Trajectories of Emotion Recognition Training in Virtual Reality and Predictors of Improvement for People with a Psychotic Disorder

Meta-analyses have found that social cognition training (SCT) has large effects on the emotion recognition ability of people with a psychotic disorder. Virtual reality (VR) could be a promising tool for delivering SCT. Presently, it is unknown how improvements in emotion recognition develop during (VR-)SCT, which factors impact improvement, and how improvements in VR relate to improvement outside VR. Data were extracted from task logs from a pilot study and randomized controlled trials on VR-SCT (n = 55). Using mixed-effects generalized linear models, we examined the: (a) effect of treatment session (1-5) on VR accuracy and VR response time for correct answers; (b) main effects and moderation of participant and treatment characteristics on VR accuracy; and (c) the association between baseline performance on the Ekman 60 Faces task and accuracy in VR, and the interaction of Ekman 60 Faces change scores (i.e., post-treatment - baseline) with treatment session. Accounting for the task difficulty level and the type of presented emotion, participants became more accurate at the VR task (b = 0.20, p &lt; 0.001) and faster (b = -0.10, p &lt; 0.001) at providing correct answers as treatment sessions progressed. Overall emotion recognition accuracy in VR decreased with age (b = -0.34, p = 0.009); however, no significant interactions between any of the moderator variables and treatment session were found. An association between baseline Ekman 60 Faces and VR accuracy was found (b = 0.04, p = 0.006), but no significant interaction between difference scores and treatment session. Emotion recognition accuracy improved during VR-SCT, but improvements in VR may not generalize to non-VR tasks and daily life.</p

Social Cognition Training for People With a Psychotic Disorder:A Network Meta-analysis

Deficits in social cognition are common in people with psychotic disorders and negatively impact functioning. Social Cognition Training (SCT) has been found to improve social cognition and functioning, but it is unknown which interventions are most effective, how characteristics of treatments and participants moderate efficacy, and whether improvements are durable. This meta-analysis included 46 randomized studies. SCTs were categorized according to their focus (targeted/broad-based) and inclusion of cognitive remediation therapy (CRT). Network meta-analysis was conducted, using both direct (original) and indirect (inferred from the network of comparisons) evidence. All SCT types were compared to treatment as usual (TAU; the chosen reference group). Moderators of outcome were investigated with meta-regression and long-term efficacy with multivariate meta-analysis. Compared to TAU, emotion perception was improved by targeted SCT without CRT (d = 0.68) and broad-based SCT without CRT (d = 0.46). Individual treatments worked better for emotion perception. All treatments significantly improved social perception (active control, d = 0.98, targeted SCT with and without CRT, d = 1.38 and d = 1.36, broad-based SCT with and without CRT, d = 1.45 and d = 1.35). Only broad-based SCT (d = 0.42) improved ToM. Broad-based SCT (d = 0.82 without and d = 0.41 with CRT) improved functioning; group treatments worked significantly better. Male gender was negatively related to effects on social functioning and psychiatric symptoms. At follow-up, a moderate effect on social functioning (d = 0.66) was found. No effect was found on attribution, social cognition (miscellaneous), and psychiatric symptoms. While targeted SCT is the most effective for emotion perception and social perception, broad-based SCT produces the best overall outcomes. CRT did not enhance SCT effects

Dynamic Interactive Social Cognition Training in Virtual Reality (DiSCoVR) for social cognition and social functioning in people with a psychotic disorder:study protocol for a multicenter randomized controlled trial

Problems in social functioning (e.g., unemployment, social isolation), are common in people with a psychotic disorder. Social cognition is a treatment target to improve social functioning, as it is a proximal predictor of social functioning. Social Cognition Training (SCT) improves social cognition, but may not generalize (enduringly) to social functioning, perhaps due to insufficient opportunity to practice in daily-life social situations. Using virtual reality (VR) for SCT could address this problem, as VR is customizable, accessible, and interactive. We will test the effect of a VR SCT, 'DiSCoVR', on social cognition and social functioning in a randomized controlled trial (RCT).  In total 100 people with a psychotic disorder and deficits in social cognition will be recruited for this multicenter randomized controlled trial (RCT). Participants will be randomized to VR SCT (DiSCoVR) or VR relaxation training (VRelax; active control). DiSCoVR is a 16-session individual SCT, consisting of three modules: 1) emotion perception (recognizing facial emotions in a virtual shopping street); 2) social perception and theory of mind (observing social interactions between virtual characters and assessing their behavior, emotions and thoughts); and 3) application of higher-order social cognition in social interaction (role-playing personalized situations in VR). People receiving VRelax complete sixteen individual sessions, in which they receive psycho-education about stress, identify personal stressors, learn relaxation techniques, and explore relaxing immersive virtual environments. Assessments will be performed at baseline, post-treatment, and 3-month follow-up. Primary outcomes are emotion perception (Ekman 60 Faces), social perception and theory of mind (The Awareness of Social Inference Test). Secondary outcomes include social functioning (Personal and Social Performance Scale), experiences and social interactions in daily life (experience sampling of emotions, social participation and subjective experience of social situations), psychiatric symptoms (e.g., depression, perceived stress, anxiety, positive and negative symptoms) and self-esteem.  To our knowledge, this will be the first RCT testing the efficacy of VR SCT. It will also investigate generalization to daily life social situations, the durability of treatment effects, and moderators and mediators of treatment success

