Publications
56 results found
King JD, McQuaid A, Leeson VC, et al., 2024, Characterising subgroups of people with severe COVID anxiety by latent profile analysis, Journal of Affective Disorders, Vol: 344, Pages: 115-121, ISSN: 0165-0327
BACKGROUND: People with severe COVID anxiety have had experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic which are overwhelming, and have led to patterns of behaviours that add little protective benefit but are at the expense of other priorities in life. It appears to be a complex social and psychological phenomenon, influenced by demographic and social factors. Identifying subgroups of people with severe COVID anxiety would better place clinicians to assess and support this distress where indicated. METHODS: Measurement tools assessing depression, generalised and health anxiety, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, personality difficulty and alcohol use from 284 people living in United Kingdom with severe COVID anxiety were explored with latent profile analysis. Further analyses examined the associations of identified clusters with demographic and social factors and daily functioning, quality of life and protective behaviours. RESULTS: A model with 4 classes provided the best fit. Distinct patterns of psychopathology emerged which were variably associated with demographic factors and COVID behaviours. LIMITATIONS: Given the complex aetiology of COVID anxiety a number of factors which might better cluster subgroups are likely to have gone uncollected. Moreover, using data collected at a single time-point limits these results' ability to conclude whether observed relationships were the product of the pandemic or longstanding. CONCLUSIONS: People living with severe COVID anxiety are a heterogenous group. This analysis adds to evidence that certain health behaviours and demographic factors are inextricably linked to poor mental health in people with COVID anxiety, and that targeting health behaviours with specific intervention might be beneficial.
King J, McQuaid A, Leeson VC, et al., 2023, The association of severe COVID anxiety with poor social functioning, quality of life, and protective behaviours among adults in United Kingdom: a cross-sectional study, BMC Psychiatry, Vol: 23, ISSN: 1471-244X
Background:Anxiety about COVID-19 is common. For most people this is an appropriate response to the loss of livelihoods and loved-ones, disruptions to social networks, and uncertainty about the future. However, for others these anxieties relate to contracting the virus itself, a phenomenon termed COVID anxiety. Little is known about the characteristics of people with severe COVID anxiety or the impact it has on their daily lives.Methods:We conducted a two-phase cross-sectional survey of people aged 18 or over who were living in United Kingdom, self-identified as anxious about COVID-19, and had a score of ≥9 on the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale. We recruited participants nationally through online adverts and locally via primary care services in London. Data on demographic and clinical factors were used in multiple regression modelling to examine the greatest contributors to functional impairment, poor health-related quality of life and protective behaviours in this sample of individuals with severe COVID anxiety.Results:We recruited 306 people with severe COVID anxiety between January and September 2021. Most were female (n = 246, 81.2%); they had a median age of 41 (range = 18–83). The majority of participants also had generalised anxiety (n = 270, 91.5%), depression (n = 247, 85.5%), and a quarter (n = 79, 26.3%) reported a physical health condition which put them at increased risk of hospitalisation with COVID-19. Half had severe social dysfunction (n = 151, 52.4%). One in ten reported never leaving their home, one in three washed all items brought into their house, one in five washed their hands constantly, and one in five of those with children reported not sending them to school because of fears of COVID-19. Increasing co-morbid depressive symptoms best explained functional impairment and poor quality of life after controlling for other factors.Conclusions:This study highli
Crawford M, Leeson V, McQuaid A, et al., 2022, Severe COVID anxiety among adults in the United Kingdom: protocol for a cohort study and nested feasibility trial of modified Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Health Anxiety., BMJ Open, Vol: 12, Pages: 1-9, ISSN: 2044-6055
