Understanding the direct and indirect costs of patients with schizophrenia [v2; ref status: indexed, http://f1000r.es/5ow]

Background: Schizophrenia is a disabling mental disorder with high prevalence and that usually  requires long-term follow-up and expensive lifelong treatment. The cost of schizophrenia treatment consumes a significant amount of the health services' budget in western countries. Objective: The aim of the study was to find out about the costs related to schizophrenia across different european countries and compare them. Results: Schizophrenia treatment costs an estimated 18 billion euros annually worldwide. The direct costs associated with medical help are only part of the total expenditure. The indirect costs are an equally (or even more)important part of the total cost. These expenses are related to the lack of productivity of schizophrenic patients and the cost that relatives have to bear as a result of taking care of their affected relatives. Conclusions: Although data on the cost of schizophrenia may vary slightly between different european countries, the general conclusion that can be drawn is that schizophrenia is a very costly disorder. Not only because of direct costs related to medical procedures, but also due to the non-medical (indirect) costs. Together this suggests the need to investigate cost-efficient strategies that could provide a better outcome for schizophrenic patients, as well as the people who care for them

Personality in patients with eating disorders depending on the presence/absence of comorbidity with borderline personality disorder / Personalidad en pacientes con trastorno alimentario en función de la presencia/ausencia de comorbilidad con trastorno límite de la personalidad

Studies on comorbidity between eating disorders (ED) and personality disorders yield rates of 20-80%, a condition that makes difficult the diagnosis and complicates prognosis, especially regarding their comorbidity with borderline personality disorder (BPD). The objective of this study was to assess whether pathological personality alterations make it possible to distinguish not only between different types of ED, but also in terms of their comorbidity with BPD. Participants included 29 patients with ED, 10 with comorbid ED with BPD (EDc), 27 with BPD and 22 healthy controls, who completed the Millon Multiaxial Clinical Inventory (MCMI-II), and two other measures, one on impulsivity and other aimed at assess symptoms of bulimia nervosa (BN). The ED group was characterized by greater compulsivity, mainly in the subgroup with anorexia nervosa vs. BPD and EDc groups; however, these last two groups shared many features that show emotional instability, although less that the subgroup with BN. These findings support a continuum of severity in terms of compulsivity-impulsivity, with important etiopathogenic, diagnostic and psychotherapeutic implications.Los estudios sobre comorbilidad entre los trastornos de la conducta alimentaria (TCA) y los trastornos de la personalidad reportan tasas del 20-80%, condición que dificulta el diagnóstico y ensombrece el pronóstico, especialmente respecto a su comorbilidad con el trastorno límite de la personalidad (TLP). El objetivo de este estudio fue valorar si las alteraciones patológicas de la personalidad permiten distinguir no solo entre distintos tipos de TCA, sino además en función de su comorbilidad con el TLP. Participaron 29 pacientes con TCA, 10 con TCA comórbido con TLP [TCAc], 27 con TLP y 22 controles sanas, quienes completaron el Inventario Clínico Multiaxial de Millon (MCMI-II) y otras dos medidas, una sobre impulsividad y otra dirigida a evaluar síntomas de bulimia nerviosa (BN). El grupo TCA se caracterizó por mayor compulsividad, principalmente en el caso del subgrupo con anorexia nerviosa vs. los grupos TLP y TCAc; no obstante, estos dos últimos compartieron un amplio número de rasgos indicativos de inestabilidad emocional, y también –aunque en menor medida− con el subgrupo con BN. Los hallazgos apoyan un continuum de gravedad en función de la compulsividad-impulsividad, con importantes implicaciones etiopatogénicas, diagnósticas y psicoterapéuticas