Destabilized SMC5/6 complex leads to chromosome breakage syndrome with severe lung disease

The structural maintenance of chromosomes (SMC) family of proteins supports mitotic proliferation, meiosis, and DNA repair to control genomic stability. Impairments in chromosome maintenance are linked to rare chromosome breakage disorders. Here, we have identified a chromosome breakage syndrome associated with severe lung disease in early childhood. Four children from two unrelated kindreds died of severe pulmonary disease during infancy following viral pneumonia with evidence of combined T and B cell immunodeficiency. Whole exome sequencing revealed biallelic missense mutations in the NSMCE3 (also known as NDNL2) gene, which encodes a subunit of the SMC5/6 complex that is essential for DNA damage response and chromosome segregation. The NSMCE3 mutations disrupted interactions within the SMC5/6 complex, leading to destabilization of the complex. Patient cells showed chromosome rearrangements, micronuclei, sensitivity to replication stress and DNA damage, and defective homologous recombination. This work associates missense mutations in NSMCE3 with an autosomal recessive chromosome breakage syndrome that leads to defective T and B cell function and acute respiratory distress syndrome in early childhood

Aggression and violence against health care workers in Germany--a cross sectional retrospective survey.

Franz S, Zeh A, Schablon A, Kuhnert S, Nienhaus A. Aggression and violence against health care workers in Germany--a cross sectional retrospective survey. BMC Health Serv Res. 2010;10(1): 51.BACKGROUND: Although international scientific research on health issues has been dealing with the problem of aggression and violence towards those employed in health care, research activities in Germany are still at an early stage. In view of this, the aim of this study was to examine the frequency and consequences of aggressive behaviour towards nurses and health care workers in different health sectors in Germany and to assess the need for preventive measures. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional retrospective survey. Nurses and health care workers from two nursing homes, a psychiatric clinic and a workshop for people with disabilities were interviewed using a standardised questionnaire. The sample covered 123 individuals (response rate 38.8%). The survey assessed the frequency, the type and the consequences of aggressive behaviour, and social support in connection with coping with aggression in the workplace. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for putative risk factors which may influence the stress induced by aggression at the workplace were calculated using conditional logistic regression. RESULTS: During the previous twelve months 70.7% of the respondents experienced physical and 89.4% verbal aggression. Physical aggression more frequently occurred in nursing homes (83.9% of the employees) and verbal aggression was more common in the psychiatric clinic (96.7% of the employees). The proportion of the individuals affected in the workshop for people with disabilities was lower (41.9% and 77.4% respectively). The incidents impaired the physical (55%) and emotional well-being (77.2%) of the employees. The frequency of incidents (weekly: OR 2.7; 95% CI 1.1-6.4) combined with the lack of social support (OR 2.8; 95% CI 1.2-6.6) increased the probability of higher stress due to aggression. CONCLUSIONS: This study corroborates previous reports of frequent physical and verbal aggression towards care workers in the various areas of health care. The present study highlights differences between various areas of health care in Germany and the aggravating effect of prevention neglect such as missing social support at the workplace. Therefore our data suggest the need for improved target group specific prevention of aggressive incidents towards care workers and the need for effective aftercare in Germany