IntroductionSome people are so anxious about COVID that it impairs their functioning. However, little is known about the course of severe COVID anxiety or what can be done to help people who experience it. Methods and analysisCohort study with a nested feasibility trial with follow-up at three and six months. We recruited 306 people who were aged 18 and over, lived in the United Kingdom and had severe COVID anxiety (indicated by a score of nine or more on the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale). To take part in the nested feasibility trial, participants also had to have a score of 20 or more on the Short Health Anxiety Inventory. We excluded people from the trial if they had had COVID-19 within the previous four weeks, if they were currently self-isolating or if they were already receiving psychological treatment. We publicised the study nationally through adverts, social media and posts on chat boards. We also recruited participants via clinicians working in primary and secondary care NHS services in London. All those in the active arm will be offered five to ten sessions of remotely delivered modified Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Health Anxiety (CBT-HA). We will examine the proportion of participants who remain above threshold on the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale at three and six months and factors that influence levels of COVID anxiety over six months using mixed-effects logistic regression. The key feasibility metrics for the nested trial are the level of uptake of CBT-HA and the rate of follow-up.Ethics and disseminationApproved by Leicester Central Research Ethics Committee (reference: 20/EM/0238). The results of the study will be published in peer-reviewed scientific journals. Trial registration: International Standard Randomised Control Trial Number Register - ISRCTN14973494
Thana L, O'Connell L, Carne-Watson A, et al., 2022, Barriers to the management of sexual dysfunction among people with psychosis: analysis of qualitative data from the REMEDY trial, BMC Psychiatry, Vol: 22, ISSN: 1471-244X
Background: More than half of people who use antipsychotic medication for psychosis report having sexual dysfunction. The REMEDY trial aimed to find out if switching antipsychotic medication provides an effective way to reduce sexual dysfunction among people with psychosis. We set out to recruit 216 participants over a two-year period, but recruitment was stopped after an extended 12-month pilot phase, during which we recruited only 10 participants. As part of a nested process evaluation, we conducted qualitative interviews with front-line clinicians to examine barriers to recruitment to the trial.Methods: We developed a semi-structured interview schedule to explore staff views on factors that influenced whether they referred potential participants to the study. We interviewed a purposive sample of 51 staff from four National Health Service (NHS) Trusts in England, ensuring a range of different backgrounds, seniority, and levels of involvement in the trial. Audio recordings of interviews were transcribed for verbatim, and data were analysed using an inductive approach to thematic analysis. Results : Nine interconnected themes were generated. Six themes concerned barriers to recruitment; including; prioritising patients’ mental stability, mutual discomfort and embarrassment about discussing a “taboo” subject, and concerns about unintended consequences of asking people with psychosis about their sexual functioning. Three themes, including the quality of treatment relationships and strategies for opening dialogue suggested ways to improve recognition of these “hidden” side effects. Conclusion: The identification and management of sexual dysfunction among people with psychosis are not priorities for mental health services in England at this time. Many staff working in front-line services feel unprepared and uncomfortable asking people with psychosis about these problems. While greater use of screening tools may improve the identification of
Crawford M, Leeson V, Evans R, et al., 2022, The clinical effectiveness and cost effectiveness of clozapine for inpatients with severe borderline personality disorder (CALMED study): A randomised placebo-controlled trial., Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology, Vol: 12, Pages: 1-14, ISSN: 2045-1253
Background:Data from case series suggest that clozapine may benefit inpatients with borderline personality disorder (BPD), but randomised trials have not been conducted. Methods:Multicentre, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. We aimed to recruit 222 inpatients with severe BPD aged 18 or over, who had failed to respond to other antipsychotic medications. We randomly allocated participants on a 1:1 ratio to receive up to 400mg of clozapine per day or an inert placebo using a remote web-based randomisation service. The primary outcome was total score on the Zanarini Rating scale for Borderline Personality Disorder (ZAN-BPD) at six months. Secondary outcomes included self-harm, aggression, resource use and costs, side effects and adverse events. We used a modified intention to treat analysis (mITT) restricted to those who took one or more dose of trial medication, using a general linear model fitted at six months adjusted for baseline score, allocation group and site. Results:The study closed early due to poor recruitment and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Of 29 study participants, 24 (83%) were followed up at six months, of whom 21 (72%) were included in the mITT analysis. At six months, 11 (73%) participants assigned to clozapine and 6 (43%) of those assigned to placebo were still taking trial medication. Adjusted difference in mean total ZAN-BPD score at six months was -3.86 (95% Confidence Intervals = -10.04 to 2.32, p=0.22). There were 14 serious adverse events; six in the clozapine arm and eight in the placebo arm of the trial. There was little difference in the cost of care between groups. Interpretation:We recruited insufficient participants to test the primary hypothesis. The study findings highlight problems in conducting placebo-controlled trials of clozapine and in using clozapine for people with BPD, outside specialist inpatient mental health units.Trial registrationISRCTN18352058. https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN18352058
