Screening for autism spectrum disorder in adult psychiatric outpatients in a clinic in Taiwan

Patients with adult autism spectrum disorder (ASD) continue to suffer from impairment in socialization and communication skills, and a proportion of them may develop psychiatric symptoms. It is thus likely that physicians in adult psychiatric departments may see a number of patients with ASD. Identification of patients with ASD is helpful and important for rehabilitation. This study estimated the prevalence of ASD among adult psychiatric outpatients in a Taiwanese medical center. A total of 660 patients were screened with Nylander and Gillberg's "Autism Spectrum Disorder in Adult Screening Questionnaire." Patients with high scores then underwent a diagnostic clinical interview conducted by child psychiatrists. Four patients (0.6%) were found to have ASD.     

Screening for mental disorders in cardiology outpatients

The objective of the study was to compare the frequency of mental disorders in cardiology outpatients to the number of patients with psychological problems identified by cardiologists. In a cardiology outpatient service, 103 consecutive patients were asked to participate in the study. Of these 86 were included and screened for mental disorder with the Primary Care Evaluation of Mental Disorders (PRIME-MD), Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID) psychosis screening, the Clock Drawing Test, and the WHO-5 Well-being Index. The cardiologists were asked to rate the severity of somatic and mental problems in each patient on visual analogue scales (VAS-som and VAS-men). The current treatments, including psychiatric and psychological treatments, were noted, and the survival was followed for 3 years. Of the 86 patients included, 34 (40%) had a diagnosis of mental disorder. Eleven (12.8%) had major depression, six (7.0%) minor depression, six (7.0%) anxiety disorder, two unspecified somatoform disorder, seven (8.1%) dementia, one alcohol abuse and one psychosis. Three of the patients were in long-term psychopharmacological treatment. Although the cardiologists predicted mental disorder significantly better than chance, none of the patients was in relevant treatment for their mental disorder. At 3-year follow-up, 20 (24%) of the patients had died. Age and severity of heart disease predicted mortality, while the presence of a mental disorder did not. Mental disorders, especially depression, were frequent in cardiology outpatients. Even in cases where the cardiologists identified psychological problems, the diagnosis had no consequence, as none of the patients was offered relevant treatment.     

Screening CMHC outpatients for physical illness

To assess the prevalence of physical disorders among outpatients treated in Colorado's public mental health system, a total of 175 patients from two community mental health centers received a comprehensive medical screening that included a standard physical examination and laboratory analyses. Of these patients, 46 percent had physical conditions or laboratory test results warranting further medical evaluation. A previously undiagnosed physical health problem was identified in 20 percent of the screened patients, and about 16 percent had conditions that could cause or exacerbate their mental disorder. The authors conclude that public mental health systems should ensure routine assessment of the physical health of psychiatric outpatients and suggest guidelines for developing medical screening procedures in public settings.     

Noradrenergic dysfunction and the psychopharmacology of posttraumatic stress disorder

The catecholamine norepinephrine is a critical effector of the mammalian stress response and has been implicated in the pathophysiology of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)-a syndrome intrinsically related to the experience of extraordinary stress. Symptom-linked hypernoradrenergic derangements have been observed in PTSD and several studies have examined the potential therapeutic effects of agents that dampen the centrally hyperactive noradrenergic state. These agents include compounds that decrease norepinephrine release (e.g. centrally acting alpha(2) agonists such as clonidine) and those which block post-synaptic norepinephrine receptors (e.g. centrally acting alpha(1) or beta receptor antagonists such as prazosin or propranolol). In this article, we review studies of central noreadrenergic hyperactivity under both basal and challenge conditions and explore the evidence for these derangements as potential psychopharmacologic targets in patients with PTSD. Given the significant involvement of CNS norepinephrine hyperactivity in PTSD, and its link to intrusive and hyperarousal symptoms, it is not surprising that interventions directed at this system have therapeutic potential in PTSD. The utility of these anti-adrenergics in the clinical treatment of PTSD remains to be determined, though it is possible that they may prove to have primary roles in a disorder that is only modestly responsive to antidepressant treatment.     

Screening for binge eating disorder in obese outpatients

The prevalence of binge eating disorder (BED) in clinical samples of obese patients is controversial, and sensitive diagnostic protocols for use in routine clinical practice need to be further defined. Three hundred forty-four obese (body mass index [BMI] > or =30 kg/m2) patients were studied with the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R to investigate the lifetime prevalence of mental disorders. The current prevalence of BED was assessed using DSM-IV criteria. Eating attitudes and behavior were investigated with the Bulimic Investigation Test, Edinburgh (BITE) and the Binge Eating Scale (BES). The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Spielberg's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) were also applied. The prevalence of BED was 7.5%. Patients with BED had a higher BMI compared with obese patients without BED. Differences in the lifetime prevalence of mental disorders in patients with and without BED were not statistically significant. Using the BES as a screening instrument for BED with a threshold of 17, the sensitivity was 84.8%, specificity 74.6%, positive predictive value 26.2%, and negative predictive value 97.9%. Using the BITE with a threshold of at least 10, the sensitivity was 91%, specificity 51.4%, positive predictive value 71.8%, and negative predictive value 98.2%. The BITE can be a valid alternative to the BES as a screening method for BED in obese patients.     

