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Prolonged Exposure therapy (PE) is a first-line treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD); however, few VA patients receive this treatment. One of the barriers to PE receipt is that it is only available in an individual (one-on-one) format, whereas many VA mental health clinics provide the majority of their psychotherapy services in group format. In particular, PTSD residential rehabilitation treatment programs (RRTPs) offer most programming in group format. Consequently, strategies are needed to improve the scalability of PE by adapting it to fit the delivery setting. The current study was designed to pilot test a group-facilitated format of PE in RRTPs. Thirty-nine Veterans who were engaged in care in the PTSD RRTP at a Midwestern VA were recruited to participate in a Group-facilitated PE protocol. Participants engaged in twelve 90-minute sessions of Group PE over the course of 6 weeks, plus six 60-minute individual sessions for imaginal exposure. Group treatment followed the PE model and consisted of psychoeducation, treatment rationale, and in vivo exposure to reduce trauma-related avoidance and thereby improve PTSD symptoms. PTSD symptoms were measured via the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) and depression symptoms were measured via the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) at baseline, endpoint (6 weeks), and at 2-month follow-up. Thirty-nine individuals initiated Group-facilitated PE and 34 completed treatment. The average number of group sessions attended was 11 out of 12. Acceptability ratings were high. Mean change (improvement) in the intent-to-treat sample at 2-month follow-up was 20.0 points on the PCL-5 (CI 18.1, 21.9; Cohen's d = 1.1) and 4.8 points on the PHQ-9 (CI 4.1, 5.5, d = .8). These results suggest that adapted evidence-based interventions for PTSD can improve treatment access and efficiency for the RRTP setting. A group-based approach has the potential to improve the scalability of PTSD treatment by reducing required resources. A fully powered trial is now needed to test the effectiveness of Group-facilitated PE in the RRTP setting.

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating psychiatric disorder that affects 6% of U.S. adults, yet is treated in only 30% of affected individuals and even fewer low-income individuals. One third of the nation's low-income individuals are treated in Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). Most of these facilities lack capacity to provide their patients with first-line, evidence-based treatments for PTSD such as Prolonged Exposure (PE). To address this problem, PE has been adapted for use in a primary care setting and demonstrated efficacy in a brief model for military service members (PE in Primary Care: PE-PC). The effectiveness of this treatment in civilian, low-resource settings such as FQHCs is unknown. This pilot study tested the feasibility and acceptability of PE-PC in 30 Michigan FQHC patients. High rates of therapy participation suggest that the intervention was feasible and acceptable. Semi-structured interview data from 10 patients and 5 FQHC providers indicated that the intervention was helpful and filled a critical need for effective PTSD treatment in the FQHC setting. Interviews also elucidated barriers such as transportation, provider training, and time commitment for patients and providers. These findings set the stage for a full-scale randomized controlled trial to test the effectiveness of PE-PC on PTSD symptoms in this low-resource, high-need setting.Trial registry ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03711266. October 18, 2018.

Objectives Immunosuppressed paediatric patients with rheumatic disease (RD) may be at risk for severe or critical disease related to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Data remain scarce on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outcomes in paediatric RD patients. The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 IgG and to describe COVID-19 outcomes in immunosuppressed paediatric RD patients. Methods Patients diagnosed with RD before age 18 years and treated with at least one immunosuppressive medication for at least 3 months were enrolled from a tertiary paediatric rheumatology practice in New York and also underwent routine SARS-CoV-2 IgG testing from May to November 2020. A total of 571 patients were screened and 262 were enrolled. SARS-CoV-2 IgG-positive subjects were assessed for symptoms of COVID-19 infection. SARS-CoV-2 PCR results were recorded where available. Demographic, diagnostic, medication and outcome data were collected. Results Of 262 subjects (186 female), 35 (13%) were SARS-CoV-2 IgG positive; 17 (49%) had symptoms suggestive of COVID-19. Of the 17 patients who had SARS-CoV-2 PCR testing, 11 (65%) were PCR positive, 7 of whom were IgG positive. Most SARS-CoV-2 IgG-positive subjects were not PCR tested. The most common symptoms in IgG- and/or PCR-positive subjects were fever, fatigue and cough. No SARS-CoV-2 IgG- or PCR-positive subject developed severe or critical COVID-19 or required hospitalization. Conclusions This is the first report of clinical outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 infection and seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 IgG in a large cohort of paediatric RD patients. Most SARS-CoV-2 IgG-positive subjects had no symptoms of COVID-19 infection. Symptomatic subjects all had mild COVID-19 symptoms, suggesting that the risk of severe or critical COVID-19 in immunosuppressed paediatric RD patients is minimal.