Deb S, Crawford M, Sharp D, et al., 2020, Risperidone versus placebo for aggression following traumatic brain injury: a feasibility randomised controlled trial, BMJ Open, Vol: 10, ISSN: 2044-6055
Objectives: To conduct a feasibility randomised controlled trial of risperidone for the treatment of aggression in adults with traumatic brain injury (TBI).Design: Multi-centre, parallel design, placebo controlled (1:1 ratio) double-blind feasibility trial with an embedded process evaluation. No statistical comparison was performed between the two study groups.Setting Four neuropsychiatric and neurology outpatient clinics in London and Kent, UK. Participants Our aim was to recruit 50 TBI patients over 18 months. Follow up participants at 12 weeks using a battery of assessment scales to measure changes in aggressive behaviour (MOAS-primary outcome, IRQ) as well as global functioning (GOS-E, CGI) and quality of life (EQ-5D-5L, SF-12), mental health (HADS) and medication adverse effects (UKU).Results: Six participants were randomised to the active arm of the trial and eight to the placebo arm over a 10-month period (28% of our target). Two participants withdrew because of adverse events. Twelve out of 14 (85.7%) patients completed a follow up assessment at 12 weeks. At follow up, the scores of all outcome measures improved in both groups. Placebo group showed numerically better score change according to the primary outcome MOAS. No severe adverse events were reported. The overall rate of adverse events remained low. Data from the process evaluation suggest that existence of specialised TBI Follow-up clinics, availability of a dedicated database of TBI patients’ clinical details, simple study procedures and regular support to participants would enhance recruitment and retention in the trial. Feedback from participants showed that once in the study, they did not find the trial procedure onerous.Conclusions: It was not feasible to conduct a successful randomised trial of risperidone versus placebo for post-TBI aggression using the methods we deployed in this study. It is not possible to draw any definitive conclusion about risperidone’s efficacy from such a s
Crawford MJ, Thana L, Evans R, et al., 2020, Switching antipsychotic medication to reduce sexual dysfunction in people with psychosis: the REMEDY RCT, HEALTH TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT, Vol: 24, Pages: 1-+, ISSN: 1366-5278
- Author Web Link
- Cite
- Citations: 6
Crawford MJ, Sanatinia R, Barrett B, et al., 2018, The clinical effectiveness and cost effectiveness of lamotrigine for people with borderline personality disorder: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial, American Journal of Psychiatry, Vol: 175, Pages: 756-764, ISSN: 0002-953X
Objectives:To examine whether lamotrigine is a clinically effective and cost-effective treatment for people with borderline personality disorder. Method:Multicentre, double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial. Between July 2013 to November 2016, we recruited 276 people aged 18 or over, who met diagnostic criteria for borderline personality disorder. We excluded those with co-existing bipolar affective disorder or psychosis, those already taking a mood stabiliser, and women at risk of pregnancy. We randomly allocated participants on a 1:1 ratio to up to 400mg of lamotrigine per day or an inert placebo using a remote web-based randomization service. The primary outcome was total score on the Zanarini Rating scale for Borderline Personality Disorder (ZAN-BPD) at 52 weeks. Secondary outcomes included depressive symptoms, deliberate self-harm, social functioning, health-related quality of life, resource use and costs, side effects of treatment and adverse events. Results:195 (70.6%) participants were followed up at 52 weeks, at which point 49 (36%) of those prescribed lamotrigine and 58 (42%) of those prescribed placebo were taking it. Mean total ZAN-BPD score was 11.3 (SD = 6.6) among those randomized to lamotrigine and 11.5 (SD = 7.7) among those randomized to placebo (adjusted difference in means = 0.1, 95% C.I = -1.8 to 2.0, p=0.91). There was no evidence of any differences in secondary outcomes. Costs of direct care for those prescribed lamotrigine were similar to those prescribed placebo. Conclusions:Treating people with borderline personality disorder with lamotrigine is not a clinically effective or cost-effective use of resources.