Executive dysfunction in Turkish children at high risk for schizophrenia

Objective  To explore different aspects of executive function (i.e. sequencing, set shifting and mental flexibility) in children who are at high risk for schizophrenia by comparing them with normal controls. Method  The high risk (HR) group consisted of 30 children whose parents were diagnosed as schizophrenia. As the control group (CG) 30 children, whose parents did not meet any DSM IV diagnostic criteria for any psychiatric disorder, participated. They were age and sex matched with the HR group. For the evaluation of different domains of cognitive functions Wechsler intelligence scale for children-revised (WISC-R), and a group of neuropsychological tests, including Trail Making A-B Tests, Color Form Test, and Progressive Figures Test were administered. Behavioral problems were assessed using Hacettepe Adjustment Scale. Results  The subjects in the high risk group had significantly lower scores on Trail Making A-B, Color Form, Progressive Figures Tests, as well as subtests and scores of WISC-R (Information, Comprehension, Similarities, Picture Completion, Block Design, Object Assembly and Coding subtests, Verbal, Performance and Full Scale IQ scores). There is no significant difference between the two groups in the frequency and severity of behavioral problems. Conclusion  Children of parents with schizophrenia displayed significantly greater number of difficulties in several areas of executive function, such as sequencing, set shifting, and mental flexibility, when compared to their controls.     

Screening for psychosocial dysfunction in inner-city children: further validation of the Pediatric Symptom checklist.

A sample of 123 6- to 12-year-old outpatients at an inner-city pediatric clinic was screened for psychosocial dysfunction using the Pediatric Symptom Checklist (PSC), a brief parent-completed questionnaire. The prevalence of positive screening scores on the PSC was 22%, significantly higher than the rate found in lower middle to upper middle-class samples. Comparing PSC case classifications with comprehensive assessments made by clinicians, overall agreement was 92% (kappa = 0.82; sensitivity = 88%; specificity = 100%); a comparison with several other measures provided additional support for the validity of the PSC. The PSC's reliability over time was also acceptable. These findings provide preliminary evidence that the PSC is as valid and reliable for screening children from economically disadvantaged and minority backgrounds as it is for middle and upper middle-class populations.     

Screening for depressive symptoms among post-stroke outpatients in Eastern Hungary

Patients were consecutively enrolled in a cross-sectional study to determine the severity of depressive symptoms and the rate of treated depression in a patient population returning to a stroke outpatient service during a 10-week period for a regular check-up examination after their stroke. Of the 143 stroke patients, 119 fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The 13-item Beck Depression Inventory was used to screen for depressive symptoms. The score was at least 5 in 53%, 10 or above in 26%, and 15 or above in 11% of patients. Severity of depressive symptoms did not depend on gender, age, time elapsed from stroke, or the site of the cerebral lesion. Most patients with considerable depressive symptoms did not receive antidepressant medication at the time of the screening.     

Screening for mental illness in a Veterans Affairs women's health clinic.

This study examined the prevalence of self-reported mental illness and related impairment in social and occupational functioning among 209 female veterans enrolled in a primary care clinic. Ninety-four (45 percent) of the women screened positive for at least one psychiatric disorder, 46 (22 percent) for two or more coexisting psychiatric disorders, and 40 (19 percent) for only subthreshold disorders. The degree of self-reported impairment in social and occupational functioning was strongly related to the number of psychiatric diagnoses. Women who were under the age of 50 and those who had a service-connected disability were more likely to screen positive for a mental disorder.     

抑郁症患者首次至精神科首次就诊的特征

目的:调查精神科首诊抑郁症患者特征.方法:调查196例初次就诊精神科的抑郁症患者,对病程、就诊主动性、非精神科求治史等特征及其他相关因素进行分析. 结果:患者至精神科门诊初诊时平均病程(6.4±4.4)个月,仅37.6％患者主动来诊,46.7％曾求治过非精神科.逐步回归分析显示,影响初诊时病程的因素为性别、文化程度及发...     

Screening for social fears and social anxiety disorder in psychiatric outpatients

The ability of a diagnostic interview to identify all individuals with a particular psychiatric disorder depends, in part, on the performance of the interview's initial screening questions. The Structured Clinical Interview for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Fourth Edition (SCID) is the most widely used research diagnostic interview, yet little research has examined the performance of the SCID screening questions. Because social anxiety disorder (SAD) is one of the most frequent psychiatric disorders, we examined the performance of the SCID screening question in the SAD module to detect social fears and SAD. The incremental validity of a more comprehensive list of social fears was examined by determining how many patients were diagnosed with SAD in those who were originally missed by the SCID screening question. Five percent of those originally missed by the SCID screening question subsequently received a lifetime diagnosis of SAD, and there was a significant increase in the prevalence of social fears after patients were cued by the social fears list. The most commonly reported fears missed by the SCID screening question included speaking in a group, with sexually attractive others, and with authority figures. Results suggest that perhaps these fears could be added to the SCID screening question to capture individuals missed by the SCID screening question and to provide more comprehensive information for treatment purposes.     

Special section on psychopharmacology trials in children and adolescents

For the first time, we publish a special section of four related articles in the online, open-access journal Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health.     

Screening for psychosocial dysfunction in economically disadvantaged and minority group children: further validation of the Pediatric Symptom Checklist

This study assessed the validity and reliability of the Pediatric Symptom Checklist (PSC) for screening lower-middle-class and minority group children. PSCs were collected from parents of 300 pediatric outpatients aged six to 12 years and 48 of these children and their parents were interviewed in depth. The rate of positive screening was higher for poorer children. Comprehensive interview evaluations and statistical indices suggested that this higher rate was valid.