criteria for this condition. Adolescents with schizophrenia who have insight into their illness are at higher risk for suicidal behavior and the development of PPD.     

Cigarette smoking,suicidal behavior,and serotonin function in major psychiatric disorders

OBJECTIVE: Cigarette smoking is associated with a higher risk for suicide and attempted suicide, but psychopathological or biological explanations for this association have not been explored. Lower serotonin function and impulsive/aggressive traits are associated with suicidal acts, including completed suicide. The authors hypothesized that the relationship that may exist between cigarette smoking and suicidal behavior may be associated with lower serotonin function and the presence of impulsive/aggressive traits. METHOD: Study subjects were 347 patients with a psychiatric disorder (175 with depression, 127 with schizophrenia, and 45 with other disorders). Fifty-three percent of the subjects (N=184) had a lifetime history of suicide attempt, and 47% (N=163) had never attempted suicide. Smoking behavior, lifetime suicidal behavior, and psychopathology were assessed. Serotonin function was assessed in a subgroup of patients with depression (N=162) by using a fenfluramine challenge test and/or measurement of CSF levels of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid. RESULTS: Among all patients, smokers were more likely to have made a suicide attempt (adjusted odds ratio=2.60, 95% confidence interval=1.60-4.23) and had higher suicidal ideation and lifetime aggression scores, compared with nonsmokers. An inverse relationship was observed between amount of cigarette smoking and both indices of serotonin function. CONCLUSIONS: The association between cigarette smoking and the presence and severity of suicidal behavior across major psychiatric disorders may be related to lower brain serotonin function in smokers with depression. Further investigation is required to replicate these findings, to measure serotonin function in patients with disorders other than depression, and to test potential therapeutic effects of serotonin-enhancing treatments on both smoking behavior and suicide risk.     

Cigarette smoking is associated with suicidality in bipolar disorder

Objectives:  Cigarette smoking in individuals with bipolar disorder has been associated with suicidal behavior, although the precise relationship between the two remains unclear.
Methods:  In this prospective observational study of 116 individuals with bipolar disorder, we examined the association between smoking and suicidality as measured by Linehan's Suicide Behaviors Questionnaire (SBQ) and prospective suicide attempts over a nine-month period. Impulsivity was measured by the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale.
Results:  Smoking was associated with higher baseline SBQ scores in univariate and adjusted analyses, but was not significant after statistical adjustment for impulsivity in a regression model. A higher proportion of smokers at baseline made a suicide attempt during the follow-up period (5/31, 16.1%) compared to nonsmokers (3/85, 3.5%); p = 0.031, odds ratio = 5.25 (95% confidence interval: 1.2–23.5). Smoking at baseline also significantly predicted higher SBQ score at nine months.
Conclusions:  In this study, current cigarette smoking was a predictor of current and nine-month suicidal ideation and behavior in bipolar disorder, and it is likely that impulsivity accounts for some of this relationship.     

Nicotine use in schizophrenia and disinhibition

The role of personality in nicotine use has been little studied in patients with schizophrenia. The objectives of the present study were to compare impulsivity, sensation seeking and anhedonia in a group of schizophrenic patients with and without current cigarette smoking. One hundred patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder (DSM-III-R criteria) were assessed with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, the Fagerstr?m Scale, the Barratt Impulsivity Scale, the Zuckerman Seeking Sensation Scale, and the Chapman Physical Anhedonia Scale. Among these patients, 67% were current smokers. The mean scores for sensation seeking were higher in the group of smokers than in the group of nonsmokers. The differences were found exclusively with the "disinhibition" subscale. No significant difference was found for impulsivity and physical anhedonia mean scores. The scores on the Sensation Seeking Scale were especially low in nonsmokers. Cigarette smoking could influence disinhibition and possibly help to normalize inhibition in schizophrenic patients.     

