Influence of pharmacokinetics-related gene polymorphisms on plasma levels of clozapine and its metabolites in Japanese patients with schizophrenia.

Aim: Clozapine is an atypical antipsychotic drug that is most effective against treatment-resistant schizophrenia and causes serious adverse effects, including agranulocytosis. We examined the relationships between age, sex, genetic polymorphisms, and the plasma concentrations of clozapine and its metabolites (N-desmethylclozapine and clozapine N-oxide) in Japanese patients with schizophrenia.

Methods: DNA was isolated from the peripheral blood samples of 27 patients with schizophrenia receiving clozapine maintenance treatment, and the pharmacokinetics-related genes (, , , , , , and ) were genotyped.

Prognostic impact of psychoeducation program completion on inpatients with schizophrenia: a pilot cohort study.

Background: Psychoeducation programs can reduce the risk of recurrence and readmission in patients with schizophrenia. However, almost all previous studies of program efficacy have included only patients completing the program, which may not be possible in all cases. The objective of this pilot cohort study was to compare the prognoses of inpatients with schizophrenia who did or did not complete a well-established institutional psychoeducation program.

Comparing personality traits of healthcare workers with and without long COVID: Cross-sectional study.

Aim: Pathological mechanisms of "long COVID" after recovery from the main symptoms of COVID-19 are unclear. We compared psychological differences between individuals with and without long COVID symptoms after initial COVID-19 infections.

Methods: This study includes medical workers with and without history of COVID-19.

Development and acceptability testing of a decision aid for considering whether to reduce antipsychotics in individuals with stable schizophrenia.

Aim: Continued antipsychotic treatment is the key to preventing relapse. Maintenance antipsychotic monotherapy and optimal dose use are recommended for individuals with stable schizophrenia because of their undesirable effects. Decision aids (DAs) are clinical conversation tools that facilitate shared decision-making (SDM) between patients and health-care providers.

Effects of 4G-beta-D-Galactosylsucrose in patients with depression: A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, parallel-group comparative study.

Advances in genetic research on microbiome have led to several trials on the effectiveness of synbiotics or probiotics in patients with depression; however, none have evaluated the efficacy of prebiotics. 4G-beta-D-Galactosylsucrose (Lactosucrose, LS) is selectively assimilated by Bifidobacterium as a prebiotic and improves microbiome diversity. However, as it is not clear if LS consumption can improve symptoms of depression, we investigated whether LS intake can improve depressive symptoms, quality of life (QOL), and self-efficacy by conducting a single cite, double-blinded, randomized controlled trial in 20 outpatients with depressive episodes (F32, ICD-10) for 24 weeks.

Switching to antipsychotic monotherapy vs. staying on antipsychotic polypharmacy in schizophrenia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: While recent meta-analyses have reported the superiority of antipsychotic polypharmacy (APP) over antipsychotic monotherapy (APM) in schizophrenia, switching to APM can be beneficial in terms of side effects. To determine whether patients receiving APP should switch to APM or stay on APP, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) examining a switch from APP to APM vs.

[The Unitary Psychosis Theory].

Since E. Kraepelin isolated schizophrenia and bipolar disorder as heterogeneous diseases, attempts to categorize mental illnesses have continued to the DSM-5. Meanwhile, cases of psychosis occurring as a result of neurosyphilis have been reported.

Association between Medication Adherence and Duration of Outpatient Treatment in Patients with Schizophrenia.

Objective: Medication adherence is important in the treatment of schizophrenia, and critical periods during treatment may be associated with relapse. However, the relationship between adherence and duration of outpatient treatment (DOT) remains unclear. The authors aimed to clarify the relationship between adherence and DOT at a psychiatric hospital in Japan.

Correlation between frontal lobe oxy-hemoglobin and severity of depression assessed using near-infrared spectroscopy.

Introduction: The search for objective biomarkers of psychiatric disorders has a long history. Despite this, no universally accepted instruments or methods to detect biomarkers have been developed. One potential exception is near-infrared spectroscopy, although interpreting the measures of blood flow recorded with this technique remains controversial.