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IntroductionHypnotic polypharmacy and its long-term prescriptions constitute the inappropriate use of hypnotics. However, the relationship between hypnotic polypharmacy and prolonged prescriptions remains unclear. This study aimed to elucidate the association between hypnotic polypharmacy and the duration of hypnotic prescriptions.MethodsThis retrospective, cross-sectional study utilized a large dataset from the Japan Medical Data Center. The study population included adults who had been prescribed hypnotics between April 2020 and March 2021, with a focus on those receiving hypnotics in March 2021. Hypnotic polypharmacy was defined as the concurrent prescription of two or more hypnotics in March 2021. The duration of hypnotic prescriptions was measured by calculating the number of months between April 2019 and March 2021 during which hypnotics were prescribed. A binary logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess the relationship between hypnotic polypharmacy and long-term hypnotic prescriptions, adjusting for relevant covariates.ResultsWe included 112,256 patients (mean age: 49.5 years, females: 47.1%). Among them, 67.9% received hypnotic monotherapy, and 32.1% received hypnotic polypharmacy. Compared with adults who were prescribed hypnotics for 1 month, the association with polypharmacy was stronger in those who were prescribed hypnotics for ≥4 months as the duration of the prescription increased (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 1.15, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.04–1.27, p=0.006 for 4–6 months; aOR 1.35, 95% CI 1.23–1.49, p

Abstract Previous studies on sleep state misperception have objectively evaluated sleep status in special environments using polysomnography. There is a paucity of data from studies that evaluated habitual sleep status in home environments. The present study aimed to investigate sleep state misperception in the home environment of patients with chronic insomnia using a lumbar-worn actigraphy to identify sleep habits associated with sleep state misperception severity. Thirty-one patients and 42 healthy volunteers were included in the insomnia and non-insomnia group, respectively. Participants recorded subjective assessments in sleep diaries, objective assessments with an actigraphy worn for 14 days, and self-assessments using questionnaires. Both groups had similar objective sleep ratings; however, insomnia group had significantly worse subjective ratings (total sleep time, wake after sleep onset, and sleep onset latency). A significant correlation was found between subjective and objective total sleep time scores in non-insomnia group but not in insomnia group. Insomnia group had earlier bedtimes, significantly longer bedtimes, and impaired daytime functioning (Sheehan Disability Scale score); additionally, they underestimated their total sleep time, particularly with earlier bedtimes and longer laying durations. Monitoring the sleep status and habits of individuals in home environments could be instrumental in identifying key points for targeted interventions on sleep hygiene and cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia.

IntroductionGuidelines for various psychiatric disorders recommend short-term use of benzodiazepine anxiolytic monotherapy in few cases. Contrarily, benzodiazepine anxiolytic polypharmacy (BAP) is not recommended in any case. However, BAP is often used in real world. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the association between BAP and concomitant use of psychotropic medications.MethodThis retrospective cross-sectional study used claims data from the Japan Medical Data Center. Medical information of health insurance subscribers treated with benzodiazepine anxiolytics in June 2019 was extracted. Prescription of two or more benzodiazepine anxiolytics was defined as BAP. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate the factors associated with BAP, using age group, sex, type of subscriber, and number of concomitant hypnotics, antidepressants, and antipsychotics (none, one, and two or more) as covariates.ResultThe eligible participants were 104,796 adults who were prescribed benzodiazepine anxiolytics. Among them, 12.6% were prescribed two or more drugs. Logistic regression analysis revealed that BAP was significantly associated with those who received hypnotic monotherapy (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 1.04, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.001–1.09, p=0.04), antidepressant monotherapy and polypharmacy (aOR: 1.57, 95% CI: 1.51–1.63, p