To assess safety of COVID-19 vaccination in pediatric patients with immune-mediated inflammatory disease (IMID) METHODS: Subjects 5-21 years of age with IMID who received at least one COVID-19 vaccine completed electronic surveys after each vaccine to assess side effects within one week of vaccination, current medications, and COVID-19 testing after vaccination. Charts were reviewed for COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction and IgG response to SARS-CoV-2 spike protein results, and for disease flare during the study period.Among 190 enrolled subjects, 71% were female, with median age 17 (range 6-21) years. The most common diagnosis was juvenile idiopathic arthritis/rheumatoid arthritis (55%). 78% of subjects were taking immunosuppressive medication. At least one side effect was reported in 65% of subjects after any dose of the vaccine; with side effects in 38%, 53%, and 55% of subjects after the first, second, and third vaccine doses, respectively. The most common side effects were injection site pain (59%), fatigue (54%), and headache (39%). No anaphylaxis or myocarditis was reported. Three subjects (2%) experienced disease flare.In our cohort of pediatric patients with IMID, observed side effects were found to be mild and disease flare rates were found to be low following COVID-19 vaccination.

Although most posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) care in the Veterans health administration (VHA) is provided on an outpatient basis, the VHA has 40 residential rehabilitation treatment programs (RRTPs) designed to treat Veterans who require more intensive and closely monitored care. Unfortunately, the clinical outcomes of these programs are modest, and previous attempts to identify key drivers of outcomes have uncovered few modifiable factors. The present study, informed by the model of resources, life events and changes in psychological state, was designed to identify factors associated with treatment response among RRTP patients and providers. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 24 patients and 12 providers at three regional RRTPs, using interview guides based on the theoretical model. Data were analyzed using rapid analysis. Results showed that patients and providers agreed on several factors critical to RRTP success. These factors included the provision of evidence-based psychotherapy (EBP), support and understanding from fellow patients, and skill and support from providers. Patients and providers also noted the importance of psychological flexibility, openness, and willingness to change. Patients who experienced less symptom improvement over the course of treatment were more likely to report poor therapeutic alliance. These findings underscore the importance of continued emphasis on EBP delivery but also suggest that RRTPs might find additional ways to capitalize on the residential milieu to encourage engagement in treatment and a focus on therapeutic change. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Background/objective Patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) often present with signs and symptoms suggestive of serious bacterial infection (SBI). Procalcitonin (PCT) is a biomarker that is elevated in SBI. We conducted a comparative cohort study to test the hypothesis that PCT levels will differ between active JIA, quiescent JIA, and bacteremic patients and healthy controls. Methods From October 2016 to May2018, consecutive children 6 months to 18 years of age with (a) active untreated JIA, (b) quiescent JIA, and (c) healthy elective presurgical candidates were recruited from clinics at a musculoskeletal specialty hospital. Juvenile idiopathic arthritis was defined according to the International League of Associations for Rheumatology criteria. Clinical data and serum samples meeting the same criteria were included from a prior study. Consecutive bacteremic patients were identified over the same period. Procalcitonin and other common measures of inflammation were measured. Descriptive statistics and univariate logistic analyses were performed. Results Ninety-two study subjects were recruited. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein (CRP), and PCT levels were all elevated in bacteremic patients in comparison to the other groups. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate and CRP both had wide ranges that overlapped between groups; however, the PCT concentration was 0.15 μg/mL or greater in 1 of 59 patients with JIA, whereas it was 0.15 μg/mL or less in only 1 bacteremic patient. Conclusions Our study indicates that serum erythrocyte sedimentation rate, CRP, and PCT levels are all biomarkers that can be used to distinguish SBI versus active JIA at presentation. However, PCT is the most accurate, with the least overlap between patients with infection and noninfectious inflammatory arthritis. This finding can help clinicians direct therapy.

