Cross-Validation of Predictive Equation for Cardiorespiratory Fitness by Modified Shuttle Walk Test in Adults with Schizophrenia: A Secondary Analysis of the CORTEX-SP Study

Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) can be direct or estimated from different field tests. The Modified Shuttle Walk Test (MSWT) is suitable for all levels of function, allowing a peak response to be elicited. Therefore, we aimed (1) to validate the equation presented in the original study by Singh et al. for evaluating the relationship between MSWT with peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) in adults with schizophrenia (SZ), (2) to develop a new equation for the MSWT to predict VO2peak, and (3) to validate the new equation. Participants (N = 144, 41.3 ± 10.2 years old) with SZ performed a direct measurement of VO2peak through a cardiopulmonary exercise test and the MSWT. A new equation incorporating resting heart rate, body mass index, and distance from MSWT (R2 = 0.617; adjusted R2 = 0.60; p < 0.001) performs better than the Singh et al. equation (R2 = 0.57; adjusted R2 = 0.57; p < 0.001) to estimate VO2peak for the studied population. The posteriori cross-validation method confirmed the model’s stability (R2 = 0.617 vs. 0.626). The findings of the current study support the validity of the new regression equation incorporating resting heart rate, body mass index, and distance from MSWT to predict VO2peak for assessment of CRF in people with SZ.This study was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness “Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria del Instituto de Salud Carlos III” (PI16/01022) and the Department of Education and Science of the Basque Government (Team A) (IT946-16). MTE was supported by the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) with a predoctoral grant. AS was supported by a Fellowship from the Fundación Tatiana Pérez de Guzmán el Bueno. This study is registered at 11 April 2018 in www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03509597)

El programa multicomponente de apoyo para el cese del tabaquismo (McSCSP) es efectivo en pacientes con trastorno mental grave sin diferencias de género.

High prevalence of smoking in people with severe mental disorders (SMD) contributes to their medical morbidity and reduced life expectancy. Despite the evidence of gender differences in smoking cessation, few studies have tested those differences among people with SMD. This is a non-randomized, open-label, prospective, 9-month follow-up multicentre trial to examine gender differences in the efficacy, safety and tolerability of a Multi-Component Smoking Cessation Support Programme (McSCSP). The results showed that there were no significant differences in short- (males 44.9% vs females 57.7%, chi-square = 1.112, p = 0.292) or long-term efficacy (week 24: males 40.8%, females 42.3%, chi-square = 0.016, p = 0.901; week 36: males 36.7%, females 38.5%, chi-square = 0.022, p = 0.883) between gender, neither controlled by diagnosis or treatment. Regarding safety and tolerability, there was significant increase in abdominal perimeter in males [from 105.98 (SD 13.28) to 108.52 (SD 14.01), t = -3.436, p = 0.002)], but not in females. However, there were no significant gender differences in adverse events (constipation, abnormal/vivid dreams, nausea/vomiting or skin rash/redness around patch site). In conclusion, we have demonstrated that is effective and safe to help either male or female patients with stabilized SMD to quit smoking. However, it might be a tendency in females to respond better to varenicline treatment in the short-term. Future research with larger samples is required to more clearly determine whether or not the there are differences, in addition to their reliability and robustness

Effectiveness of a Multi-Component Smoking Cessation Support Programme (McSCSP) for Patients with Severe Mental Disorders: Study Design

Only a few studies have examined the efficacy and safety of smoking cessation programmes in patients with mental disorders. The aim of this paper is to describe in detail the methodology used in the study as well as the Multi-component Smoking Cessation Support Programme in terms of pharmacological treatments and psychological interventions. An open-label 9-month follow-up study was conducted in Spain. A total of 82 clinically stable outpatients with schizophrenia, schizoaffective or bipolar disorder were enrolled. Treatment consisted of a programme specifically developed by the research team for individuals with severe mental disorders. The programme consisted of two phases: (1) weekly individual motivational therapy for 4–12 weeks, and (2) a 12-week active treatment phase. During this phase, at each study visit patients received a one- or two-week supply of medication (transdermal nicotine patches, varenicline or bupropion) with instructions on how to take it, in addition to group psychotherapy for smoking cessation. Evaluations were performed: (1) at the time of enrolment in the study, (2) during the 12-week active treatment phase of the study (weekly for the first 4 weeks and then biweekly), and (3) after the end of this phase (two follow-up assessments at weeks 12 and 24). Evaluations included: (1) smoking history, (2) substance use, (3) psychopathology, (4) adverse events, and (5) laboratory tests. The importance of this study lies in addressing a topical issue often ignored by psychiatrists: the unacceptably high rates of tobacco use in patients with severe mental disorders