Risperidone was one of the most popular psychotropic medications approved by FDA for Autism. It may be used to treat specific disruptive behaviors (i.e. irritability) usually associated with autism.

Due to recent findings, about one-third of children with ASD take an antipsychotic medication and Risperidone may be responsible for the major part, but its place in autism treatment especially out of US has not been clear due to uncertainty about costs and benefits of prescription. We aimed to investigate the risperidone prescription in children with ASD in Iran.

A representative sample of Students of autism specific schools aged 6-15 surveyed through the parents to provide drug list, demographic and developmental information of children; parents were also asked to indicate whether they were currently using or had just used in the past but not currently or never used the risperidone.

Risperidone has been prescribed for 85.2% (98/115) children with ASD while 50.4% were currently using. Sex difference analysis showed that prescription was done for 87% of boys versus 73.9% of girls (p = 0.06). There was a significant lower socioeconomic state in families with current using of risperidone (p < 0.001). Prescription was not associated with comorbidities in children.

We found a very high rate of risperidone use in children with autism. It may be due to treatment approaches rely heavily on the most available psychotropic agent (i.e. risperidone). Further research is warranted in Cost-Benefit Analysis of risperidone use in Autism.

Along with other neurodevelopmental disorders, recently, interest in studying the comorbidities of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) has grown. According to previous findings many ASD children often do experience a number of comorbid medical conditions and about 60–70% of them present with additional neuropsychiatric Disorders.

We aimed to examine the comorbidities of autistic children and identify whether or not the comorbidities affect their social and behavioral profile.

One hundred and seven children with ASD were surveyed. For all subjects, their parents were asked to complete three forms as the ATEC (autism treatment evaluation checklist), Vineland Social Maturity and a checklist for general and biomedical information.

We then compared the subjects as two groups with and without comorbidities.

Fifty one (44.3 %) of subjects had at least one comorbid condition, and thirty six (31.3%) had at least one additional neuropsychiatric condition. Children with comorbidities showed significant lower score in social quotient against the others without comorbidities (p < 0.05, CI 1.6: 20.5). There was a significant correlation between number of comorbidites and physical-behavioral profile of children (r = 0.172, p < 0.05). Comparison of means between two groups showed a trend of higher severity in all dimensions of ATEC in Children with comorbidities but not significantly.

Our results extended the autism literature in association of comorbidities with lower performance in social and behavioral issues.

Premenstrual symptoms (PMS) are characterized by a set of behavioral, somatic, and affective symptoms of varying severity that occur during the 7–10 days before the onset of menstruation and subside after the beginning of the menstrual flow. Although the etiology of PMS is largely unknown, current evidence suggests that they may arise from a decrease in brain serotonin neurotransmission. Starch dietary regimen may increase brain serotonin.

In this quasi-experimental study, we investigated associations between Starch dietary regimen and PMS in 14–19 years old high school students from October to January 2007 in Sari, the city in the North of Iran. 478 girls were selected for this trial. Participants were advised to consume a dietary regimen full of starch every 3 hours a day unless they were asleep. Symptoms were prospectively documented over 3 menstrual cycles with a daily rating scale that had 20 symptoms of PMS After 3 months data analysis was done.

PMS score was 12.85 ± 8.01 prior to dietary regimen, and at the end of first, second and third month following dietary regimen were 11.03 ± 7.59, 12.47 ± 7.79 and 11.13 ± 6.71 respectively (p = 0000). Mood score was 15.8 ± 10.02 prior to dietary regimen, and at the end of first, second and third following dietary regimen were 12.61 ± 9.34, 13.06 ± 8.13 and 11.46 ± 7.09 respectively (p = 0000).

Results of this study revealed that carbohydrate-rich diet can improve PMS symptoms. Therefore, we recommended codified teaching programs via health care staffs to students about the beneficial effects of diet on relieving PMS.

Although there are studies on ageist attitudes and perceptions of quality of life (QoL) among elderly people, no publications exist that compare ageist attitudes and QoL perceptions among elderly people who live in private sector sheltered housing (PRSSH) and in the community.

To map the differences and understand the relations between QoL and negative social perceptions of one’s own age group among older adults, living in PRSSH and in the community.

