Objective: This study investigated trends in hospital utilization by patients with schizophrenia during the first wave of the COVID-19 outbreak in Korea. Methods: The Prophet algorithm was used to predict the monthly number of patients with schizophrenia in 2020 based on medical insurance data between 2010 and 2019. The projected expectations were compared with the actual number of patients receiving outpatient and inpatient treatment each month in the first half of 2020. We conduct interrupted time series analyses of short-term data to determine the significance of recent changes in the trend of hospital visits by patients with schizophrenia. Results: The prediction model showed that the actual number of patients receiving treatment each month during the early COVID-19 outbreak decreased by up to 3.6% compared to the projected expectations. The interrupted time series model also revealed a significant change in hospital utilization compared to the year before the onset of COVID-19 in Korea (F = 8.961, p = 0.010).Conclusion: This suggests that many patients with schizophrenia were not receiving adequate treatment during the COVID-19 outbreak. A strategy should be developed to keep treating patients with schizophrenia during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In this study, we investigated the impact of inflammatory cytokines on the cognitive performance of patients with schizophrenia. The included patients met the criteria for schizophrenia spectrum disorder and were aged between 15 and 40 years, with a duration of illness ≤1 year. Plasma tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α; interferon-γ; and interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and IL-12 levels were measured. A computerized neurocognitive battery, measures for social cognitive function, and clinical measures were administered. A total of 174 patients with first-episode psychosis were enrolled. The TNF-α level was negatively correlated with scores on the digit span, verbal learning, and Wisconsin card sorting tests, and the number of correct responses on the continuous performance test (CR-CPT), whereas a positive correlation was detected with the trail making test (TMT)-B time. The interferon-γ level was negatively correlated with performance on the false belief and visual learning tests. The IL-1β level was positively correlated with the TMT-A time and CPT reaction time, whereas it was negatively correlated with the CR-CPT and performance on the visual learning and social cognitive tests. The IL-12 level was negatively correlated with the CR-CPT and false belief test. Our results suggest that proinflammatory cytokines are associated with cognitive impairment in patients with schizophrenia.
BACKGROUND The use of life-log data in psychiatry can provide valuable insights regarding the effectiveness of treatments for depression. OBJECTIVE This cross-sectional transdiagnostic study investigated the relationship between daily step counts, measured via an actigraph, and depressive symptoms in a large population of 3021 Asian individuals. METHODS Depressive symptoms were measured using the PHQ-9 questionnaire, and actigraphy data were collected using the wGT3X-BT device. Data regarding the number of steps taken by the participants were collected during four different time periods. The participants wore the actigraphy device continuously for 7 days, from 18:00 on the day on which they provided study consent until 6:00 7 days later. RESULTS Among the participants, 1,093 exhibited depressive symptoms while 1,928 did not. Significant differences in mean step counts were observed between the symptoms and no-symptoms groups during each time period, except for 0:00–6:00. The average step count data revealed that the severity of depressive symptoms was significantly and negatively correlated with the number of steps taken during the 06:00–12:00, 12:00–18:00, and 18:00–24:00 periods. CONCLUSIONS Individuals with depressive symptoms had significantly lower mean step counts than those without depressive symptoms, indicating that there is a relationship between physical activity and mood state.
ObjectivesThis report aims to introduce a rare case of a dramatic recovery by donepezil with a patient with schizophrenia who suffered from remaining psychotic symptoms despite proper treatment and had a cognitive impairment by carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning sequelae.Case reportA 38-year-old male who developed schizophrenia 2 years ago had attempted suicide via CO inhalation due to his uncontrolled symptoms. He was hospitalized with delayed neurological sequelae (DNS). Though hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) was applied 10 times, his cognitive impairment did not recover. Surprisingly, with 5–10 mg donepezil, both cognitive function and the psychotic symptoms of the patient remarkably improved.ConclusionThis case showed a good response of donepezil for a patient with schizophrenia and CO-induced DNS after ineffective HBOT. Although the mechanism of the phenomenon is unclear, it can be possible reasons that the neuroprotective effect of donepezil and white matter insult by CO poisoning.
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