RESEARCH WEEKLY: August Research Roundup
By Elizabeth Sinclair Hancq
Research Roundup is a monthly public service of the Office of Research and Public Affairs. Each edition describes a striking new data point about severe mental illness and summarizes recently published research reports or developments.
DATAPOINT of the month
51% of Hispanic individuals with co-occurring serious mental illness and substance use disorder received treatment
Half of individuals who have a co-occurring serious mental illness and substance use disorder who identify as Hispanic received any type of mental health treatment in 2019, according to data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. This is compared to 69% for individuals who identify as white. For more data and research on racial disparities in people with serious mental illness and substance use disorders, see our Fact Sheet which we also just released in Spanish.
RESEARCH of the month
Dosing of antipsychotic medications to prevent relapse in schizophrenia
The accurate dosing of antipsychotic medications for individuals with schizophrenia is important to ensure side effects are as reduced as possible while the dose is high enough to prevent relapse. A new meta-analysis combining data from 26 clinical trials for individuals with schizophrenia examined the association of antipsychotic dosage with adverse events and relapse prevention. Published in JAMA Psychiatry earlier this month, the study found that doses as high as 5 mg/d risperidone equivalent provides limited additional benefit for relapse prevention but more adverse events from side effects. For patients who are stable, doses as low as 2.5 mg/d risperidone equivalent may be sufficient, according to the results, however the authors suggest caution is needed at this low dose because it is accompanied with a higher relapse risk. The authors add the caveat that this study is based on averages and individual clinical factors such as metabolism, age and drug interactions could change the appropriate dosage for a given individual.
Increases in for-profit inpatient psychiatric beds
Not all inpatient psychiatric beds are the same and quality of care provided in psychiatric beds can differ depending on the hospital ownership. New research published in Psychiatric Services by researchers from the University of Pennsylvania and Harvard University suggests that the United States has seen increases in inpatient psychiatric beds operated by for-profit companies or large hospital chains. From 2010 to 2016, there was a 57% increase in beds operated by for-profits and a 17% increase in those operated by chain hospitals, according to the results. The authors suggest that further research should examine the implications of these findings on the quality of inpatient psychiatric care for patients.
Menopause in women with severe mental illness
The transition to menopause is an important milestone in a woman’s life and typically occurs around 50 years of age. Research published online earlier this month from researchers from Poland suggests mental health symptoms, especially mood symptoms, may be amplified when women with severe mental illness experience menopause. Women with severe mental illness experience the symptoms of menopause similarly to those of the general population but have higher prevalence of chronic diseases, indicating the management of menopause in women with serious mental illness requires a multi-disciplinary approach.