Barnes TRE, Leeson V, Paton C, et al., 2018, Amisulpride augmentation of clozapine for treatment-refractory schizophrenia: a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology, Vol: 8, Pages: 185-197, ISSN: 2045-1253
Background:A second antipsychotic is commonly added to clozapine to treat refractory schizophrenia, notwithstanding the limited evidence to support such practice.Methods:The efficacy and adverse effects of this pharmacological strategy were examined in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, 12-week randomized trial of clozapine augmentation with amisulpride, involving 68 adults with treatment-resistant schizophrenia and persistent symptoms despite a predefined trial of clozapine.Results:There were no statistically significant differences between the amisulpride and placebo groups on the primary outcome measure (clinical response defined as a 20% reduction in total Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale score) or other mental state measures. However, the trial under recruited and was therefore underpowered to detect differences in the primary outcome, meaning that acceptance of the null hypothesis carries an increased risk of type II error. The findings suggested that amisulpride-treated participants were more likely to fulfil the clinical response criterion, odds ratio 1.17 (95% confidence interval 0.40–3.42) and have a greater reduction in negative symptoms, but these numerical differences were not statistically significant and only evident at 12 weeks. A significantly higher proportion of participants in the amisulpride group had at least one adverse event compared with the control group (p = 0.014), and these were more likely to be cardiac symptoms.Conclusions:Treatment for more than 6 weeks may be required for an adequate trial of clozapine augmentation with amisulpride. The greater side-effect burden associated with this treatment strategy highlights the need for safety and tolerability monitoring, including vigilance for indicators of cardiac abnormalities, when it is used in either a clinical or research setting.
Deb S, Leeson V, Aimola L, et al., 2018, Aggression following traumatic brain injury: effectiveness of Risperidone (AFTER): study protocol for a feasibility randomised controlled trial, Trials, Vol: 19, ISSN: 1745-6215
BackgroundTraumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major public health concern and many people develop long-lasting physical and neuropsychiatric consequences following a TBI. Despite the emphasis on physical rehabilitation, it is the emotional and behavioural consequences that have greater impact on people with TBI and their families. One such problem behaviour is aggression which can be directed towards others, towards property or towards the self. Aggression is reported to be common after TBI (37–71%) and causes major stress for patients and their families. Both drug and non-drug interventions are used to manage this challenging behaviour, but the evidence-base for these interventions is poor and no drugs are currently licensed for the treatment of aggression following TBI. The most commonly used drugs for this purpose are antipsychotics, particularly second-generation drugs such as risperidone. Despite this widespread use, randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of antipsychotic drugs, including risperidone, have not been conducted. We have, therefore, set out to test the feasibility of conducting an RCT of this drug for people who have aggressive behaviour following TBI.Methods/designWe will examine the feasibility of conducting a placebo-controlled, double-blind RCT of risperidone for the management of aggression in adults with TBI and also assess participants’ views about their experience of taking part in the study.We will randomise 50 TBI patients from secondary care services in four centres in London and Kent to up to 4 mg of risperidone orally or an inert placebo and follow them up 12 weeks later. Participants will be randomised to active or control treatment in a 1:1 ratio via an external and remote web-based randomisation service. Participants will be assessed at baseline and 12-week follow-up using a battery of assessment scales to measure changes in aggressive behaviour (MOAS, IRQ) as well as global functioning (GOS-E, CGI), quality of life (EQ-5D-5L
Crawford MJ, Sanatinia R, Barrett B, et al., 2018, Lamotrigine for people with borderline personality disorder: a RCT, HEALTH TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT, Vol: 22, Pages: 1-+, ISSN: 1366-5278
