We conclude that MMHs, rather than auditory hallucinations, are the most frequent perceptual symptom of patients diagnosed with a schizophrenia spectrum disorder. Our data also suggest that hallucinations experienced in a single sensory modality (notably auditory ones) stochastically increase the risk for more sensory modalities to join in. We recommend that future studies take into account all 14 sensory modalities in which hallucinations can be experienced. For this we provide a classification of MMHs that allows characterization of their serial versus simultaneous occurrence and their congruent versus incongruent nature.

Between 1990 and 2012, the global mean age at diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder ranged from 38 to 120 months. Measures have since been introduced to reduce the age at autism spectrum disorder diagnosis, but the current global mean age is unknown. This review and meta-analysis report the average age at diagnosis from studies published between 2012 and 2019. We initially identified 1150 articles, including 56 studies that reported the mean or median age at diagnosis across 40 countries (n = 120,540 individuals with autism spectrum disorder). Meta-analysis results (on 35 studies, including 55 cohorts from 35 countries, n = 66,966 individuals with autism spectrum disorder) found a current mean age at diagnosis of 60.48 months (range: 30.90–234.57 months). The subgroup analysis for studies that only included children aged ⩽10 years (nine studies, including 26 cohorts from 23 countries, n = 18,134 children with autism spectrum disorder) showed a mean age at diagnosis of 43.18 months (range: 30.90–74.70 months). Numerous factors may influence age at diagnosis and were reported by 46 studies, often with conflicting or inconclusive findings. Our study is the first to ascertain the global average age at autism spectrum disorder diagnosis from a meta-analysis. Continued efforts to lower the average age at autism spectrum disorder diagnosis are needed. Lay abstract We currently assume that the global mean age at diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder ranges from 38 to 120 months. However, this range is based on studies from 1991 to 2012 and measures have since been introduced to reduce the age at autism spectrum disorder diagnosis. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis (statistical analysis that combines the results of multiple scientific studies) for studies published between 2012 and 2019 to evaluate the current age at autism spectrum disorder diagnosis. We included 56 studies that reported the age at diagnosis for 40 countries (containing 120,540 individuals with autism spectrum disorder). Results showed the current mean age at diagnosis to be 60.48 months (range: 30.90–234.57 months) and 43.18 months (range: 30.90–74.70 months) for studies that only included children aged ⩽10 years. Numerous factors that may influence age at diagnosis (e.g. type of autism spectrum disorder diagnosis, additional diagnoses and gender) were reported by 46 studies, often with conflicting or inconclusive results. Our study is the first to determine the global average age at autism spectrum disorder diagnosis from a meta-analysis. Although progress is being made in the earlier detection of autism spectrum disorder, it requires our constant attention.

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BackgroundRelapse is common among recovered anorexia nervosa (AN) patients. Studies on relapse prevention with an average follow-up period of 18 months found relapse rates between 35 and 41 %. In leading guidelines there is general consensus that relapse prevention in patients treated for AN is a matter of essence. However, lack of methodological support hinders the practical implementation of relapse prevention strategies in clinical practice. For this reason we developed the Guideline Relapse Prevention Anorexia Nervosa. In this study we examine the rate, timing and predictors of relapse when using this guideline.MethodCohort study with 83 AN patients who were enrolled in a relapse prevention program for anorexia nervosa with 18 months follow-up. Data were analyzed using Kaplan-Meijer survival analyses and Cox regression.ResultsEleven percent of the participants experienced a full relapse, 19 % a partial relapse, 70 % did not relapse. Survival analyses indicated that in the first four months of the program no full relapses occurred. The highest risk of full relapse was between months 4 and 16. None of the variables remained a significant predictor of relapse in the multivariate Cox regression analysis.ConclusionThe guideline offers structured procedures for relapse prevention. In this study the relapse rates were relatively low compared to relapse rates in previous studies. We recommend that all patients with AN set up a personalized relapse prevention plan at the end of their treatment and be monitored at least 18 months after discharge. It may significantly contribute to the reduction of relapse rates.

