Serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) have been postulated to afford benefits in alleviating anhedonia and amotivation. This post hoc pooled analysis evaluated the effect of venlafaxine XR, an SNRI, on these symptoms in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD).

Data was pooled from five short-term randomized, placebo-controlled studies of venlafaxine XR for the treatment of MDD, comprising 1087 (venlafaxine XR, n = 585; placebo, n = 502) adult subjects. The change from baseline score in the MADRS anhedonia factor (based on items 1 [apparent sadness], 2 [reported sadness], 6 [concentration difficulties], 7 [lassitude], and 8 [inability to feel]) for anhedonia, and in motivational deficits (based on 3 items of HAM-D17: involvement in work and activities, psychomotor retardation, and energy level [ie, general somatic symptoms]) for amotivation, were measured through 8 weeks. Mixed model repeated measures (MMRMs) were used to analyze changes over time and ANCOVA to analyze the change from baseline at week 8 with LOCF employed to handle missing data.

At the end of 8 weeks, the change from baseline was significantly greater in patients on venlafaxine XR in both anhedonia (mean, 95% CI: −2.73 [−3.63, −1.82], p < 0.0001) and amotivation scores (mean, 95% CI: −0.78 [−1.04, −0.52], p < 0.0001) than those on placebo. For both measures, the between-group separation from baseline was statistically significant starting from week 2 onwards, and it increased over time.

This analysis demonstrates that venlafaxine XR is effective in improving symptoms of anhedonia and motivational deficits in patients with MDD.

Elevated risk of psychosis for ethnic minority groups has generally been shown to be mitigated by high ethnic density. However, past survey studies examining UK Pakistani populations have shown an absence of protective ethnic density effects, which is not observed in other South Asian groups.

To assess the ethnic density effect at a local neighbourhood level, in the UK Pakistani population in East Lancashire.

Data was collected by the East Lancashire Early Intervention Service, identifying all cases of first episode psychosis (FEP) within their catchment area between 2012 and 2020. Multilevel Poisson regression analyses were used to compare incidence rates between Pakistani and White majority groups, while controlling for age, gender and area-level deprivation. The ethnic density effect was also examined by comparing incidence rates across high and low density areas.

A total of 455 cases of FEP (364 White, 91 Pakistani) were identified. The Pakistani group had a higher incidence of FEP compared to the White majority population. A clear effect of ethnic density on rates of FEP was shown, with those in low density areas having higher incidence rates compared to the White majority, whereas incidence rates in high density areas did not significantly differ. Within the Pakistani group, a dose-response effect was also observed, with risk of FEP increasing incrementally as ethnic density decreased.

Higher ethnic density related to lower risk of FEP within the Pakistani population in East Lancashire, highlighting the impact of local social context on psychosis incidence.

Individuals who have recovered from the acute stage of SARS-CoV-2 infection may be at risk of developing post-COVID-19 condition (PCC), characterised by a spectrum of persisting, non-specific, and functionally impairing symptoms across multiple organ systems. Obesity has been implicated as a risk factor for PCC, mediated by chronic systemic inflammation. The foregoing has also been separately reported to mediate cognitive dysfunction in PCC.

This is a post-hoc analysis of a randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial evaluating vortioxetine treatment for cognitive impairments in persons with PCC who received vortioxetine or placebo for eight weeks. This analysis comprises baseline data, examining the impact of BMI on cognitive functioning measured by the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST) and Trails Making Tests (TMT)-A/B, as well as inflammation, via serum c-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR).

Complete data from 70 participants were statistically analysed and adjusted for age and sex. BMI was negatively correlated with performance on the DSST (β = −0.003, p = 0.047), TMT-A (β = −0.006, p = 0.025), and TMT-B (β = −0.006, p = 0.002). BMI was positively correlated with serum CRP (unstandardized β = 0.193, standardized β = 0.612, p < 0.001) and ESR (β = 0.039, p < 0.001) levels.