Prevalence of depression and its relationship with other clinical characteristics in a sample of patients with stable schizophrenia

AimTo evaluate the prevalence of depression using the Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia (CDSS) in a sample of Spanish patients with stable schizophrenia and without a diagnosis of depression.MethodsWe included stable outpatients of 18 to 50 years of age, with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or schizophreniform disorder who had not been diagnosed with depression. In this cross-sectional study, we administered the CDSS, the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS), the Scale to Assess Unawareness of Mental Disorder (SUMD), the Simpson Angus Scale (SAS), and the Barnes Akathisia Rating Scale (BARS).ResultsA total of 95 patients were recruited, 90 of them were included in the statistical analysis. Twenty-eight patients had a total score of 5 or more points on the CDSS, making the prevalence of depression 31% (95% confidence interval, 22-41). The CDSS had a high correlation with the depressive factor of the PANSS and a moderate correlation with the general psychopathology subscale of the PANSS. The correlation of the CDSS total score with negative symptoms was moderate using the SANS and low with the PANSS-negative. There was no correlation between depressive symptoms and positive symptoms, insight, and extrapyramidal symptoms; and the correlation with akathisia was low.ConclusionOur results suggest that patients with stable schizophrenia who have not been diagnosed with depression frequently have clinically relevant symptoms of depression, and that these symptoms, with the possible exception of a contribution from negative symptoms, are not secondary to other symptoms of their disorder or to extrapyramidal adverse effects of medications.     

Family History of Suicide and Impulsivity

A family history of suicide indicates a raised risk for suicidal behavior; this liability might be familially transmitted as an impulsive-aggression trait. To examine the impulsivity factor, data from 258 abstinent drug dependent patients who were interviewed about their family history of suicidal behavior and who completed the Barratt Impulsivity Scale (BIS) were examined. The results showed that patients with a family history of suicidal behavior had significantly higher BIS scores for risk taking than patients without a family history of suicidal behavior. Also, patients with a family history of suicidal behavior who had themselves attempted suicide had significantly higher BIS scores for both impulsivity and risk taking than patients with a family history of suicidal behavior who had never attempted suicide.     

Family history of suicide and impulsivity.

A family history of suicide indicates a raised risk for suicidal behavior; this liability might be familially transmitted as an impulsive-aggression trait. To examine the impulsivity factor, data from 258 abstinent drug dependent patients who were interviewed about their family history of suicidal behavior and who completed the Barratt Impulsivity Scale (BIS) were examined. The results showed that patients with a family history of suicidal behavior had significantly higher BIS scores for risk taking than patients without a family history of suicidal behavior. Also, patients with a family history of suicidal behavior who had themselves attempted suicide had significantly higher BIS scores for both impulsivity and risk taking than patients with a family history of suicidal behavior who had never attempted suicide.     

Characteristics of schizophrenic patients with a history of suicide attempt

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to evaluate the suicide attempt history among schizophrenic patients and compare their sociodemographic and clinical characteristics with schizophrenic patients without a history of suicide attempt.

METHOD Sixty schizophrenic patients according to DSM-IV criteria were included in the study. Half of the patients were in acute phase and receiving inpatient treatment, while the other half were in stable phase and outpatients. The sample was subdivided into two subsamples according to the presence/absence of lifetime suicidal attempts.

RESULTS History of suicide attempt was found in 27 (45%) of the patients. The rate of having suicidal ideation, depression, paranoid type schizophrenia and first-degree relatives with psychiatric disorder was high among the group with suicide attempt history. Depression and insight scores were high and PANSS Negative symptoms subscale score was low among the patients with suicide attempt history. There were no significant differences between the two groups according to the scores of PANSS Positive symptoms and General Psychopathology subscales.

CONCLUSION The high rate of suicide attempt history in our sample suggests that risk of suicide has to be determined and protective measures have to be taken while planning inpatient and outpatient treatment of these patients. Suicide attempt history is a risk factor for suicide ideation and is also related to depressive symptoms and high insight score and low negative symptoms score.     

