No abstract

The authors developed and tested a 35-min psychoeducational program with the goal of increasing Spanish-speaking persons’ literacy of psychosis. The program uses popular cultural icons derived from music, art, and videos, as well as a mnemonic device—La CLAve (The Clue)—to increase (a) knowledge of psychosis, (b) efficacy beliefs that one can identify psychosis in others, (c) attributions to mental illness, and (d) professional help-seeking. Assessments were conducted before and after administering the program to both community residents (n = 57) and family caregivers of persons with schizophrenia (n = 38). For community residents, the authors observed increases across the 4 domains of symptom knowledge, efficacy beliefs, illness attributions, and recommended help-seeking. For caregivers, increases were observed in symptom knowledge and efficacy beliefs. La CLAve is a conceptually informed psychoeducational tool with a developing empirical base aimed at helping Spanish-speaking Latinos with serious mental illness obtain care in a timely manner.

Objective. To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of the Two Whooley questions and the Arroll question, using the SCID, The Structured Clinical Interview (SCID-I) as the gold standard for detecting perinatal depression. Materials and methods. We interviewed 210 women during pregnancy and 6 months postpartum. Results. The criterion with the greatest sensitivity was responding positively to either Whooley question (pregnancy= 94.7 %; postpartum=100.0%), while the most specific criterion was responding positively to the two Whooley questions plus the Arroll question (Pregnan­cy=90.0% Postpartum = 85.7%). Conclusion. The Whooley and Arroll questions have adequate psychometric properties to detect possible cases of depression during the perinatal period. They can be applied during prenatal check-ups and postpartum consultations. Timely detection of women at risk of perinatal depression can contribute to their treatment for reducing their adverse consequences in mothers and infants.

Epidemiological evidence has linked an array of sociodemographic and psychosocial factors with an increased risk of developing psychosis. However, research in samples from low- and middle-income countries is still scarce. This study used a Mexican sample to explore (i) sociodemographic and psychosocial differences between individuals with and without a positive screen for Clinical High-Risk for psychosis (CHR), and (ii) sociodemographic and psychosocial factors associated with screening positive for CHR. The sample consisted of 822 individuals from the general population who completed an online survey. Of the participants, 17.3% (n = 142) met the CHR screening criteria. Comparisons between those who screened positive (CHR-positive group) and those who did not (Non-CHR group) showed that participants in the CHR-positive group were younger, had a lower educational level, and reported more mental health problems than the Non-CHR group. Furthermore, relative to the Non-CHR group, the CHR-positive group had a greater prevalence of medium/high risk associated with cannabis use, a higher prevalence of adverse experiences (bullying, intimate partner violence, and experiencing a violent or unexpected death of a relative or friend), as well as higher levels of childhood maltreatment, poorer family functioning, and more distress associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Groups did not differ in sex, marital/relationship status, occupation, and socio-economic status. Finally, when examined in multivariate analyses, the variables associated with screening positive for CHR were: having an unhealthy family functioning (OR = 2.75, 95%CI 1.69–4.46), a higher risk associated with cannabis use (OR = 2.75, 95%CI 1.63–4.64), a lower level of education (OR = 1.55, 95%CI 1.003–2.54), having experienced a major natural disaster (OR = 1.94, 95%CI 1.18–3.16), having experienced a violent or unexpected death of a relative or friend (OR = 1.85, 95%CI 1.22–2.81), higher levels of childhood emotional abuse (OR = 1.88, 95%CI 1.09–3.25), physical neglect (OR = 1.68, 95%CI 1.08–2.61), and physical abuse (OR = 1.66, 95%CI 1.05–2.61), and higher COVID-related distress (OR = 1.10, 95%CI 1.01–1.20). An older age was a protective factor for screening positive for CHR (OR = 0.96, 95%CI 0.92–0.99). Overall, the findings highlight the importance of examining potential psychosocial contributors to psychosis vulnerability across different sociocultural contexts to delineate risk and protective processes relevant to specific populations and better target preventive intervention efforts.

Background: Nab-paclitaxel (Nab-P) is a nanoparticle albumin-bound form of paclitaxel that is thought to exploit natural albumin pathways to enhance the selective uptake and accumulation of paclitaxel at the site of the tumour, thus reducing its diffusion to normal tissues. Nab-P has been approved for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer patients who have failed first-line treatment for metastatic disease and for whom standard, anthracycline-containing therapy is not indicated. Toxicity profile of Nab-P is well characterized with significantly less haematological toxicities compared with conventional paclitaxel (P). Nab-P derived grade III neuropathy is short-lasting and more reversible than conventional P-derived neuropathy, probably due to absence of Cremophor solvent, or due to P itself. However there is still a lack of clinical and physiological characterisation of Nab-P induced neuropathy. The Current used tools for early detection and continuous evaluation of neurotoxicity are not optimal. Most used toxicity scales are limited, as they do not provide a detailed information of the severity of the neuropathy, its impact on quality of life, or physiopathology mechanisms. In addition, an inter-individual variability exists in terms of neurotoxicity predisposition when taxanes are used; it seems to be related to polymorphic differences in genes implicated in transport and metabolism of these drugs. Specific aims: Primary objective is to characterize neurotoxicity according to Total Neuropathy Score (TNS) and electromyographic changes. Secondary endpoints are determine the rate of neuropathy chemo-induced, the predictive value of some genetic variants (SNPs) for the development of neuropathy, clinical activity, toxicity profile and safety of treatments and quality of life (EORTC QLQ-C30 and CIPN20). Trial design: Phase II open-label randomised clinical trial with four parallel arms: a) conventional paclitaxel 80 mg/m2 on days 1, 8 and 15; b) Nab-P 100 mg/m2 on days 1, 8 and 15; c) Nab-P 150 mg/m2 on days 1, 8 and 15; d) Nab-P 150 mg/m2 on days 1 and 15. Study treatments will be administered in a 28-day cycle until progression disease, intolerable toxicity or investigator's decision. Eligibility criteria: Women >18 years, with cytological or histological confirmation of HER2-negative breast cancer, metastatic disease, not prior chemotherapy for advanced disease, no prior grade > 1 neuropathy from any cause, measurable or evaluable disease, ECOG >2 and adequate bone marrow, renal and hepatic functions. No Relevant comorbidities. Statistical methods: This is an exploratory safety study to better characterize neurotoxicity in patients treated with Nab-P compared toP. Therefore no formal sample size or power calculations will be performed. We expect to recruit 60 patients, 15 in each treatment arm, in 18 months. Recruitment will start on October 2012. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2012;72(24 Suppl):Abstract nr OT3-3-05.

No abstract