This study aims to describe the course of admission and clinical characteristics of admissions to a psychiatric intensive care unit (PICU) in the Phoenix Care Centre (PCC), Dublin, Ireland.

This retrospective chart study was conducted at the PCC, Dublin, Ireland. The cohort included all admission episodes (n = 91 complete data) over a three-year study period between January 2014 and January 2017.

The mean age of admitted cases was 37.1 (s.d. = 11.3; range 18–63). The mean length of stay (LOS) was 59.3 days (s.d. = 61.0; median 39.5 days). All patients were admitted under Mental Health Act legislation. Antipsychotic polypharmacy was used in 61% (n = 55) of the admissions. A diagnosis of acute psychotic disorder (B = −1.027, p = 0.003, 95% CI: −1.691, −0.363) was associated with reduced LOS in PICU.

Our study describes the cohort of patients admitted as being predominantly male, younger-aged, single, having a diagnosis of schizophrenia and being legally detained. The primary indication for referral is risk of assault, which highlights the need for the intensive and secure treatment model that a PICU can provide.

Schizophrenia is a major mental illness with a progressive course. Thirty percent of cases of patients with schizophrenia do not respond to adequate trials of at least 2 different groups of antipsychotics are currently classified as having treatment resistant schizophrenia (TRS). Clozapine remains the gold standard, treatment of choice for TRS. However, clozapine does not come without its own challenges. Its risk profile, particularly agranulocytosis, reported in 1% of cases, has led to the necessity of weekly blood counts within the first 18 weeks of treatment and subsequently every month with slow dose titration. Clinically, sedation, weight gain and hypersalivation may further hamper the compliance of patients. Non-compliance has been reported to cause rebound psychosis. Recent studies have raised questions as to which antipsychotic is most efficacious for TRS. Thus, we conducted a systematic review of high dose olanzapine treatment for people with TRS.

A systematic review of prospective studies found through search of PubMed, Scopus and hand-searched key papers which included randomized controlled trials and open-label studies which looked at high dose of olanzapine treatment response for TRS.

The study is currently ongoing and preliminary results will be presented at the conference in April 2017.

The gravity of burden TRS brings to patients extends itself to their families, carers and clinicians. Further evidence on which antipsychotic is more efficacious for patients with TRS would have huge implications in terms of health benefits for the patients, better informed clinical decisions and also health economics in general.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Schizophrenia is a major mental illness with a progressive course. Thirty percent of cases of patients with schizophrenia do not respond to adequate trials of at least 2 different groups of antipsychotics,are currently classified as having treatment resistant schizophrenia (TRS). Clozapine remains the gold standard, treatment of choice for TRS. However, clozapine does not come without its own challenges. Its risk profile, particularly agranulocytosis, reported in 1% of cases, has led to the necessity of weekly blood counts within the first 18 weeks of treatment and subsequently every month with slow dose titration. Clinically, sedation, weight gain and hypersalivation may further hamper the compliance of patients. Non-compliance has been reported to cause rebound psychosis. Recent studies have raised questions as to which antipsychotic is most efficacious for TRS. Thus, we conducted a systematic review of high dose olanzapine treatment for people with TRS.

A systematic review of prospective studies found through search of PubMed, Scopus and hand-searched key papers which included randomized controlled trials and open-label studies which looked at high dose of olanzapine treatment response for TRS.

The study is currently ongoing and preliminary results will be presented at the conference in April 2017.

The gravity of burden TRS brings to patients extends itself to their families, carers and clinicians. Further evidence on which antipsychotic is more efficacious for patients with TRS would have huge implications in terms of health benefits for the patients, better informed clinical decisions and also health economics in general.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Remission and recovery rates for people who have had a first episode psychosis (FEP) remain uncertain.

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess pooled prevalence rates of remission and recovery in FEP in longitudinal studies and conducted meta regression analyses to investigate potential moderators.

A systematic literature search of major electronic databases without language restrictions was conducted from database inception until July 1, 2016. Longitudinal studies with follow up greater than 1 year reporting data on remission or recovery rates in FEP were included.

Seventy-nine studies were included representing 19,072 FEP patients (mean age = 26.9 years, male = 59.5%). The pooled rate of remission among 12,301 individuals with FEP was 57.9% (95%CI: 52.7–62.9, Q = 1536.3, P< 0.001, n = 60 studies, mean follow up = 5.5 years). Restricting the analysis to studies, which used the remission in schizophrenia working group (RSWG) criteria (n = 25 studies, n = 6909 patients), the pooled remission rate was 56.9% (95%CI: 48.9–64.5, Q = 656.9). Higher remission rates were moderated by studies from more recent years. The pooled prevalence of recovery among 9642 individuals with FEP was 37.9% (95%CI: 30.0–46.5, Q = 1450.8, studies = 35, P = 0.006, average follow up = 7.2 years). Recovery rates were higher (P< 0.05) in North America compared to other regions.