(1) To examine if there are differences in ageist attitudes and perceptions of quality of life (QoL), and

(2) to understand the role of QoL in explaining ageist attitudes among these two groups of elderly people.

The sample included 126 participants, aged 64–94, who live in PRSSH or in the community. The participants completed Fraboni et al. scale of ageism, a QoL inventory (SF-36 inventory), which provides scores on measures such as physical functioning, mental health and social functioning, and answered demographic questions.

Multivariate analyses of covariance (MANCOVA) partially supported our hypotheses that elderly people who live in PRSSH will demonstrate more ageist attitudes towards people of their own age, and report a lower QoL than elderly people who live in the community.

Gender also had a distinctive effect on ageism and QoL among individuals in PRSSH. These findings were supported by regression analyses.

Although PRSSH may offer luxurious living conditions, the current study shows that living in an age segregated environment, may trigger negative self-perceptions of old age and decrease QoL.

The use of standardized tools for assessment and monitoring of a rehabilitation program is strongly recommended, though not so often accomplished in clinical practice.

To describe the development and feasibility of a computerised method of assessment of rehabilitation activities based on psychometrics.

The software “SVAROSKI” was implemented by means of a relational ER (Entity-Relationship) model with a user interface managed by MS-Access. The rehabilitation activities were: Physical therapy; Locomotion, Occupational Therapy and Reality-Orientation Therapy. Patients were administered at the beginning and at the end of admission the following tests: MMSE, MODA, Barthel Index, Tinetti.

The software enables processing of test data with those obtained from rating scales at each session.

For each patient, two graphical reports are made available:

Punctual performance of each item divided by subject areas;

Overall pace of the three scales assessing rehabilitation (physical therapy was maintained for an evaluation board, partly qualitative, for the sake of the physiotherapist of the structure).

The software allows:

1) the rapid storage of the scores obtained from patients during the course of rehabilitation activities,

2) the real-time consultation of the development of therapeutic and rehabilitation,

3) the comparison of the iteration of several rehabilitation interventions on the patient.

SVAROSKY is a useful tool for analysis and monitoring of developments in the rehabilitation of the patient as a valid tool for the development of a synthesis report of the rehabilitation process.

Late psychoses are a heterogeneous group of disorders whose nosology has been controversial throughout history. The concept of dementia praecox introduced by Kraepelin, and based on the progressive deterioration and early onset, has been so dominant in the last decades that few issues have created as much controversy as that schizophrenia can begin in late age. Our purpose is to identify the different obstacles in the research in late psychoses to be able to overcome these limitations and improve the study in this area.

A literature review was achieved using the National Library of Medicine and PubMed search system.

We found historical limitations, because over the last century, different schools of psychiatry have used different nomenclatures and age limits to define late-onset psychotic disorders. Prevailing beliefs in the low frequency of these diseases or in the association of the onset of psychotic symptoms in the elderly with cognitive impairment have interfered with epidemiological research in this area. Moreover, older psychotic patients are often excluded from epidemiological and pharmacological research. Lack of insight and social isolation determine sampling bias and reliability problems.

Seemengly strong knowledge on late-onset schizophrenia is based, in fact, in samples from patients with late paraphrenia or mixed samples. It becomes mandatory to define concepts and establish diagnostic criteria, and to conduct multicenter studies to increase the size of our samples.

Patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) may show impairment in their ability to recognize facial expressions. It has been speculated that this deficit is linked to hypodopaminergic state which may be connected with an increase in amygdalic activity.

The objective of the study was to assess ability in the perception and recognition of facial expressions among thirty-eight PD subjects and thirty-eight healthy control subjects matched by age, sex, and education level.

To investigate differences in perception of positive, negative and neutral facial expressions, such as sadness, happiness, anger, disgust, fear, astonishment, distrust, uncertainty, curiosity, satisfaction, tenderness, disbelief, embarrassment, disrespect.

The Polish Emotional Intelligence Scale - Faces (SIET) was used.

The results obtained indicate more deficits in recognition of sadness, anger, distrust, embarrassment and tenderness in PD subjects, while happiness was better recognized by PD subjects than by healthy control subjects. Overall, negative expressions were more poorly recognized by PD patients while there were no differences in recognition of positive and neutral emotions in both groups. In addition, astonishment, embarrassment and distrust were more poorly recognized in females with PD when compared with female control subjects. Whereas in male PD subjects, the recognition of disbelief and negative expressions was more impaired when compared with male subjects from the control group.