Psychosocial Factors Contributing to Suicidal Ideation in Hospitalized Schizophrenia Patients in Korea

Objective

This study aimed to comprehensively evaluate psychosocial risk factors associated with suicidality in patients with schizophrenia in Korea.

Methods

The study sample consisted of 84 hospitalized patients with schizophrenia. Suicidal thoughts and a clear desire to be dead within 2 weeks were defined as a current suicidal ideation. Socio-demographic and clinical variables, including family history of completed suicides and psychiatric illnesses, were collected, and the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia (CDSS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Simpson-Angus Scale (SAS), Scale to assess Unawareness of Mental Disorder (SUMD), and Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) were administered to identify factors associated with a current suicidal ideation.

Results

Forty-three subjects (51.2%) reported clear suicidal ideation. Multivariate analysis revealed that later age of illness onset, previous suicide attempt, family history of completed suicide, depression, or substance abuse, fewer than one family visitation to the hospital per month, and score on the CDSS were independently related to current suicidal ideation in these subjects. Age, education level, and scores on the SUMD were not significantly associated with current suicidal ideation in the multivariate analysis, but were associated with suicidal ideation in a univariate analysis on the level of p<0.1.

Conclusion

The above clinical factors should be evaluated to predict and prevent suicidal risk in patients with schizophrenia. In particular, modifiable factors such as depression should be managed to reduce suicidality of hospitalized patients with schizophrenia.     

Glutamatergic dysfunction in catatonia? Successful treatment of three acute akinetic catatonic patients with the NMDA antagonist amantadine.

Therapeutic efficiacy of the NMDA antagonist amantadine is reported in three acute neuroleptic free akinetic catatonic patients. Intravenous infusion of amantadine led to the resolution of catatonic symptoms and considerable reductions of scores in various motor scales (Simpson Angus scale for extrapyramidal side effects (SEPS), the abnormal involuntary movement scale (AIMS), Rogers catatonia and schizophrenia scales). The therapeutic effect of amantadine showed a characteristic temporal pattern with most pronounced effects four to six hours after administration and recurrence of catatonic symptoms by 24 hours later, at least partially. Such a temporal pattern of therapeutic efficacy and decreasing efficacy occurred in all three patients on all days. The results suggest the central importance of glutamatergic dysfunction in catatonic syndrome.     

吸烟对精神分裂症男性患者精神病理症状的影响

目的 分析吸烟对精神分裂症临床精神病理症状的影响,探索精神分裂症患者高比例吸烟的原因.方法 收集慢性精神分裂症吸烟患者(332例)和非吸烟患者(95例)共427例,首次发病(以下简称首发)精神分裂症吸烟患者(22例)和非吸烟患者(41例)共63例,均为男性;使用阳性和阴性症状最表(PANSS)评定其临床精神病理症状.结果 (1)在慢性精神分裂症患者巾,吸烟组PANSS阴性症状分量表中的情感交流障碍得分[(3.9±1.5)分]、被动或淡漠得分[(3.6±1.6)分]及其总分[(24.0.±8.2)分]低于非吸烟组[分别为(4.4.±1.7)分、(4.0±1.7)分和(26.3.±9.5)分;P<0.05];PANSS阴性症状分量表7个条目得分及其总分、一般精神病理分量表总分和PANSS总分与患者每天的吸烟量呈负相关(P<0.05～0.01);阴性症状分量表中的情感交流障碍[比值比(OR)=0.832,95%可信区间(95%CI)=0.691～0.980,P=0.029]和一般精神病理分量表中的紧张(OR=0.534,95%CI=0.363～0.786,P=0.001)进入Logistic模型.(2)在首发精神分裂症患者中,吸烟组在阴性症状分量表中的情绪退缩得分[(2.7±1.3)分]、被动或淡漠得分[(2.7 ±1.3)分]低于非吸烟组[分别为(3.5±1.3)分和(3.5±1.4)分;P<0.05];一般精神病理分量表中的动作迟缓与患者每天的吸烟量呈负相关,自知力缺乏与吸烟量呈正相关(均P<0.05);PANSS一般精神病理分量表中的动作迟缓(OR=0.589,95%CI:0.350～0.989,P=0.045)进入Logistic模型.结论 吸烟对阴性症状的正性作用可能是精神分裂症患者高比例吸烟的原因之一.     

