There is a developing body of research that suggests that there may be distinct categories of patients that can explain the relationship between psychosis and antisocial behaviours. Specifically, three pathways of offending, antisocial behaviour and psychosis have been described and there is an evolving empirical evidence base to suggest that these pathways are aetiologically distinct. Firstly, there is a pathway for early-start offenders, which have been identified as those with psychosis preceded by Conduct Disorder (SZ + CD). Secondly, a group that start to display antisocial behaviours in parallel to the onset of psychosis (SZ-AS). The third group involves those with a long history of a psychotic disorder and no history of antisocial behaviours, who will present to services following a first conviction for non-violent or violent crime (SZ). The authors hypothesise that each typology will utilise services differently throughout the clinical trajectory. This pilot study aimed to (i) examine the concurrent validity of the antisocial behaviour and psychosis typologies, and (ii) examine differences in the service utilisation patterns of patients between these groups.

The sample consisted of adult male patients admitted to low and medium secure forensic hospitals within the Northwest of England. A total of 90 patients were used.

A categorisation checklist was developed, and the typology of patients determined from data collected from electronic health records. Data were collected on patient demographics, psychiatric diagnosis, aetiological factors, and service utilisation. Two researchers reviewed the data and determined the typology. Statistical analysis aimed to assess the difference in aetiological variables between the typologies and examine the relationship with how each typology utilised services.

This study provided further evidence of distinguishing characteristics emphasising typology heterogeneity.

The CD-SZ group were more likely to have utilised mental health services <18 years (70%, p = 0.062), and to have used services preceding a diagnosis of psychosis (60%, p = 0.011). Following the onset of a psychotic disorder, the AS-SZ and SZ groups had a higher proportion that used general adult psychiatry services (p = 0.031), with CD-SZ coming in to contact with forensic psychiatry services and criminal justice services earlier and more frequently.

This study demonstrates that each typology has a different clinical trajectory through mental health services. This provides further empirical evidence towards different clinical typologies and trajectories of individuals with psychosis and anti-social behaviour. Understanding more about how these typologies utilise services will enable clinicians to introduce interventions help develop effective management plans that address the distinct characteristics of each typology of offender with psychosis.

Reflex-mediated syncope occurs in 15% of children and young adults. In rare instances, pacemakers are required to treat syncopal episodes associated with transient sinus pauses or atrioventricular block. This study describes a single centre experience in the use of permanent pacemakers to treat syncope in children and young adults.

Patients with significant pre-syncope or syncope and pacemaker implantation from 1978 to 2018 were reviewed. Data collected included the age of presentation, method of diagnosis, underlying rhythm disturbance, age at implant, type of pacemaker implanted, procedural complications and subsequent symptoms.

Fifty patients were identified. Median age at time of the first syncopal episode was 10.2 (range 0.3–20.4) years, with a median implant age of 14.9 (0.9–34.3) years. Significant sinus bradycardia/pauses were the predominant reason for pacemaker implant (54%), followed by high-grade atrioventricular block (30%). Four (8%) patients had both sinus pauses and atrioventricular block documented. The majority of patients had dual-chamber pacemakers implanted (58%), followed by ventricular pacemakers (38%). Median follow-up was 6.7 (0.4–33.0) years. Post-implant, 4 (8%) patients continued to have syncope, 7 (14%) had complete resolution of their symptoms, and the remaining reported a decrease in their pre-syncopal episodes and no further syncope. Twelve (24%) patients had complications, including two infections and eight lead malfunctions.

Paediatric patients with reflex-mediated syncope can be treated with pacing. Complication rates are high (24%); as such, permanent pacemakers should be reserved only for those in whom asystole from sinus pauses or atrioventricular block has been well documented.

Children born very preterm (VP) display altered growth in corticolimbic structures compared with full-term peers. Given the association between the cortiocolimbic system and anxiety, this study aimed to compare developmental trajectories of corticolimbic regions in VP children with and without anxiety diagnosis at 13 years.

MRI data from 124 VP children were used to calculate whole brain and corticolimbic region volumes at term-equivalent age (TEA), 7 and 13 years. The presence of an anxiety disorder was assessed at 13 years using a structured clinical interview.

VP children who met criteria for an anxiety disorder at 13 years (n = 16) displayed altered trajectories for intracranial volume (ICV, p < 0.0001), total brain volume (TBV, p = 0.029), the right amygdala (p = 0.0009) and left hippocampus (p = 0.029) compared with VP children without anxiety (n = 108), with trends in the right hippocampus (p = 0.062) and left medial orbitofrontal cortex (p = 0.079). Altered trajectories predominantly reflected slower growth in early childhood (0–7 years) for ICV (β = −0.461, p = 0.020), TBV (β = −0.503, p = 0.021), left (β = −0.518, p = 0.020) and right hippocampi (β = −0.469, p = 0.020) and left medial orbitofrontal cortex (β = −0.761, p = 0.020) and did not persist after adjusting for TBV and social risk.

Region- and time-specific alterations in the development of the corticolimbic system in children born VP may help to explain an increase in anxiety disorders observed in this population.