A team of researchers at Aristotle University in Thessaloniki conducted a major study that reveals a significant presence of manic symptoms in patients with disorders in the schizophrenia spectrum (SSD).
Treatments could become more personalized and effective photo archive truth
The research, published in the specialized magazine Brain Medicine, included 75 SSD patients, in a stable clinical condition, and showed that over a quarter of them (26.7%) had distinct manic symptoms. These discoveries are essential for the deep understanding of the disease and for improving patient care, writes news-medical.
“Our study demonstrates a clear connection between positive symptoms and manic manifestations in disorders from the spectrum of schizophrenia. Moreover, the severity of positive symptoms can predict the presence of manic symptoms, which suggests a deeper connection between these two aspects of psychopathology ”said Professor Evangelia M. Tsapakis, the main coordinator of the study.
The researchers used the Young Mania (YMRS) evaluation scale with other clinical tools to analyze the symptoms of patients. The study has shown that patients with higher scores on the positive and negative syndrome scale (fans) were more likely to have manic symptoms. The correlation was particularly strong for positive symptoms, such as hallucinations and deliriums.
Professor KN Fountoulkis, the main author of the study, believes that these discoveries could radically change treatment strategies: “Our results suggest that we have to re -evaluate how we detect and treat disorders in the schizophrenia spectrum. Early identification of manic symptoms by systematic screening could improve treatment results and reduce economic burden on patients and health system. ”
The discoveries of the study support a more flexible approach to the understanding of mental disorders, moving from strict categorical diagnoses to a more nuanced, dimensional perspective. This paradigm change could lead to more personalized and effective treatment strategies.
The key conclusions of research include close correlation of manic symptoms with general psychopathology of patients with SSD, the strong connection between language and thinking disorders and manic manifestations, as well as the possibility that current diagnostic approaches do not take into account the manic component to these patients.
The team of researchers recommends introducing regular screening for manic symptoms in patients with SSD. This change could facilitate the development of more efficient and personalized treatment methods, in a context in which global health systems are looking for more accessible and efficient solutions for patients with psychiatric disorders.