We observed a significant negative correlation between BMI and cognitive functioning, and a significant positive correlation between BMI and inflammation in persons with PCC, suggesting a bidirectional interplay between BMI, PCC, and cognitive function; individuals with an elevated BMI may be at a greater risk of developing PCC and/or presenting with greater cognitive deficits mediated by chronic systemic inflammation.

Cardiometabolic disease risk factors are disproportionately prevalent in bipolar disorder (BD) and are associated with cognitive impairment. It is, however, unknown which health risk factors for cardiometabolic disease are relevant to cognition in BD. This study aimed to identify the cardiometabolic disease risk factors that are the most important correlates of cognitive impairment in BD; and to examine whether the nature of the relationships vary between mid and later life.

Data from the UK Biobank were available for 966 participants with BD, aged between 40 and 69 years. Individual cardiometabolic disease risk factors were initially regressed onto a global cognition score in separate models for the following risk factor domains; (1) health risk behaviors (physical activity, sedentary behavior, smoking, and sleep) and (2) physiological risk factors, stratified into (2a) anthropometric and clinical risk (handgrip strength, body composition, and blood pressure), and (2b) cardiometabolic disease risk biomarkers (CRP, lipid profile, and HbA1c). A final combined multivariate regression model for global cognition was then fitted, including only the predictor variables that were significantly associated with cognition in the previous models.

In the final combined model, lower mentally active and higher passive sedentary behavior, higher levels of physical activity, inadequate sleep duration, higher systolic and lower diastolic blood pressure, and lower handgrip strength were associated with worse global cognition.

Health risk behaviors, as well as blood pressure and muscular strength, are associated with cognitive function in BD, whereas other traditional physiological cardiometabolic disease risk factors are not.

Post-COVID-19 condition (PCC) is associated with a host of psychopathological conditions including prominent anxiety symptoms. However, it is not known what effect anxious symptoms have on measures of well-being in individuals living with PCC. This study aims to evaluate anxiety’s association with measures of well-being in people with PCC.

This is a post hoc analysis utilizing data from a placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind clinical trial assessing the effect of vortioxetine on cognitive impairment in individuals with PCC (NCT05047952). Baseline data with respect to anxiety and well-being were collected using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale, 7-Item (GAD-7), and the World Health Organization (WHO) Well-Being Index, 5-Item (WHO-5), respectively. A generalized linear model (GLM) analysis on baseline GAD-7 and WHO-5 scores was conducted with age, sex, employment status, education level, previous major depressive disorder (MDD) diagnosis, and confirmed COVID-19 cases as covariates.

Data was analyzed in a sample of 144 participants (N = 144). After controlling for the aforementioned covariates, the results found that GAD-7 and WHO-5 scores had a significant negative correlation (β = −0.053, p = <0.001), signifying that increased anxiety had adverse effects on the overall well-being of individuals with PCC.

Herein, we observed a clinically meaningful level of anxiety in individuals with PCC. We also identified a robust correlation between anxiety in PCC and measures of general well-being. Our results require replication, providing the impetus for recommending screening and targeting anxious symptoms as a tactic to improve general well-being and outcomes in individuals with PCC.

The objective of this systematic review is to synthesise the evidence on public policy interventions and their ability to reduce household food insecurity (HFI) in Canada.

Four databases were searched up to October 2023. Only studies that reported on public policy interventions that might reduce HFI were included, regardless of whether that was the primary purpose of the study. Title and abstract screening, full-text screening, data extraction, risk of bias and certainty of the evidence assessments were conducted by two reviewers.

Seventeen relevant studies covering three intervention categories were included: income supplementation, housing assistance programmes and food retailer subsidies. Income supplementation had a positive effect on reducing HFI with a moderate to high level of certainty. Housing assistance programmes and food retailer studies may have little to no effect on HFI; however, there is low certainty in the evidence that could change as evidence emerges.

The evidence suggests that income supplementation likely reduces HFI for low-income Canadians. Many questions remain in terms of how to optimise this intervention and additional high-quality studies are still needed.