Background Although early results of bariatric surgery are beneficial for most patients, some patients regain weight later. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has been suggested as a way to improve patients’ psychological health and maintaining weight loss in the longer term. The added value of preoperative CBT to bariatric surgery was examined. Pre- and posttreatment and 1-year follow-up data are presented. Methods In a multi-center randomized controlled trial, CBT was compared to a treatment-as-usual (TAU) control group. Measurements were conducted pre- and posttreatment/pre-surgery (T0 and T1) and at 1-year post-surgery (T2). Patients in the intervention group received 10 individual, weekly sessions of preoperative CBT focused on modifying thoughts and behaviors regarding eating behavior, physical exercise, and postoperative life style. Outcome measures included weight change, eating behavior, eating disorders, depression, quality of life, and overall psychological health. Results Though no significant differences between conditions were found per time point, in the CBT, condition scores on external eating, emotional eating, depressive symptoms, and psychological distress decreased significantly more over time between pre- (T0) and posttreatment (T1) pre-surgery compared to TAU. No significant time x condition differences were found at 1-year post-surgery (T2). Conclusions Compared to TAU, preoperative CBT showed beneficial effects on eating behavior and psychological symptoms only from pretreatment to posttreatment/pre-surgery, but not from pre-surgery to 1-year post-surgery. Preoperative CBT does not seem to contribute to better long-term outcomes post-surgery. Recent studies suggest that the optimal time to initiate psychological treatment may be early in the postoperative period, before significant weight regain has occurred. Trial Registration https://www.trialregister.nl Identifier: Trial NL3960.

BackgroundAmong Muslim patients, a common cultural concept of distress is the notion that jinn may be the cause of mental health problems, especially in the presence of hallucinations.ObjectiveThis study examines the frequency with which this attribution style is manifest in a specific psychiatric outpatient population with a Muslim background.MethodsOf all patients registered at an outpatient clinic specialized in transcultural psychiatry, data were collected on folk belief, religion, hallucinations (if present), and medical diagnosis. Through a search in the electronic medical files, the notes made during the first contact and first psychiatric examination were screened for the keywords “evil eye,” “magic,” “voodoo,” and “jinn.” In addition, new eligible cases were accepted.ResultsFrom all 551 patients thus screened, 118 were eligible for participation. Of these, 49 (41.5%) were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. Among them, 21 (43%) were positive that their psychiatric symptoms were caused by jinn, whereas 13 (27%) thought not, and 15 (31%) were in doubt. No less than 87.2% had experienced hallucinations during their lives. Among the relatively large proportion of eligible patients who did not participate (58.5%), many expressed a fear for stigmatization or metaphysical repercussions if they spoke about jinn.ConclusionThe phenomenon of attributing mental health symptoms to jinn was much more common in this population of Muslim patients than previously assumed. This underscores the need for proper knowledge of Muslim explanatory models of disease and for the use of culturally sensitive interviewing techniques in this population.

This article offers a systematic review of studies of personality and the dimensions of temperament and character, personality pathology, and personality disorders (PDs) in adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Fifteen studies met the inclusion criteria for the review, from which seven studies were meta-analyzed. Results indicate that ASD is significantly and systematically associated with an introvert, rigid, passive-dependent temperament with low novelty seeking, high harm avoidance, low reward dependence and high persistence, and with an immature and poorly developed character with low self-directedness, low cooperativeness, and high self-transcendence. The review further finds a positive correlation between ASD (severity) and neuroticism and a negative correlation between ASD (severity) and extraversion, openness to experience, agreeableness, and conscientiousness. It also finds a positive correlation with paranoid, schizoid, schizotypal, avoidant, and obsessive-compulsive PDs. However, the far from perfect associations indicate there is considerable variation between people with ASD in their personality and personality pathology. In order to obtain a comprehensive picture of an individual with ASD and to implement the most effective intervention plans for and therapeutic relationship with adults with ASD, temperament, character, and comorbid personality pathology and PDs should be considered.

The PQ-16 is easy to implement in routine assessment and can be useful to bring up potential psychotic symptoms for further exploration in an early stage, especially in adolescents with low Global Assessment of Functioning scores. The PQ-16 total scores were not confounded by differences in age, gender or disorder. Future research should investigate the true nature of PQ-16 items and whether the item scores and cut-off scores of the PQ-16 in adolescence have any predictive value regarding the development of an ultra high-risk status, a psychotic disorder or other mental disorders.