Prevalence Rate and Risk Factors of Victimization in Adult Patients With a Psychotic Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Psychotic disorders often have been linked with violence. However, studies have shown that people with a psychotic disorder are more often victim than perpetrator of violence. The objective of this meta-analysis was to review prevalence rates for different types of victimization and to identify risk factors associated with victimization. Based on a search in MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Web of Science, 27 studies were found with samples consisting of adults with a psychotic disorder and possible victimization occurring during adulthood and data on "violent victimization," "sexual victimization," "non-violent victimization," and/or "victimization not otherwise specified." The median prevalence rate for violent victimization was 20%, for sexual victimization 20%, nonviolent victimization 19%, and for victimization not otherwise specified 19%. Victimization rates were approximately 4-6 times higher than in the general community. Meta-analyses showed the following significant risk factors: delusion (OR = 1.69), hallucinations (OR = 1.70), manic symptoms (OR = 1.66), drugs (OR = 1.90) or alcohol abuse (OR = 2.05), perpetration of a crime (OR = 4.33), unemployment (OR = 1.31), and homelessness (OR = 2.49). Other risk factors like previous victimization, impaired social functioning, personality disorder, and living in a disadvantaged neighborhood were found only in 1 or 2 studies. Based on the results, we conclude that, depending on the examined time period, 1 in 5 (assessment period ≤3 y) or 1 in 3 (assessment period entire adulthood) people with a psychotic disorder was victim of a crime. Clinical, behavioral, and sociodemographic factors were significantly associated with victimization, as well as previous victimization. Prospective research into risk factors is needed to capture causal trajectories of victimization

A phase 1/2 study combining gemcitabine, Pegintron and p53 SLP vaccine in patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer

Purpose: Preclinical tumor models show that chemotherapy has immune modulatory properties which can be exploited in the context of immunotherapy. The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility and immunogenicity of combinations of such an immunomodulatory chemotherapeutic agent with immunotherapy, p53 synthetic long peptide (SLP) vaccine and Pegintron (IFN-alpha) in patients with platinum-resistant p53-positive epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). Experimental design: This is a phase 1/2 trial in which patients sequential 6 cycles of gemcitabine (1000 mg/kg(2) iv; n = 3), gemcitabine with Pegintron before and after the first gemcitabine cycle (Pegintron 1 mu g/kg sc; n = 6), and gemcitabine and Pegintron combined with p53 SLP vaccine (0.3 mg/peptide, 9 peptides; n = 6). At baseline, 22 days after the 2nd and 6th cycle, blood was collected for immunomonitoring. Toxicity, CA-125, and radiologic response were evaluated after 3 and 6 cycles of chemotherapy. Results: None of the patients enrolled experienced dose-limiting toxicity. Predominant grade 3/4 toxicities were nausea/vomiting and dyspnea. Grade 1/2 toxicities consisted of fatigue (78%) and Pegintron-related flu-like symptoms (72%). Gemcitabine reduced myeloid-derived suppressor cells (p = 0.0005) and increased immune-supportive M1 macrophages (p = 0.04). Combination of gemcitabine and Pegintron stimulated higher frequencies of circulating proliferating CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells but not regulatory T-cells. All vaccinated patients showed strong vaccine-induced p53-specific T-cell responses. Conclusion: Combination of gemcitabine, the immune modulator Pegintron and therapeutic peptide vaccination is a viable approach in the development of combined chemo-immunotherapeutic regimens to treat cancer

Prostate specific antigen testing policy worldwide varies greatly and seems not to be in accordance with guidelines: a systematic review

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Prostate specific antigen (PSA) testing is widely used, but guidelines on follow-up are unclear.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We performed a systematic review of the literature to determine follow-up policy after PSA testing by general practitioners (GPs) and non-urologic hospitalists, the use of a cut-off value for this policy, the reasons for repeating a PSA test after an initial normal result, the existence of a general cut-off value below which a PSA result is considered normal, and the time frame for repeating a test.</p> <p><it>Data sources</it>. MEDLINE, Embase, PsychInfo and the Cochrane library from January 1950 until May 2011.</p> <p><it>Study eligibility criteria</it>. Studies describing follow-up policy by GPs or non-urologic hospitalists after a primary PSA test, excluding urologists and patients with prostate cancer. Studies written in Dutch, English, French, German, Italian or Spanish were included. Excluded were studies describing follow-up policy by urologists and follow-up of patients with prostate cancer. The quality of each study was structurally assessed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Fifteen articles met the inclusion criteria. Three studies were of high quality. Follow-up differed greatly both after a normal and an abnormal PSA test result. Only one study described the reasons for not performing follow-up after an abnormal PSA result.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Based on the available literature, we cannot adequately assess physicians’ follow-up policy after a primary PSA test. Follow-up after a normal or raised PSA test by GPs and non-urologic hospitalists seems to a large extent not in accordance with the guidelines.</p