Background:No drug treatments are currently licensed for the treatment of borderline personality disorder (BPD). Despite this, people with this condition are frequently prescribed psychotropic medications and often with considerable polypharmacy. Preliminary studies have indicated that mood stabilisers may be of benefit to people with BPD.Objective:To examine the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of lamotrigine for people with BPD.Design:A two-arm, double-blind, placebo-controlled individually randomised trial of lamotrigine versus placebo. Participants were randomised via an independent and remote web-based service using permuted blocks and stratified by study centre, the severity of personality disorder and the extent of hypomanic symptoms.Setting:Secondary care NHS mental health services in six centres in England.Participants:Potential participants had to be aged ≥ 18 years, meet diagnostic criteria for BPD and provide written informed consent. We excluded people with coexisting psychosis or bipolar affective disorder, those already taking a mood stabiliser, those who spoke insufficient English to complete the baseline assessment and women who were pregnant or contemplating becoming pregnant.Interventions:Up to 200 mg of lamotrigine per day or an inert placebo. Women taking combined oral contraceptives were prescribed up to 400 mg of trial medication per day.Main outcome measures:Outcomes were assessed at 12, 24 and 52 weeks after randomisation. The primary outcome was the total score on the Zanarini Rating Scale for Borderline Personality Disorder (ZAN-BPD) at 52 weeks. The secondary outcomes were depressive symptoms, deliberate self-harm, social functioning, health-related quality of life, resource use and costs, side effects of treatment and adverse events. Higher scores on all measures indicate poorer outcomes.Results:Between July 2013 and October 2015 we randomised 276 participants, of whom 195 (70.6%) were followed up 52
Watson AJ, Joyce EM, Fugard AJB, et al., 2017, More haste less speed: A meta-analysis of thinking latencies during planning in people with psychosis, PSYCHIATRY RESEARCH, Vol: 258, Pages: 576-582, ISSN: 0165-1781
- Author Web Link
- Cite
- Citations: 1
Barnes TRE, Leeson VC, Paton C, et al., 2017, Amisulpride augmentation in clozapine-unresponsive schizophrenia (AMICUS): a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised trial of clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness, HEALTH TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT, Vol: 21, Pages: 1-+, ISSN: 1366-5278
- Author Web Link
- Cite
- Citations: 15
Barnes T, Leeson V, Paton C, et al., 2017, LONG-TERM ANTIDEPRESSANT TREATMENT FOR NEGATIVE SYMPTOMS IN SCHIZOPHRENIA: THE ACTIONS STUDY, 16th International Congress on Schizophrenia Research (ICOSR), Publisher: OXFORD UNIV PRESS, Pages: S214-S215, ISSN: 0586-7614
Barnes T, Leeson V, Paton C, et al., 2017, AMISULPRIDE AUGMENTATION OF CLOZAPINE FOR TREATMENT-REFRACTORY SCHIZOPHRENIA: THE AMICUS STUDY, 16th International Congress on Schizophrenia Research (ICOSR), Publisher: OXFORD UNIV PRESS, Pages: S164-S165, ISSN: 0586-7614
- Author Web Link
- Cite
- Citations: 2
Barnes TR, Leeson VC, Paton C, et al., 2016, Antidepressant Controlled Trial For Negative Symptoms In Schizophrenia (ACTIONS): a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised clinical trial, Health Technology Assessment, Vol: 20, ISSN: 1366-5278
BACKGROUND: Negative symptoms of schizophrenia represent deficiencies in emotional responsiveness, motivation, socialisation, speech and movement. When persistent, they are held to account for much of the poor functional outcomes associated with schizophrenia. There are currently no approved pharmacological treatments. While the available evidence suggests that a combination of antipsychotic and antidepressant medication may be effective in treating negative symptoms, it is too limited to allow any firm conclusions. OBJECTIVE: To establish the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of augmentation of antipsychotic medication with the antidepressant citalopram for the management of negative symptoms in schizophrenia. DESIGN: A multicentre, double-blind, individually randomised, placebo-controlled trial with 12-month follow-up. SETTING: Adult psychiatric services, treating people with schizophrenia. PARTICIPANTS: Inpatients or outpatients with schizophrenia, on continuing, stable antipsychotic medication, with persistent negative symptoms at a criterion level of severity. INTERVENTIONS: Eligible participants were randomised 1 : 1 to treatment with either placebo (one capsule) or 20 mg of citalopram per day for 