Substance abuse and suicidality in schizophrenia: a common risk factor linked to impulsivity

Lifetime substance abuse comorbidity is frequent in schizophrenic patients, but the clinical correlates remain unclear. We have explored the chronological relations between substance abuse and course of schizophrenia, and compared several clinical characteristics and personality dimensions in 50 schizophrenic patients with or without lifetime substance abuse or dependence. Abuse occurred mainly after the first prodromal symptoms and just before the first psychotic episode. Substance-abusing patients were not different from non-substance-abusing patients on the Chapman Physical Anhedonia Scale, PANSS total score, negative subscore or depression item, CGI, treatment response and demographic variables. In contrast, substance-abusing patients had higher scores on the Barratt Impulsivity Scale (total, cognitive and non-planning scores) and had attempted suicide more often. In patients with schizophrenia, as in the general population, substance abuse or dependence appears associated with higher impulsivity and suicidality. High impulsivity could facilitate substance abuse as a maladaptive behavior in response to prodromal symptoms, precipitating the onset of a characterized psychosis.     

Temperament and character personality profile in relation to suicide attempts in patients with schizophrenia

Introduction

Schizophrenia is associated with a significant risk of suicide, and suicide still remains one of the main causes of death in schizophrenic patients. Beside classic risk factors for suicidality, temperament and character traits have been researched and considered as risk factors for suicidal behavior in recent years.

Method

Subjects were 94 patients with schizophrenia who were under treatment. All patients were in a stable phase of the illness. Patients with lifetime suicide attempt (n = 46) and without suicidal attempt (n = 48) were compared with each other in terms of temperament and character traits by using the Temperament and Character Inventory.

Results

Harm avoidance and persistence scores were higher in suicidal schizophrenic patients compared with nonsuicidal schizophrenic patients. The scores of self-directedness and cooperativeness were lower in suicidal schizophrenic patients compared with nonsuicidal schizophrenic patients. These 4 variables remained significant predictors of lifetime suicidal attempts in a logistic regression model.

Conclusion

To the best of our knowledge, the present study is the first that specifically compares schizophrenic patients with and without suicidal behavior by the Cloninger temperament and character model. Our data indicate that schizophrenic patients will show a greater risk for suicide according to certain personality configurations. However, to establish causal relationships between personality and suicidality in schizophrenia, longitudinal studies are warranted within a multifactorial interactive framework of biologic and clinical variables.     

奥氮平治疗难治性精神分裂症临床观察

目的：评价奥氮平对难治性精神分裂症的疗效与不良反应。方法：对难治性精神分裂症80例换用奥氮平治疗24周。用阳性症状和阴性症状量表(PANSS)评定疗效，用副反应量表(TESS)及锥体外系副反应量表(ESRS)评定不良反应。结果：PANSS量表总分及各分量表评分疗后均有显著下降。最常见的不良反应是体重增加。结论：奥氮平对难治性精神分裂症疗效肯定，不良反应较轻。     

阿立哌唑与奋乃静治疗女性精神分裂症对照性研究

目的比较阿立哌唑与奋乃静治疗女性精神分裂症疗效和安全性。方法将83例女性精神分裂症住院患者随机分为阿立哌唑组（研究组）41例和奋乃静组（对照组）42例。以阳性和阴性综合征量表（PANSS）评定疗效,治疗中需处理的不良反应症状量表（TESS）评定不良反应。结果治疗后第2、4、8周末两组PANSS总分及各因子分与治疗前比较均显著下降（P〈0．05,P〈0．01）。治疗后第8周末研究组PANSS量表阴性症状分显著低于对照组（P〈0．05）。两组不良反应均较轻微,不良反应发生率在两组之间无统计学差异（P〉0．05）。结论阿立哌唑治疗女性精神分裂症安全有效。     

