A genome-wide association study of the longitudinal course of executive functions

Executive functions are metacognitive capabilities that control and coordinate mental processes. In the transdiagnostic PsyCourse Study, comprising patients of the affective-to-psychotic spectrum and controls, we investigated the genetic basis of the time course of two core executive subfunctions: set-shifting (Trail Making Test, part B (TMT-B)) and updating (Verbal Digit Span backwards) in 1338 genotyped individuals. Time course was assessed with four measurement points, each 6 months apart. Compared to the initial assessment, executive performance improved across diagnostic groups. We performed a genome-wide association study to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with performance change over time by testing for SNP-by-time interactions using linear mixed models. We identified nine genome-wide significant SNPs for TMT-B in strong linkage disequilibrium with each other on chromosome 5. These were associated with decreased performance on the continuous TMT-B score across time. Variant rs150547358 had the lowest P value = 7.2 × 10(−10) with effect estimate beta = 1.16 (95% c.i.: 1.11, 1.22). Implementing data of the FOR2107 consortium (1795 individuals), we replicated these findings for the SNP rs150547358 (P value = 0.015), analyzing the difference of the two available measurement points two years apart. In the replication study, rs150547358 exhibited a similar effect estimate beta = 0.85 (95% c.i.: 0.74, 0.97). Our study demonstrates that longitudinally measured phenotypes have the potential to unmask novel associations, adding time as a dimension to the effects of genomics

Intercultural competence in the psychiatric training curriculum in Germany: Results of a survey

Background: This study was carried out to assess the situation of and the demand for specific training in transcultural psychiatry as part of the residency program in Germany. Method: A semistructured questionnaire with 30 questions (28 structured, 2 open) was developed, for which the "Local Survey of Realities in Transcultural Psychiatry" of the World Psychiatric Association (APA) served as a model and was modified accordingly. This questionnaire was sent out to all directors of psychiatric training institutions in Germany (N = 450). The directors of official psychiatric training institutions are authorized for residency training by the state medical associations. The responses were not anonymous. Results: The return rate was 25.5% (N = 114). In 71.7% of the training institutions (81 out of 113 valid cases), specific training in transcultural psychiatry occurred only rarely or not at all. 83.3% of the directors of psychiatric training institutions (70 out of 84 valid cases) reported a demand for training in transcultural psychiatry in their training institutions; in 94.5% of the cases, the directors of psychiatric training institutions (69 out of 73 valid cases) reported a need for transcultural issues as part of the official curriculum of the psychiatric residency program in Germany. The most frequently reported aspects were teaching of general cultural competence and of culture-specific issues in mental disorders. Implications: Cultural aspects currently are not a mandatory part of the official training curriculum of the psychiatric residency training in Germany. With respect to the reported need for training in cultural issues of mental disorders, the implementation of transcultural psychiatry within the official curriculum of the psychiatric residency training in Germany should be discussed.Zielsetzung: Ziel der vorliegenden Studie ist die Erhebung des Status quo der Weiterbildungssituation in transkultureller Psychiatrie für den Facharzt in Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie in Deutschland. Methodik: Es wurde ein semistrukturierter Fragebogen mit 30 Fragen (davon 28 strukturiert, 2 mit Freitextangaben) entwickelt, der sich an den "Local Survey of Realities in Transcultural Psychiatry" der World Psychiatric Association (APA) anlehnt und für Deutschland modifiziert wurde. Dieser wurde an die Leiter aller psychiatrischen Weiterbildungsinstitutionen in Deutschland verschickt (n=450). Als psychiatrische Weiterbildungsinstitutionen wurden diejenigen klinischen Einrichtungen definiert, deren Leiter über eine Ermächtigung zur Facharztweiterbildung durch die Landesärztekammern verfügen. Der Rücklauf erfolgte nicht anonymisiert. Ergebnisse: Die Rücklaufquote betrug 25,5% (Gesamt-N=114). In 71,7% der Weiterbildungsinstitutionen (n=81/113 gültige Fälle) wurden in der klinikinternen Weiterbildung Themen aus dem Gebiet der transkulturellen Psychiatrie selten oder gar nicht angesprochen. 83,3% der Weiterbildungsleiter (n=70/84 gültige Fälle) formulierten Bedarf an Weiterbildung in transkultureller Psychiatrie für die jeweils eigene Institution, 94,5% (n=69/73 gültige Fälle) sahen den Bedarf grundsätzlich auch für das Curriculum der Facharztausbildung in Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie. Die am häufigsten genannten Themen betrafen eine allgemeine Schulung kultureller Kompetenz sowie kulturspezifische Aspekte seelischer Erkrankungen. Schlussfolgerungen: Im Rahmen der Weiterbildungsordnung zum Facharzt für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie sind aktuell in keinem Bundesland entsprechende Inhalte aus dem Bereich der transkulturellen Psychiatrie verankert. Angesichts des formulierten Bedarfs muss die Implementierung eines entsprechenden Curriculums in die Weiterbildungsordnung zum Facharzt für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie diskutiert werden