48 weeks, with the clinical option at 4 weeks to increase the daily dosage to 40 mg of citalopram or two placebo capsules for the remainder of the study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcomes were quality of life measured at 12 and 48 weeks assessed using the Heinrich's Quality of Life Scale, and negative symptoms at 12 weeks measured on the negative symptom subscale of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale. RESULTS: No therapeutic benefit in terms of improvement in quality of life or negative symptoms was detected for citalopram over 12 weeks or at 48 weeks, but secondary analysis suggested modest improvement in the negative symptom domain, avolition/amotivation, at 12 weeks (mean difference -1.3, 95% confidence inter
Crawford MJ, Sanatinia R, Barrett B, et al., 2015, Lamotrigine versus inert placebo in the treatment of borderline personality disorder: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial and economic evaluation, TRIALS, Vol: 16
- Author Web Link
- Open Access Link
- Cite
- Citations: 9
Gutierrez-Galve L, Chu EM, Leeson VC, et al., 2015, A longitudinal study of cortical changes and their cognitive correlates in patients followed up after first-episode psychosis, PSYCHOLOGICAL MEDICINE, Vol: 45, Pages: 205-216, ISSN: 0033-2917
- Author Web Link
- Cite
- Citations: 29
Ananthavarathan P, Leeson V, Barnes T, 2014, A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS OF THE EFFICACY AND SAFETY OF SODIUM VALPROATE FOR "OFF-LABEL" INDICATIONS IN MENTAL HEALTH, 27th Annual General Meeting of the British-Neuropsychiatry-Association (BNPA), Publisher: BMJ PUBLISHING GROUP, ISSN: 0022-3050
Leeson VC, Tyrer P, 2013, The advance of research governance in psychiatry: one step forward, two steps back, EPIDEMIOLOGY AND PSYCHIATRIC SCIENCES, Vol: 22, Pages: 313-320, ISSN: 2045-7960
- Author Web Link
- Cite
- Citations: 9
Galve LBG, Wheeler-Kingshott CAM, Altmann DR, et al., 2012, CORTICAL THINNING OVER TWO YEARS FOLLOWING THE FIRST EPISODE OF PSYCHOSIS: RELATIONSHIP TO TREATMENT DURATION AND COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT, SCHIZOPHRENIA RESEARCH, Vol: 136, Pages: S205-S205, ISSN: 0920-9964
Leeson V, Barnes TRE, Harrison I, et al., 2011, DO PEOPLE DEVELOPING PSYCHOSIS IN THE CONTEXT OF CANNABIS USE HAVE BETTER COGNITIVE FUNCTION BECAUSE THEY HAVE FEWER NEURODEVELOPMENTAL RISK FACTORS?, Summer Meeting of the British-Association-for-Psychopharmacology, Publisher: SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD, Pages: A76-A76, ISSN: 0269-8811
Leeson VC, Sharma P, Harrison M, et al., 2011, IQ Trajectory, Cognitive Reserve, and Clinical Outcome Following a First Episode of Psychosis: A 3-Year Longitudinal Study, SCHIZOPHRENIA BULLETIN, Vol: 37, Pages: 768-777, ISSN: 0586-7614
- Author Web Link
- Cite
- Citations: 80
Leeson VC, Harrison I, Ron MA, et al., 2011, The Effect of Cannabis Use and Cognitive Reserve on Age at Onset and Psychosis Outcomes in First-Episode Schizophrenia, Schizophrenia Bulletin
Objective: Cannabis use is associated with a younger age at onset of psychosis, an indicator of poor prognosis, but better cognitive function, a positive prognostic indicator. We aimed to clarify the role of age at onset and cognition on outcomes in cannabis users with first-episode schizophrenia as well as the effect of cannabis dose and cessation of use. Methods: Ninety-nine patients without alcohol or substance abuse other than cannabis were divided into lifetime users and never-users of cannabis and compared on measures of premorbid function, cognition, and clinical outcome. Results: Cannabis users demonstrated better cognition at psychosis onset, which was explained by higher premorbid IQ. They also showed better social function and neither measure changed over the subsequent 15 months. Cannabis users had an earlier age at onset of psychosis, and there was a strong linear relationship between age at first cannabis use and age at onset of both prodromal and psychotic symptoms. Cannabis use spontaneously declined over time with 3-quarters of users giving up altogether. Later age at first cannabis use predicted earlier cessation of use and this in turn was linked to fewer positive psychotic symptoms and days in hospital during the first 2 years. Conclusions: Cannabis use brings forward the onset of psychosis in people who otherwise have good prognostic features indicating that an early age at onset can be due to a toxic action of cannabis rather than an intrinsically more severe illness. Many patients abstain over time, but in those who persist, psychosis is more difficult to treat.
