Johannes Wancata

Background: Deliberate self-harm (DSH) is a major public health concern among patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSDs). Although forensic patients with SSD show high rates of DSH, they remain under-represented in suicidology research, and differences in risk profiles compared with non-forensic patients are poorly understood. Objective: To compare sociodemographic, clinical, neuropsychological and criminological correlates of lifetime DSH between forensic and non-forensic patients with SSD and identify subgroup-specific vulnerability markers. Methods: Data were drawn from the multinational EU-VIORMED study across five European countries. Participants (N=392) aged 18–65 years with a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, diagnosis of SSDs completed standardised assessments. Lifetime DSH was measured dichotomously. Separate LASSO logistic regression models identified the strongest correlates of DSH in forensic and non-forensic subsamples. Findings: Lifetime DSH prevalence was high in both groups (45.9% forensic; 39.5% non-forensic). In forensic patients, the strongest correlate was comorbid personality disorder (β=0.78), followed by functional impairment (β=0.02–0.26). In non-forensic patients, interpersonal victimisation (β=0.85) was the strongest correlate, followed by personality disorder (β=0.71), male gender (β=0.69), lifetime substance use (β=0.37) and psychopathological indicators (PANSS (Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale) items; β=−0.10–0.32). Overall, DSH in forensic patients was more strongly associated with personality pathology and functioning, whereas in non-forensic patients it was linked to trauma, clinical severity and sociodemographic factors. Conclusions: Despite similar DSH prevalence, forensic and non-forensic SSD patients showed distinct patterns of associated factors, suggesting different mechanisms of risk. Clinical implications: Suicide prevention in SSD should adopt tailored risk formulations, emphasising personality pathology and functioning in forensic settings and trauma-informed, integrated care in non-forensic services.

Summary: Reforms of psychiatric care systems in Western countries have been guided by several principles such as de-institutionalization, mental healthcare close to the community, and integration into general healthcare. This paper reflects the achievements, shortfalls, and problems of selected aspects of mental health reforms. Despite major improvements, there have also been some setbacks. We consider such analyses to be essential for future care planning.

Item Response Theory (IRT) describes a set of statistical models describing how individual items in a test or questionnaire relate to the underlying characteristic or trait that the test claims to measure. Until now IRT models have not been applied to the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) in forensic and general psychiatric samples to establish its psychometric properties and explore the link between psychotic symptom severity and violent behavior in schizophrenia. This study investigated patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders and a history of violence from forensic institutions and non-violent patients from general psychiatric settings in five European countries. A total of 398 participants were assessed using the PANSS. IRT analysis revealed a poor model fit for the Partial Credit Model (PCM) with considerably disordered thresholds for most items. Differential item functioning (DIF) revealed significant differences between the two groups, notably for items hypothetically linked to violence risk, such as delusions and hostility. These findings reveal potential limitations when trying to compare PANSS scores across these two clinical populations.

Zusammenfassung: Die vorliegende Leitlinie S1 ist die Aktualisierung und Weiterentwicklung der Leitlinie S1 Long COVID: Differenzialdiagnostik und Behandlungsstrategien. Sie fasst den Stand der Kenntnis zu postviralen Zuständen anhand des Beispiels Long/Post COVID zum Zeitpunkt des Redaktionsschlusses zusammen. Aufgrund der starken Dynamik der Wissensentwicklung versteht sie sich als „living guideline“. Der Schwerpunkt liegt auf der praktischen Anwendbarkeit auf der Ebene der hausärztlichen Primärversorgung, die als geeignete Stelle für den Erstzutritt und für die primäre Betreuung und Behandlung verstanden wird. Die Leitlinie gibt Empfehlungen zum Versorgungsgang, zu Differenzialdiagnostik der häufigsten Symptome, die in der Folge einer Infektion wie mit SARS-CoV‑2 auftreten können, zu therapeutischen Optionen, zu Patient:innenführung und -betreuung sowie zur Wiedereingliederung in den Alltag und zur Rehabilitation. Entsprechend des Krankheitsbildes ist die Leitlinie in einem interdisziplinären und interprofessionellen Prozess entstanden und gibt Empfehlungen zu Schnittstellen und Kooperationsmöglichkeiten.

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the most important problems and needs caregivers of adult inpatients with eating disorders (EDs) are confronted with in their everyday lives. A further aim was to investigate the associations between problems, needs, involvement, and depression in carers. Methods: Fifty-five caregivers of inpatients with EDs (26 anorexia nervosa, 29 bulimia nervosa) completed the Carers' Needs Assessment, Beck Depression Inventory, and the Involvement Evaluation Questionnaire. The relationships between variables were tested via multiple linear regressions and mediation analyses. Results: The most frequent problem reported by caregivers was a lack of information about the course and treatment of the illness and consequent disappointment, whereas their most frequently reported needs were different forms of information and counselling. Problems, unmet needs, and worrying were especially high in parents compared to other caregivers. Involvement mediated significantly between problems (b = 0.26, BCa CI [0.03, 0.49]) as well as unmet needs (b = 0.32, BCa CI [0.03, 0.59]) of caregivers and their depressive symptoms. Conclusion: Our findings underline the importance of including the problems and needs of caregivers of adult eating disorder patients in the planning of family and community interventions, to support their mental health. Level of evidence: Level III: Evidence obtained from cohort or case–control analytic studies.

