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BackgroundCognitive impairment is recognized as an important feature of psychosis in its early stages and is a determinant of prognosis and management of these disorders.Aim of the studyTo test the cognitive functions in first psychotic episode in patients with disorders of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder and depression with psychotic disorder and to compare them to controls.Subjects and methodsThe study included 254 patients diagnosed according to Diagnostic and Statistical criteria of Mental disorders, 4th edition (91 schizophrenics, 21 with schizoaffective disorder, 107 with bipolar disorder and 31 with psychotic depression) and experiencing their first psychotic episode. Seventy healthy volunteers matched as regards age and sex with patients were used as controls. All are subjected to cognitive evaluation by Trail Making Test, part B, Wisconsin card sorting test 128, Benton Visual Retention Test and Wechsler Adult Intelligence Test.ResultsAll patients showed significant cognitive deterioration in all tests compared to control group. On comparing patients to each other, there was no significant difference between schizophrenics and patients with bipolar disorder, but both showed marked deterioration in comparison to depressive group.ConclusionCognitive impairments are present in early stages of psychosis and need careful assessment and management.

IntroductionPregnancy and the postpartum are times of increased risk for women with bipolar disorder to develop new episodes.ObjectiveTo evaluate factors that are supposed to be associated with recurrence of bipolar I disorder among euthymic women with a history of bipolar I disorder, which could be used as a predictors of bipolar I disorder in that period.MethodEighty-three pregnant women with history of bipolar I disorder were followed through pregnancy and post-partum periods for possible recurrence of a new episode. All women were assessed using the MINI International Neuropsychiatric Interview. Factors that may contribute to recurrence were assessed prospectively; these included age of patients, age of onset of bipolar disorder, duration of illness, number of previous attacks, number of previous pregnancies, prior episodes in pregnancy or postpartum, complications during pregnancy and labor, pregnancy type, prior hospitalization, prior suicidal attempts, time since last episode in months, and continuation of medications.ResultsSixty five % of euthymic bipolar females had recurrence of a new episode, either during pregnancy (33.73%) or 4 weeks postpartum (31.32%). Discontinuation of medications, longer duration of illness, more number of previous attacks, more number of previous pregnancies, more prior episodes in pregnancy, more complication during pregnancy, more complication during labor, unplanned pregnancy type, prior hospitalization, were associated with recurrence of bipolar disorder during pregnancy and postpartum.ConclusionsMultiple factors were associated with risk of recurrence of bipolar I disorder during pregnancy and postpartum, which should be while planning treatment for such women.

Middle East Current Psychiatry 2011, 18:138-143 Patients and methods Two thousand college students aged above 18 years were surveyed using the screener form of Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale, Version1.1. Students who had positive screening results were assessed individually using the 18-question form of this scale, the Barkley Childhood ADHD Symptom Scale, and the ADHD Current Symptom Scale. Those who proved to have ADHD and a similar number of students without ADHD were assessed using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview. Both groups were compared together with regard to family history of psychiatric disorders, comorbid psychiatric conditions, and Global Assessment of Functioning. ResultsThe prevalence of ADHD among college students in this study was 2.66%. Twentyseven (69.23%) students had predominantly inattentive subtype of ADHD, whereas 12 (30.77%) students had predominantly combined type. The ratio of men-to-women was 1.4 : 1. Lifetime psychiatric comorbidity was found in 26 of 39 (66.66%) students with ADHD, in comparison with 10 of the control group (25.64%). Among these disorders, major depression, generalized anxiety, cigarette smoking, and substance abuse were significantly more in students with ADHD than in those without ADHD. Students with ADHD had significant impairment in the level of functioning as assessed by the Global Assessment of Functioning Scale. Family history of ADHD and major depression were significantly more common in students with ADHD than in control group. Conclusion ADHD is not uncommon among college students. It is commonly comorbid with other psychiatric disorders and impairs functioning of affected persons. Family history of psychiatric disorders is more common in families with ADHD than controls.

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