Life engagement represents a holistic concept that encompasses outcomes reflecting life-fulfilment, well-being and participation in valued and meaningful activities, which is recently gaining attention and scientific interest. Despite its conceptual importance and its relevance, life engagement represents a largely unexplored domain in schizophrenia. The aims of the present study were to independently assess correlates and predictors of patient life engagement in a large and well-characterized sample of schizophrenia patients.

To assess the impact of different demographic, clinical, cognitive and functional parameters on life engagement in a large sample of patients with schizophrenia, data from the social cognition psychometric evaluation project were analyzed.

Overall schizophrenia and depressive symptom severity, premorbid IQ, neurocognitive performance, social cognition performance both in the emotion processing and theory of mind domains, functional capacity, social skills performance and real-world functioning in different areas all emerged as correlates of patient life engagement. Greater symptom severity and greater impairment in real-world interpersonal relationships, social skills, functional capacity and work outcomes emerged as individual predictors of greater limitations in life engagement.

Life engagement in people living with schizophrenia represents a holistic and complex construct, with several different clinical, cognitive and functional correlates. These features represent potential treatment targets to improve the clinical condition and also facilitate the process of recovery and the overall well-being of people living with schizophrenia.

Depressive symptoms are a common feature of schizophrenia (SCH) and define bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder (MDD). Their emergence is related to altered neurotransmission at the serotonin receptors and potentially at dopamine D3 receptors.

The aim of this analysis was to examine the efficacy of cariprazine (CAR) in treating depressive symptoms in SCH, bipolar depression (BD) and MDD.

Clinical trials with randomised, double-blind, placebo (PLB)-controlled designs were included in these analyses. Data from 3 SCH [NCT00694707, NCT01104766, NCT01104779; 1.5-9 mg/d] and 3 BD [NCT01396447, NCT02670538, NCT02670551; 1.5-3 mg/d] studies were pooled. In MDD, add-on CAR to antidepressant treatment was evaluated against PLB in two studies [NCT03738215: 1.5 and 3 mg/d; NCT01469377: 1-2 mg/d and 2-4.5 mg/d).

Least square (LS) mean changes were analysed using Mixed Model Repeated Measures: from baseline (BL) to Week 6 in the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS)-derived Marder anxiety/depression factor items (schizophrenia); from BL to Week 6 in the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) total scores (bipolar depression); and from BL to Week 6 [NCT03738215] and Week 8 [NCT01469377] in MADRS total score (major depressive disorder).

Altogether, 1466 SCH (PLB=442, CAR=1024) patients were included in the pooled analysis. In the BD analysis, data from 1383 (PLB=460, CAR=923) patients were pooled. In the MDD trials, there were 502 CAR (1.5mg/d=250, 3 mg/d=252) and 249 PLB-treated patients [NCT03738215], and 544 CAR (1-2 mg/d=273, 2-4.5 mg/d=271) and 264 PLB patients in the other study [NCT01469377]. In SCH, CAR achieved significantly greater reductions than PLB on the Marder anxiety/depression factor domain (LS mean change: PLB= -2.66, CAR= -3.26, p<0.01): the effect was driven by 3 out of 4 items. In BD, CAR yielded significantly greater improvement on the MADRS compared to PLB (LS mean change: PLB= -12.05, CAR= -14.69, p<0.001), which was driven by 9 out of 10 items. In MDD [NCT03738215], CAR 1.5 mg/d add-on significantly alleviated depressive symptoms compared to PLB (LS mean change: PLB= -11.5, CAR 1.5mg/d= -14.1, p<0.01), while in the other MDD trial [NCT01469377], CAR 2-4.5 mg/d add-on produced significantly greater reductions than PLB (LS mean change: PLB= -12.5, CAR 2-4.5 mg/d= -14.6, p<0.01).

These findings indicate that CAR is an effective treatment option for the treatment of depressive symptoms independent of disease (in SCH, BD and MDD), being a transdiagnostic broad-spectrum treatment option.