The results suggest that a hypodopaminergic state affects ability to recognize facial expressions, particularly those expressing negative emotions.

Cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) may contribute to cognitive deficits in stroke. Cognitive impairment that does not meet the criteria for dementia (cognitive impairment no dementia [CIND]) is common in stroke, and patients with such impairment can revert to normal cognition.

To investigate the association of CMBs and remission of poststroke CIND.

To understand the evolution of poststroke cognitive impairment no dementia (CIND) is bi-directional.

143 patients with CIND at three months after stroke were recruited and followed up for one year. Remission of CIND was defined as a conversion of cognitive status from CIND to cognitively intact at follow-up. MRI variables in terms of infarction, cerebral microbleeds (CMBs), and white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) and hippocampal volume were analyzed. Logistic regression was performed to find the predictors of the remission of poststroke CIND.

30 (21.0%) out of the 143 patients converted to cognitive intact at follow-up. In univariate comparisons, subjects with remission of CIND had younger age (67.1 ± 9.5 vs.73.6 ± 7.6 years, p < 0.001) and higher education years (5.1 ± 4.0 vs.3.6 ± 4.0, p = 0.039). They also had lower WMHs volume (8.2 ± 8.2 vs. 18.6 ± 19.7 cm3, p < 0.001), lower frequency of CMBs (10.0% vs. 31.0%, p = 0.021) and lower volume of the lateral ventricle (33.3 ± 16.5 vs.42.6 ± 19.4 cm3, p = 0.017). In logistic regression, age (odds ratio [OR] = 0.913, 95%C.I. = 0.866–0.962, p = 0.001) and absence of CMBs (OR = 4.292, 95%C.I. = 1.174–15.625, p = 0.028) were significant predictors of remission of CIND.

Younger age and absence of CMBs predict the remission of poststroke CIND.

Prefrontal cortex and sex difference are involved in verbal fluency network described in normal participants. Stroke patients often have prefrontal cortex atrophy.

To investigate whether atrophy in subdivisions of prefrontal cortex and sex difference contribute to verbal fluency in non-aphasic stroke patients.

To understand the relationship between the atrophy of left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and verbal performance in elderly poststroke women.

30 elderly (age> = 60 years old) women with non-aphasic ischemic stroke and 30 age-controlled stroke men recruited. Automatic segmentation methods were used to assess the volume of both sides of the whole prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, orbital frontal cortex and dorsalateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), as well as white matter lesions (WMLs) volume. Mini-mental state examination (MMSE) and semantic verbal fluency test (VFT, category: foods and animals) were administered at 3 and 15 months after the index stroke.

The mean (s.d) age was 73.3 ± 7.2 in women and 72.1 ± 6.9 in men. Men had higher education years, less diabetes and higher MMSE scores (p < 0.05). At 3 months after stroke, volume of the left DLPFC was significantly correlated with VFT score in women rather than men, even after controlled by age, education years, neurological deficit, diabetes, WMLs volume and infarct location (partial r = 0.477, p = 0.018). At 15 months, this correlation remained significant (partial r = 0.548, p = 0.006) in women.

Sex difference may be present in the neuropsychological mechanism of verbal fluency impairment in patients with cerebrovascular disease.

The objective of this work was to study the prevalence of anxiety and depression in a population of elderly diabetics and their impact on the glycemic control and the disease evolution.

It was a prospective, descriptive and analytical study on 62 elderly patients with type 2 diabetes. A structured questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic data to describe the participants and aspects of their diabetes. Anxiety and depression symptoms were assessed with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS).

The patients’ mean age was 66.82 years with a standard deviation of 4.8. The diabetes study population was predominantly female (74.2%). Average duration of diabetes was 12 years with a standard deviation of 8.11. Prevalence of anxiety and depression in diabetic elderly patients was respectively 40.3% and 22.6% with a female dominance. 67.7% of elderly diabetes had poor glycemic control. Comparing anxiety mean scores, patients with worse glycemic control had significantly higher scores (9 06 ± 3. 14 vs 6.55; p = 0. 017). We didn’t found a relationship between depression and glycemic control. In our population, the presence of complications were significantly associated with anxiety and depression.