Joyce EM, Leeson VC, Ron MA, et al., 2011, THE IMPACT OF COGNITIVE RESERVE ON SCHIZOPHRENIA: NEURAL UNDERPINNINGS AND CLINICAL OUTCOMES, 13th International Congress on Schizophrenia Research (ICSR), Publisher: OXFORD UNIV PRESS, Pages: 245-245, ISSN: 0586-7614
Gutierrez-Galve L, Wheeler-Kingshott CAM, Altmann DR, et al., 2010, Changes in the Frontotemporal Cortex and Cognitive Correlates in First-Episode Psychosis, BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY, Vol: 68, Pages: 51-60, ISSN: 0006-3223
- Author Web Link
- Cite
- Citations: 63
Barnett JH, Robbins TW, Leeson VC, et al., 2010, Assessing cognitive function in clinical trials of schizophrenia, NEUROSCIENCE AND BIOBEHAVIORAL REVIEWS, Vol: 34, Pages: 1161-1177, ISSN: 0149-7634
- Author Web Link
- Cite
- Citations: 118
Joyce EM, Leeson VC, Sharma P, et al., 2010, WORKING MEMORY NOT PROCESSING SPEED IS THE BASIS OF HIGHER-ORDER PLANNING DEFICITS IN FIRST EPISODE SCHIZOPHRENIA, 2nd Conference of the Schizophrenia-International-Research-Society (SIRS), Publisher: ELSEVIER, Pages: 175-175, ISSN: 0920-9964
- Author Web Link
- Cite
- Citations: 2
Leeson V, Joyce EM, Harrison I, et al., 2010, DOES THE EARLY COURSE OF COGNITIVE FUNCTION IN FIRST-EPISODE SCHIZOPHRENIA PREDICT FUNCTIONAL OUTCOME?, 2nd Conference of the Schizophrenia-International-Research-Society (SIRS), Publisher: ELSEVIER, Pages: 280-280, ISSN: 0920-9964
- Author Web Link
- Cite
- Citations: 1
Leeson VC, Barnes TR, Harrison M, et al., 2010, The relationship between IQ, memory, executive function, and processing speed in recent-onset psychosis: 1-year stability and clinical outcome., Schizophr Bull, Vol: 36, Pages: 400-409, ISSN: 1745-1701
Studies commonly report poor performance in psychotic patients compared with controls on tasks testing a range of cognitive functions, but, because current IQ is often not matched between these groups, it is difficult to determine whether this represents a generalized deficit or specific abnormalities. Fifty-three first-episode psychosis patients and 53 healthy controls, one-to-one matched for sex, age, and full-scale current IQ, were compared on Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) subtests representing indices of perceptual organization, verbal comprehension, processing speed, and working memory as well as other tests of executive function and episodic memory. The groups showed an equivalent pattern of performance on all WAIS subtests except digit symbol processing speed, on which the patients were significantly worse. Patients were also worse on measures where performance correlated with digit symbol score, namely working and verbal memory tasks. Standardized residual scores for each subtest were calculated for each patient using the difference between their actual subtest score and a predicted subtest score based on their full-scale IQ and the performance of controls. Scaled scores and residual scores were examined for relationships with clinical measures. Digit symbol-scaled score was significantly correlated with concurrent negative syndrome score at baseline, and digit symbol residual score significantly predicted residual negative symptoms at 1-year follow-up. In summary, our comparison of patients and controls precisely matched for IQ revealed that processing speed was attenuated in recent-onset schizophrenia, contributed significantly to working and episodic memory deficits, and was a prognostic factor for poor outcome at 1 year.
This data is extracted from the Web of Science and reproduced under a licence from Thomson Reuters. You may not copy or re-distribute this data in whole or in part without the written consent of the Science business of Thomson Reuters.