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Jozef Peuskens

Publications and source records attributed to Jozef Peuskens.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Premorbid IQ as a predictor for the course of IQ in first onset patients with schizophrenia: a 10-year follow-up study.

The aim of the present study was to examine the longitudinal course of IQ and its heterogeneity in patients with schizophrenia, from the perspective of the two main "subtypes" of schizophrenia described in the literature: progressive cognitive deficit versus cognitive stabilisation or recovery. Premorbid IQ scores and WAIS IQ scores of 100 first onset patients were obtained at first hospitalization (T1) and after 10 years (T2). Significant changes in IQ over time were found, representing (i) at T1, a deterioration compared to premorbid intelligence (B=-6.3, 95% CI -9.5 to -3.0, p<0.0001), followed by (ii) a recovery at T2 where IQ matched premorbid intelligence again (B=0.5, 95% CI -3.1 to 4.0, p=0.79). In addition, a significant interaction was found between course of IQ over time and estimated premorbid IQ, demonstrating that subjects with lower premorbid IQ levels remained stable over time whereas in individuals with higher premorbid IQ levels a pattern of deterioration was evident at T1, followed by a recovery up to premorbid level at T2. The data confirm the importance of estimated premorbid IQ as an indicator of the longitudinal course of cognitive functioning in patients with schizophrenia and add evidence to the hypothesis of heterogeneity or "subtypes" of schizophrenia. The data, however, do not confirm the existence of progressive deterioration of cognitive functioning. Rather, catching up of cognitive function later in the course of the illness may take place in those whose deficits become apparent in the early phases of illness, whereas those with the most severe premorbid impairments remain stable.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

The "extent of information desired"-scale in psychiatric in-patients: a behavioural approach.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the "extent of information desired" (EID)-scale through a behavioural approach. METHODS: Standardised interviews consisting of the EID-scale and four (half) open questions were conducted in a convenience sample of psychiatric in-patients and information seeking behaviour was measured. At the same time, socially desirable behaviour was assessed by means of Marlowe-Crowne social desirability (MCSD). RESULTS: 39 patients were interviewed. The behavioural approach yielded mixed results, but there was no correlation between EID- and MCSD-scores. DISCUSSION: From the calculated correlations information seeking behaviour is perceived as socially undesirable, whereas EID-scores seem unaffected by social desirability. CONCLUSION: It is difficult to define independent variables which would reflect information seeking behaviour. The ones we used might have been confounded. We found a correlation between the EID-scale used and the information seeking behaviour, without a strong correlation with social desirability. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: The EID-scale used may predict patients' desire for information within a well-defined clinical context. The step to validation requires more robustness of the research model and a better profiling of patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Oral glucose tolerance tests in treated patients with schizophrenia. Data to support an adaptation of the proposed guidelines for monitoring of patients on second generation antipsychotics?

OBJECTIVE: A recent consensus conference has proposed guidelines for the monitoring for diabetes in patients with schizophrenia and also identifies the need of long-term prospective studies. METHOD: A large scale prospective study on metabolic risks of antipsychotic medication is currently ongoing. At baseline, patients get a full laboratory screening, ECG and an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Baseline data on 100 non-diabetic patients at study inclusion and stable on medication for at least 6 months are presented. RESULTS: Glucose abnormalities are found in 22% of patients at baseline. A monitoring protocol based only on fasting glucose would not have detected 63.6% of these patients with classifiable glucose abnormalities in our sample. Fasting insulin and measures for insulin resistance have a high predictive value for abnormalities late in the OGTT. CONCLUSION: Already at baseline, metabolic problems are frequently present in patients with schizophrenia treated with antipsychotics. Adding assessment of fasting insulin in a monitoring protocol improves detection of glucose abnormalities late in an OGTT.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Patient satisfaction after electroconvulsive therapy.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine the degree of satisfaction with bifrontal and right unilateral electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and to investigate the relation with treatment-related variables, such as memory complaints, and patient-related variables, such as self-rated depression severity and negative affectivity. METHODS: Subjects included all patients who started a course of ECT between May 2001 and December 2003, or still were receiving continuation or maintenance ECT (C/M-ECT) at the time of the study. A psychiatric nurse that was not a member of the treatment team conducted semi-structured interviews based on a battery of questionnaires (Patient Satisfaction Survey [PSS], Mini-Mental State Examination [MMSE], Squire Subjective Memory Questionnaire [SSMQ], Beck Depression Inventory [BDI], and Positive and Negative Affect Schedule [PANAS]). RESULTS: Of 50 eligible subjects, 36 (72%) completed the survey. Fourteen patients refused to participate. At the time of the interview, 19 patients (52.8%) were hospitalized, and 14 (38.9%) were receiving C/M-ECT. The mean time between last treatment session and interview was 282 days. Diagnostic categories were depressive disorder (50%) and psychotic disorder (47.2%). Bifrontal electrode position was used in 25 (69.4%) of the study patients and unilateral in 4 (11.1%). Patients had a considerable degree of satisfaction (mean PSS 153.41; SD 16.29), although they had prominent cognitive complaints (mean score SSMQ -11.86; SD 21.30). In a multiple regression model, in which satisfaction was predicted on the basis of age, sex, and scores on BDI, SSMQ, PANAS, and GAF, only the GAF-score at the time of the interview was significantly related to satisfaction. All other predictors were not significant. CONCLUSION: Patients receiving bifrontal or right unilateral ECT do have considerable memory complaints, even a long time after their treatment. However, the degree of these complaints does not seem to predict satisfaction with the treatment. Only 38% of the variance of satisfaction could be predicted on the basis of age, sex, BDI, SSMQ, Negative Affectivity subscale of the PANAS, and GAF-scores, which proves that satisfaction with ECT is based on other factors than just the relief of symptoms or the occurrence of side-effects. The factors that contribute to patients' satisfaction remain largely unknown.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Propofol in the management of postictal delirium with clozapine-electroconvulsive therapy combination.

Postictal delirium is an acute confusional state occurring during the immediate postictal phase in patients receiving electroconvulsive therapy that is characterized by motor agitation, disorientation, clouded consciousness, repetitive stereotyped movements, and poor response to commands. A schizophrenic patient with severe and recurrent postictal delirium is described. The possible role of the clozapine-electroconvulsive therapy combination in the occurrence of postictal delirium is discussed. Several management strategies were tried, with various degrees of success. Propofol proved to be effective in preventing agitation when used as induction agent or when administered at seizure end. However, propofol could not prevent a delirious state when only administered after the first signs of motor restlessness had emerged.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Safe ECT in a patient with the Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.

The Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is an inheritable disorder caused by genetic defects of collagen. Hyperextensibility and fragility of the skin, joint hyperlaxity, and generalized fragility of the connective tissues, involving the hollow organs and arteries, are the cardinal features of this syndrome. Low bone density has also been reported. Theoretically, these patients can have an increased risk of rupture of blood vessels and of bone fractures. A patient with a schizo-affective disorder and Ehlers-Danlos Type I who received bifrontal ECT for a depressive episode is described. Even without specific measures to lower blood pressure, a course of ECT was finished without any complication.

Adult↗