Several studies have shown that the prevalence of anxiety and depression symptoms in elderly patients with diabetes is considerably higher than in general population samples. Depression represent a risk factor for morbidity specially in elderly subjects, which justify a detection of psychiatric symptoms in order to improve the quality of life and the evolution of the disease.

The obstructive sleep-apnea (OSAS) is a syndrome common in elderly, dangerous and frequently misunderstood by the superficiality of the evaluation of nonspecific symptoms of onset.

In this study we studied the prevalence of sleep-apnea (OSAS) in a sick elderly population admitted to a Acute Geriatrics, the correlation with cardiovascular disease and the effects on performaces psychometric

62 subjects were examined in Acute Cure of Geriatrics of University of Catania. All subjects, after a careful medical history, were administered MMSE to cognitive and affective aspect for GDS. Also consider the autonomy and self-reliance by Barthel-Index, IADL and ADL. All subjects also performed 24-hour Holter-ECG examination and examination for Holter blood pressure in 24 hours, made basic spirometric assessments and finally carried out the examination with polysomnography VitalNight-8.

The results in this study have ample evidence on the prevalence of OSAS in the elderly population admitted to the ward for acute cases. Shall also be significant correlations with cognitive status and mood, both largely influenced negatively by the presence of OSAS. They seem much more depressed elderly patients with OSAS compared with the general population. Finally, the highly statistically significant correlation with the presence of OSAS arrhythmias, high pressure is not controlled by drug therapy, obesity and Chronic Bronchitis.

This study reports the evidence of higher correlation between OSAS and Depression in population studied. All these data make us conclude the obvious danger of this disease still so 'little studied in the elderly population.

As the elderly population is growing world-wide, depression in the elderly is becoming an increasing health problem. Studies of depression shows varying results in development patterns with age (1, 2).

To study changes in prevalence and new cases of depression in elderly age cohorts.

The Nord-Trøndelag Health Survey (HUNT) is a general health survey conducted in Nord-Trøndelag County with a follow-up after 11 years. The participants aged 45 years or above at baseline were included. Depression was covered by the depression sub-scale of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-D; 3). Prevalence and incidence of depression was estimated in the different age cohorts.

16517 participants were included and divided in age cohorts based on their age at baseline. A significant increase in depression was found in all age cohorts from 76 years at follow-up. The oldest age cohort (86–90 years at follow-up) had the greatest increase with a change from 11.3% to 20.9%. New cases of depression is increasing with age, with over 10% new cases in all age cohorts aged 81 years and above at follow-up.

We found increased prevalence of depression and a large number of new cases of depression in the oldest age cohorts.

Depression stands out as an important health issue that affects the entire family.

to assess the prevalence and level of depression and its relationship with autoantibodies, individual, environmental, laboratory and lifestyle parameters in miscarriage-patients

to evaluate the causes or effects of depression in recurrent miscarriage-patients.

50 variables containing sociodemographics, health-related habits, depression, serum molecules and blood parameters were evaluated in recurrent miscarriage-patients and healthy women with natural childbirth.

Although no significant differences for 4 sociodemographic and 18 health-related lifestyle parameters were found between patients and controls but depression score and its prevalence was higher in patients than controls. Depression scores were higher in miscarriage-patients (ranging 3–36, mean = 11.92 ± 1.37) than controls (ranging 0–8, mean = 3.05 ± 0.63) which 80.96% of them had no or mild, 2.38% mild-moderate, 4.76% moderate and 11.9% severe depression. There was also a significant association between anti-double-stranded-DNA-antibody (anti-dsDNA) or rheumatoid-factor (RF) level and depression in miscarriage-patients. Interestingly, depression score was inversely correlated with the level of soluble-leptin-receptor (sLeptinR) and soluble-glyeoprotein-130 (sgp130) after controlling for covariates in patients. Depression of miscarriage-patients was correlated with hookah consumption rate. Surprising that, the association between abortion histories and depression in miscarriage-patients become not significant after controlling for age.

Depression score and its prevalence are higher in miscarriage-patients than controls. The depression levels are correlated with certain autoantibodies such as anti-dsDNA or some habits like hookah smoking in miscarriage-patients. Inverse association between depression and some soluble molecules like sgp130 or sLeptinR in recurrent miscarriage-patients also remained to be elucidated.