R. McIntyre Grant / Research support from: CIHR/GACD/National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), the Milken Institute, Consultant of: Lundbeck, Janssen, Alkermes, Neumora Therapeutics, Boehringer Ingelheim, Sage, Biogen, Mitsubishi Tanabe, Purdue, Pfizer, Otsuka, Takeda, Neurocrine, Sunovion, Bausch Health, Axsome, Novo Nordisk, Kris, Sanofi, Eisai, Intra-Cellular, NewBridge Pharmaceuticals, Viatris, Abbvie, Gedeon Richter, Recordati, Atai Life Sciences, Speakers bureau of: Lundbeck, Janssen, Alkermes, Neumora Therapeutics, Boehringer Ingelheim, Sage, Biogen, Mitsubishi Tanabe, Purdue, Pfizer, Otsuka, Takeda, Neurocrine, Sunovion, Bausch Health, Axsome, Novo Nordisk, Kris, Sanofi, Eisai, Intra-Cellular, NewBridge Pharmaceuticals, Viatris, Abbvie, Gedeon Richter, Recordati, Atai Life Sciences, R. Csehi Employee of: Gedeon Richter Plc., G. Németh Employee of: Gedeon Richter Plc.

Background: The number of suicide-related presentations to emergency departments (EDs) has significantly increased over recent years; thus, making staff often the first point of contact for people in suicidal crisis. Despite this, staff receive minimal psychiatric training and few opportunities for education on the treatment and management of people presenting in suicidal emergencies. Understanding the needs of those who work within EDs is key to maximising the opportunity to reduce suicidal behaviour. Aims: To examine staff perspectives and experiences of working with people presenting to emergency departments in suicidal crisis.

Qualitative study guided by thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with ED administrative, medical and mental health staff.

Twenty-three staff participated. Three key themes were identified: (1) factors influencing staff decision-making; (2) quality of care for both staff and patients; (3) staff burnout, mental health and well-being. Staff described an overall lack of confidence and training related to asking patients about suicidal thoughts, which resulted in defensive practice and risk adverse decision-making. Quality of care for both patients and staff were discussed in relation to availability of resources, staffing pressures and team collegiality.

Staff felt inadequately equipped to deal with suicide-related presentations. Organisational support is lacking with increased staffing pressures, poor service availability and lack of beds. Negative staff attitudes often reflected an inherent unintentional use of language. Changing ED culture from top-down is imperative to address negative language and behaviours towards suicidal crisis and improve patient pathways and experience. Mandatory and ongoing training is needed to improve staff confidence, knowledge and attitudes.

The recording of suicidal ideation in emergency departments (EDs) is inconsistent and lacks precision, which can impede appropriate referral and follow-up. EDs are often the first point of contact for people experiencing suicide-related distress, but while data are available on attendances for self-harm, no comparable data exist for suicidal crisis.

Data were collected from six EDs across Cheshire and Merseyside (N = 42,096). Data were derived from presenting complaints, chief complaints and diagnosis codes for all suicidal crisis attendances (suicidal ideation, self-harm, suicide attempt) from January 2019 to December 2021.

There was inconsistent coding within and between ED sites for people presenting in suicidal crisis. Attendances for suicidal ideation were often given the chief complaint code of ‘depressive disorder’ (12%). There was a high level of missing data related to the coding of suicide-related presentations (65%). Variation in coding was also reported for individual presentations; for example, 12% of attendances reported to be due to ‘self-inflicted injury’ were given a primary diagnosis code of ‘depressive disorder’ rather than ‘deliberate self-harm’. There was also high variability in the routinely collected data (e.g., demographic information, attendance source and mode, under the influence at time of arrival) both within and between EDs.

Accurate detection and documentation of suicidal crisis is critical to understand future risk and improve services. Research and development in monitoring systems for suicidal crisis should be a priority for health services, and a national data collection tool is urgently needed to maximise accuracy and utility. Better data could be used to inform crisis care policy and to target suicide-prevention resources more effectively.