Abstract Aim It is controversial whether psychotic features are a risk factor for relapse in patients with electroconvulsive therapy‐responsive major depressive disorder. A recent study reported that benzodiazepine receptor agonists reduce relapse of psychotic depression. As long‐term use of these agonists may induce dependence, further research is required. We examined whether psychotic features are associated with rehospitalization in electroconvulsive therapy‐responsive major depressive disorder patients. We also investigated whether taking benzodiazepine receptor agonists at the end of electro‐convulsive therapy was associated with rehospitalization among patients with psychotic depression. Methods This study included 47 hospitalized patients (22 with psychotic depression, 25 with non‐psychotic depression) who had responded to electroconvulsive therapy. Rehospitalization for major depressive episodes within two years from the last session was investigated. Results Twenty‐three subjects (49%) were rehospitalized during the two‐year follow‐up. Kaplan–Meier analysis revealed no difference in rehospitalization between patients with psychotic and non‐psychotic depression (Log‐rank P = 0.87). Among the 22 responders to electroconvulsive therapy with psychotic depression, there was no difference in benzodiazepine receptor agonist use at the end of electroconvulsive therapy between the rehospitalization and non‐rehospitalization groups. Conclusion Our exploratory study found no difference in the benzodiazepine receptor agonists use at the end of electroconvulsive therapy between rehospitalization and non‐rehospitalization groups in patients with electroconvulsive therapy‐responsive psychotic depression. Thus, the relapse‐preventing effect of these agonists in psychotic depression should be investigated in future randomized controlled trials. Further research is also needed to determine whether psychotic features are associated with rehospitalization in these patients.

Abstract Aim Pharmacological treatments recommended for bipolar depression are inconsistent across guidelines. We compared the efficacy and safety of antipsychotics and mood stabilizers for bipolar depression. Methods A systemic review and meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials comparing antipsychotics and mood stabilizers for bipolar depression was conducted based on a literature search of major electronic databases. Results Three studies comparing quetiapine with lithium were identified and analyzed; no other antipsychotic‐mood stabilizer combinations were found. The meta‐analysis revealed no significant differences between quetiapine and lithium for the following outcomes: (1) remission from depressive episodes (risk ratio [RR]: 1.80, 95% CI: 0.51‐6.40, P = 0.36), (2) changes in depressive symptom (standardized mean difference: −0.22, 95% CI: −0.52‐0.08, P = 0.15), (3) changes in social function (standardized mean difference: −0.00, 95% CI: −0.19‐0.18, P = 0.98), (4) suicide‐related events (odds ratio [OR]: 2.35, 95% CI: 0.40‐13.65, P = 0.34), (5) severe adverse events (OR: 1.63, 95% CI: 0.51‐5.20, P = 0.41), (6) dropouts due to adverse events (RR: 1.19, 95% CI: 0.76‐1.87, P = 0.45, 7) dropout for any reasons (RR: 0.95, 95% CI: 0.74‐1.22, P = 0.70). Conclusion Although this study found no differences in the efficacy and safety of quetiapine and lithium for bipolar depression, a comprehensive comparison of antipsychotics and mood stabilizers was not performed. Further studies are needed to clarify which of these, not just quetiapine and lithium, is more useful for bipolar depression.

ObjectReal-world data from wearable devices has the potential to understand mental health status in everyday life. We aimed to investigate the feasibility of estimating mental health status using a wrist-worn wearable device (Fitbit Sense) that measures movement using a 3D accelerometer and optical pulse photoplethysmography (PPG).MethodsParticipants were 110 patients with mental illnesses from different diagnostic groups. The study was undertaken between 1 October 2020 and 31 March 2021. Participants wore a Fitbit Sense on their wrist and also completed the State–Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), and EuroQol 5 dimensions 5-level (EQ-5D-5L) during the study period. To determine heart rate (HR) variability (HRV), we calculated the sdnn (standard deviation of the normal-to-normal interval), coefficient of variation of R-R intervals, and mean HR separately for each sleep stage and the daytime. The association between mental health status and HR and HRV was analyzed.ResultsThe following significant correlations were found in the wake after sleep onset stage within 3 days of mental health status assessment: sdnn, HR and STAI scores, HR and PANAS scores, HR and EQ-5D-5L scores. The association between mental health status and HR and HRV was stronger the closer the temporal distance between mental health status assessment and HR measurement.ConclusionA wrist-worn wearable device that measures PPG signals was feasible for use with patients with mental illness. Resting state HR and HRV could be used as an objective assessment of mental health status within a few days of measurement.