Background While shared clinical decision-making (SDM) is the preferred approach to decision-making in mental health care, its implementation in everyday clinical practice is still insufficient. The European Psychiatric Association undertook a study aiming to gather data on the clinical decision-making style preferences of psychiatrists working in Europe. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional online survey involving a sample of 751 psychiatrists and psychiatry specialist trainees from 38 European countries in 2021, using the Clinical Decision-Making Style - Staff questionnaire and a set of questions regarding clinicians' expertise, training, and practice. Results SDM was the preferred decision-making style across all European regions ([central and eastern Europe, CEE], northern and western Europe [NWE], and southern Europe [SE]), with an average of 73% of clinical decisions being rated as SDM. However, we found significant differences in non-SDM decision-making styles: participants working in NWE countries more often prefer shared and active decision-making styles rather than passive styles when compared to other European regions, especially to the CEE. Additionally, psychiatry specialist trainees (compared to psychiatrists), those working mainly with outpatients (compared to those working mainly with inpatients) and those working in community mental health services/public services (compared to mixed and private settings) have a significantly lower preference for passive decision-making style. Conclusions The preferences for SDM styles among European psychiatrists are generally similar. However, the identified differences in the preferences for non-SDM styles across the regions call for more dialogue and educational efforts to harmonize practice across Europe.

Aims: The purpose was to compare the frequency of needs of patients with schizophrenia in forensic services across five European countries as assessed by both the patients and their care staff. Methods: Patients with schizophrenia and a history of significant interpersonal violence were recruited from forensic psychiatric services in Austria, Germany, Italy, Poland and England. Participants’ needs were assessed using the Camberwell Assessment of Needs—Forensic Version (CANFOR). Multiple linear regression analyses were used to identify predictors of numbers of needs. Results: In this sample, (n = 221) the most commonly reported need according to patients (71.0%) and staff (82.8%) was the management of psychotic symptoms. A need for information was mentioned by about 45% of staff and patients. Staff members reported a significantly higher number of total needs than patients (mean 6.9 vs. 6.2). In contrast, staff members reported a significantly lower number of unmet needs than patients (mean 2.0 vs. 2.5). Numbers of total needs and met needs differed between countries. Unmet needs as reported by patients showed positive associations with the absence of comorbid personality disorder, with higher positive symptom scores and lifetime suicide or self-harm history. Significant predictors of unmet needs according to staff were absence of comorbid personality disorder and higher positive as well as negative symptom scores according to PANSS. Conclusions: Staff rated a significantly higher number of total needs than patients, while patients rated more unmet needs. This indicates that patients’ self-assessments of needs yield important information for providing sufficient help and support.

Background: Some capability dimensions may be more important than others in determining someone’s well-being, and these preferences might be dependent on ill-health experience. This study aimed to explore the relative preference weights of the 16 items of the German language version of the OxCAP-MH (Oxford Capability questionnaire-Mental Health) capability instrument and their differences across cohorts with alternative levels of mental ill-health experience. Methods: A Best–Worst-Scaling (BWS) survey was conducted in Austria among 1) psychiatric patients (direct mental ill-health experience), 2) (mental) healthcare experts (indirect mental ill-health experience), and 3) primary care patients with no mental ill-health experience. Relative importance scores for each item of the German OxCAP-MH instrument were calculated using Hierarchical Bayes estimation. Rank analysis and multivariable linear regression analysis with robust standard errors were used to explore the relative importance of the OxCAP-MH items across the three cohorts. Results: The study included 158 participants with complete cases and acceptable fit statistic. The relative importance scores for the full cohort ranged from 0.76 to 15.72. Findings of the BWS experiment indicated that the items Self-determination and Limitation in daily activities were regarded as the most important for all three cohorts. Freedom of expression was rated significantly less important by psychiatric patients than by the other two cohorts, while Having suitable accommodation appeared significantly less important by the expert cohort. There were no further significant differences in the relative preference weights of OxCAP-MH items between the cohorts or according to gender. Conclusions: Our study indicates significant between-item but limited mental ill-health related heterogeneity in the relative preference weights of the different capability items within the OxCAP-MH. The findings support the future development of preference-based value sets elicited from the general population for comparative economic evaluation purposes.