氟哌啶醇治疗精神分裂症所致急性 静坐不能的预测因素

目的探讨氟哌啶醇治疗精神分裂症所致急性静坐不能的预测因素。方法调查４６例服氟哌啶醇的精神分裂症病人,于服药前取血测催乳素（ＰＲＬ）、血清铁饱和度、转铁蛋白、总铁结合力（ＴＩＢＣ）。用Ｓｉｍｐｓｏｎ锥体外系副反应量表、简明精神病评定量表（ＢＰＲＳ）、阴性症状量表（ＳＡＮＳ）、功能总体评定量表（ＧＡＦ）进行评定,并收集临床资料。结果急性静坐不能的产生与年龄小、女性、病程短、帕金森综合征（特别是震颤及僵直）、目前的药物剂量、血清铁饱和度低显著相关。有无静坐不能组病人原始ＢＰＲＳ、ＳＡＮＳ分值、临床疗效及催乳素曲线下面积无显著性差异。结论年龄小、女性、病程短、有帕金森综合征、目前的药物剂量大及血清铁饱和度低的患者,产生急性静坐不能的危险性较大     

Cigarette smoking in schizophrenia: relationship to psychopathology and medication side effects.

OBJECTIVE: The authors' goal was to study the relationship between smoking status and clinical characteristics in schizophrenic patients. METHOD: Seventy-eight schizophrenic outpatients were assessed by a single rater using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), the Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale, and the Simpson-Angus Scale for extrapyramidal symptoms. Current smokers (N = 58) were compared with nonsmokers (N = 20) on clinical variables by independent t tests and chi-square tests. Differences in outcome variables were tested by multiple analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) with smoking status and gender as factors and age, neuroleptic dose, and caffeine consumption as covariates. RESULTS: Seventy-four percent of patients were current smokers and reported a mean of 19 cigarettes smoked per day. Compared to nonsmokers, current smokers were significantly more likely to be men, to be younger, and to have had an earlier age at onset and a greater number of previous hospitalizations. Current smokers and nonsmokers received mean neuroleptic doses of 1160 and 542 mg/day (chlorpromazine equivalents); the difference was significant. Current smokers also displayed significantly less parkinsonism and more akathisia and had higher total scores on the BPRS. Overall multiple ANCOVA demonstrated a significant main effect for smoking status but not gender or the interaction between gender and smoking status. Univariate ANCOVAs demonstrated a significant main effect of smoking status only for the Simpson-Angus Scale score. CONCLUSIONS: Cigarette smokers receive significantly higher neuroleptic doses, in part because of a smoking-induced increase in neuroleptic metabolism. Smoking is also associated with significant reduction in levels of parkinsonism. Smoking status is a significant factor that should be considered in assessment of neuroleptic dose requirements and neuroleptic side effects.     

利培酮治疗老年期精神分裂症双盲对照研究

目的：探讨利培酮治疗老年期精神分裂症的有效性及安全性。方法：分别用利培酮和氟哌啶醇对62例老年期精神分裂症患者进行8周治疗。疗效评定采用阳性与阴性症状量表(PANSS)，不良反应评定用副反应量表(TESS)和Sampson锥体外系反应量表。结果：两组治疗前后比较PANSS总分和各因子分均具有显著差异、两组在治疗第1、2、4、6、8周PANSS总分及各因子分比较差异均无显著性，但利培酮组较氟哌啶醇组在治疗阴性症状方面起效早2周。不良反应震颤、肌强直、活动减退发生率利培酮组显著低于氟哌啶醇组。结论：利培酮和氟哌啶醇均为治疗老年期精神分裂症有效、安全的药物。利培酮治疗阴性症状起效较早，氟哌啶醇锥体外系反应较显著。