Our data suggest that remission and recovery rates in FEP may be more favorable than previously thought. We observed stability of recovery rates after the first two years, suggesting that a progressive deteriorating course of illness is not typical. While remission rates have improved over time, recovery rates have not, raising questions about the effectiveness of specialist early intervention services in achieving improved recovery.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

To evaluate if n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and lipid levels are associated with episodes of self-harm or depression over a 10-year period.

We included 40 individuals who self-harmed and 40 controls. Episodes of self-harm and depression were ascertained and levels of depression, impulsivity, suicidal ideation and plasma lipid levels measured at baseline and at 10-year follow-up.

Further episode(s) of self-harm occurred in 26% of cases. Omega-3 PUFAs or lipids were not predictive of depressive or self-harm episodes. Baseline eicosapentaenoic acid levels were modestly correlated with suicidal ideation at follow-up and dihomo-γ-linolenic acid and arachidonic acid were modestly correlated with motor impulsivity at follow-up in cases.

Despite significant negative correlations at baseline between plasma lipids, n-3 PUFAs and psychopathology, these levels were not predictive of clinical outcome over a 10-year period. Further research however is required due to the relatively low sample size and the risk of selection bias due to loss to follow-up in this study.

Clozapine remains the only evidence-based antipsychotic for treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS). The ability to predict which patients with their first onset of schizophrenia would subsequently meet criteria for treatment resistance (TR) could help to diminish the severe functional disability which may ensue if TR is not recognized and correctly treated.

This is a 5-year longitudinal assessment of clinical outcomes in a cohort of 246 first-episode schizophrenia spectrum patients recruited as part of the NIHR Genetics and Psychosis (GAP) study conducted in South London from 2005 to 2010. We examined the relationship between baseline demographic and clinical measures and the emergence of TR. TR status was determined from a review of electronic case records. We assessed for associations with early-, and late-onset TR, and non-TR, and differences between those TR patients treated with clozapine and those who were not.

Seventy per cent (n = 56) of TR patients, and 23% of the total study population (n = 246) were treatment resistant from illness onset. Those who met criteria for TR during the first 5 years of illness were more likely to have an early age of first contact for psychosis (<20 years) [odds ratio (OR) 2.49, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.25–4.94] compared to those with non-TR. The relationship between an early age of first contact (<20 years) and TR was significant in patients of Black ethnicity (OR 3.71, 95% CI 1.44–9.56); and patients of male gender (OR 3.13 95% CI 1.35–7.23).

For the majority of the TR group, antipsychotic TR is present from illness onset, necessitating increased consideration for the earlier use of clozapine.

The aims of the study were to determine the prevalence of cardiometabolic risk factors and establish the proportion of people with psychosis meeting criteria for the metabolic syndrome (MetS). The study also aimed to identify the key lifestyle behaviours associated with increased risk of the MetS and to investigate whether the MetS is associated with illness severity and degree of functional impairment.

Baseline data were collected as part of a large randomized controlled trial (IMPaCT RCT). The study took place within community mental health teams in five Mental Health NHS Trusts in urban and rural locations across England. A total of 450 randomly selected out-patients, aged 18–65 years, with an established psychotic illness were recruited. We ascertained the prevalence rates of cardiometabolic risk factors, illness severity and functional impairment and calculated rates of the MetS, using International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and National Cholesterol Education Program Third Adult Treatment Panel criteria.

High rates of cardiometabolic risk factors were found. Nearly all women and most men had waist circumference exceeding the IDF threshold for central obesity. Half the sample was obese (body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m2) and a fifth met the criteria for type 2 diabetes mellitus. Females were more likely to be obese than males (61% v. 42%, p < 0.001). Of the 308 patients with complete laboratory measures, 57% (n = 175) met the IDF criteria for the MetS.

In the UK, the prevalence of cardiometabolic risk factors in individuals with psychotic illnesses is much higher than that observed in national general population studies as well as in most international studies of patients with psychosis.

The system of weekly psychiatric ward rounds is being challenged and multi-disciplinary team meetings (MDTMs) involving inpatients have been developed. These aim to improve integration between medical and social services and increase patient involvement in their care. However, such large meetings are potentially threatening to the patient. This survey aimed to examine inpatient experience of MDTMs and identify factors that significantly alter this experience.

In this cross-sectional survey we assessed patient opinion regarding patient inclusive MDTMs in a psychiatric inpatient unit. A total of 27 participants (response rate 90%) were included. We utilised descriptive statistics and Fisher’s exact test for non-parametric data where appropriate.

In all, 85% (n=23) of patients identified the consultant psychiatrist as a member that they would like to have present at the MDTM. The ward nurse was identified by 63% (n=17) of patients. In all, 48% (n=13) of patients reported feeling anxious/threatened at the MDTM. In all, 70% (n=19) of patients stated that they would have felt less threatened at the MDTM if there were fewer people in attendance. A significant number of voluntary patients (n=11) felt threatened/anxious at the MDTM compared with involuntary patients (n=2) (χ2=4.921, df=1, p=0.026).

The central findings of this study are that patients would prefer fewer people at the MDTM and would feel less threatened/anxious if they participated in selecting those in attendance. These findings suggest that greater patient involvement in preparation for the MDTM could result in a less anxiety filled experience for them.