Depression stands out as an important health issue. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a prototypic autoimmune disorder with possible involvement of each body organ and system.

to determine prevalence and level of depression and its relationship with autoantibody titers, individual, environmental, laboratory and lifestyle parameters in SLE-patients

to evaluate the causes or effects of depression in SLE-patients.

50 variables containing sociodemographics, health-related habits, depression, serum molecules and blood parameters were evaluated in SLE-patients and healthy controls.

Although no significant differences for 4 sociodemographic and 18 health-related lifestyle parameters were found between patients and controls but depression score and its prevalence in SLE-patients was higher. SLE-patients had higher depression score than controls. 94.12% of SLE-patients had no or mild depression, while the rest had mild-moderate or moderate depression. Furthermore, more depressed SLE-patients had higher level of autoantibodies. Between lupus-related-parameters such as autoantibodies, complement level and other hematological parameters, only the correlation of antinuclear-antibody (ANA) titer and depression score remained significant after controlling for variables. Interestingly, depression score was inversely correlated with the level of soluble-leptin-receptor (sLeptinR) and soluble-glyeoprotein-130 (sgp130) after controlling for variables in SLE-patients. Depression of SLE-patients had a direct association with alcohol, cigarette and hookah consumption.

Depression score and its prevalence are higher in SLE-patients than controls. These depression levels are correlated with ANA or some habits like hookah smoking in patient group. Inverse association between depression and some soluble molecules like sgp130 or sLeptinR in SLE-patients also remained to be elucidated.

Psoriasis is a common, chronic, erythematous dermatosis with prevalence estimates ranging from 0, 3% to 2, 5%. This recurring disorder is associated with significant psychological distress, a decrease in health-related quality of life and psychiatric morbidity. The most common psychiatric comorbidities are mental retardation, personality disorder and affective disorders.

The authors’ aim is to present a clinical vignette of a 27-year-old male suffering from psoriasis who was admitted to the psychiatric yard exhibiting psychotic symptoms. A literature's review about the association between psychosis and autoimmune disorders, particularly with psoriasis vulgaris, was also made.

The patient is a 27-year-old single male with normal IQ. He had no physical ilnesses during childhood and adolescence. There was no history of psychiatric or developmental disorders in the patient and his family. In early adulthood he was diagnosed with psoriasis vulgaris. The patient's father also suffered from the same skin disorder. At the age of 27 he began to hear voices commenting on his behaviour and he exhibited psychomotor agitation, delusions of persecution, and sexual disinhibition. Admission in psychiatric yard was necessary to treat psychotic symptoms.

The skin and the brain are embryologically related. Consequently, a relationship between psychological factors and skin diseases has long been hypothesized. Schizophrenia has been associated with nearly 50% higher lifetime prevalence of one or more autoimmune disorders but further studies are necessary to elucidate the possible association between psoriasis vulgaris and psychosis.

We examined leukocyte numbers, circulating endothelial progenitor cells (CD34+, CD133+), circulating mesenychmal stem cells (CD105+) and circulating endothelial cells (CD146+) at the beginning, after 4 weeks and at the end of an inpatient antidepressant treatment.

24 insufficiently pretreated inpatients with major depression were included. At admission, after four weeks and at demission blood samples were obtained, and cell numbers were counted by flow cytometric analysis (FACS). At each examination the severity of the depression was evaluated with the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). We were especially interested in the changes of cell numbers during the antidepressant treatment. The data were statistically analyzed using SPSS 14.0.

The mean BDI score fell from 34 ± 7 at the beginning to 26.5 ± 6.6 after four weeks and 13.5 ± 5.7 at demission. The longer the overall duration of the depressive illness, the higher the number of leukocytes at admission (P < 0.0001). The lower the depression score at demission, the lower the final number of leukocytes (P < 0.001). During the antidepressant treatment the BDI depression score improved significantly (P < 0.0001). The number of CD146+ cells showed a significant decrease (P < 0.006). We did not find any significant changes of circulating CD34+, CD105+, or CD133+ cells during the antidepressant treatment.

The leukocyte results suggest an activation of the immune system in major depression and a deactivation due to antidepressant treatment.