Summary The aim of this study was to evaluate prospectively cytokine levels and disease activity in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) patients treated with and without tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α inhibitors. TNF-α inhibitor-naive JIA subjects were followed prospectively for 6 months. Cytokine levels of TNF-α, interleukin (IL)−1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 and IL-17 were measured at baseline for JIA subjects and healthy controls (HCs). Cytokine levels were then measured at four time-points after initiation of TNF-α inhibition for anti-TNF-α-treated (anti-TNF) JIA subjects, and at two subsequent time-points for other JIA (non-TNF) subjects. JIA disease activity by Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire (CHAQ) disability index/pain score and physician joint count/global assessment was recorded. Sixteen anti-TNF, 31 non-TNF and 16 HCs were analysed. Among JIA subjects, those with higher baseline disease activity (subsequent anti-TNFs) had higher baseline TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-8 than those with lower disease activity (non-TNFs) (P

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is highly prevalent, severely debilitating, and often recurrent. Greater residual depressive symptoms after acute phase treatment predict greater relapse and recurrence. It is unknown, however, which specific depressive symptoms remain and are most predictive.The current study examined (a) which specific residual symptoms remained after effective treatment with acute phase cognitive therapy (A-CT) for recurrent depression and (b) if any of those specific residual symptoms were risk factors for relapse and recurrence over a 2-year follow-up.After completing 20 sessions of A-CT, a substantial proportion of adult responders continued to endorse somatic anxiety (42%), psychological anxiety (37%), middle insomnia (36%), depressed mood (29%), loss of libido (29%), late insomnia (24%), anergia (21%), guilt feelings (18%), early insomnia (17%), and anhedonia (14%), as defined by the 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD). Decreased agitation, increased psychological anxiety, increased loss of appetite, increased loss of libido, and increased hypochondriasis were all risk factors for relapse and recurrence over a 2-year follow-up (all p.05), after stratifying on number of previous episodes and controlling for age at onset and whether A-CT responders received continuation phase CT instead of assessment only control.These findings are based on a limited sample size (n=84), which was modestly restricted in terms of gender, ethnicity, region, and mean education level.These results confirm that residual symptoms are common after A-CT. We hypothesize that treatments, intervention modules, or durations that effect and/or target specific residual symptoms may further reduce depression relapse and recurrence.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) inhibitors are effective treatment for juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) but may increase infection rates. However, active JIA may also render patients vulnerable to infection. In this study, we prospectively assessed infection rates in JIA patients treated with and without TNF-α inhibitors and correlated disease activity with infection risk. TNF-α inhibitor-naive JIA subjects were followed up for 12 months. Subjects initiated on TNF-α inhibitors after enrollment were analyzed in the TNF group. Subjects treated without TNF-α inhibitors were analyzed in the non-TNF group. Questionnaires captured mild or severe infections. JIA disease activity by Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire (CHAQ) disability index/pain score and physician joint count/global assessment was recorded. Twenty TNF and 36 non-TNF subjects were analyzed. The total infection rate ratio for TNF versus non-TNF group subjects was 1.14 (95 % CI, 0.78–1.66; p = 0.51). The average rate of infections per month was 0.29 for TNF and 0.24 for non-TNF subjects. No severe infections or hospitalizations occurred in either group. Secondary infectious outcomes were also similar between groups. Controlling for study group, an increase in CHAQ pain score correlated with an increase in several infectious outcome measures. Our results suggest no difference in infection rates between JIA subjects treated with and without TNF-α inhibitors. Additionally, JIA disease activity may have contributed to infection risk in our cohort, irrespective of immunosuppressive therapy. Future analysis of the relationship between treatment regimens, disease activity, and infection rates may help to further delineate predictors of infection risk in JIA patients.

Takayasu arteritis (TA) is a large-vessel vasculitis, most commonly presenting in young adults and more rarely in pediatric patients. An apparent association between TA and Mycobacterium tuberculosis has been noted previously, although this potential relationship is not yet understood. We present the case of a 16-year-old Haitian girl diagnosed with TA, originally presenting in the context of active tuberculosis. Our patient has been treated with antituberculosis therapy, corticosteroids, methotrexate, and rituximab to control her continued active vasculitis. With this case report, we seek to promote further exploration of the apparent association between TA and tuberculosis, as further clarification of the nature of this relationship may lead to the development of more targeted therapies and better outcomes for TA patients.

Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) inhibitors are increasingly administered to children and adolescents with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (pIBD). Adult studies indicate that TNF-α inhibitors lead to an increased risk of serious infections compared to other disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs. We report herein a systematic literature review detailing the epidemiology and types of infections reported in children with JIA and pIBD treated with TNF-α inhibitors. The most frequently reported infections were mild and characterized as viral in etiology. Severe bacterial and fungal infections also occurred, but were less common and possibly associated with intrinsic risk factors and concurrent immunosuppressive therapy. Few pediatric patients developed Mycobacterium tuberculosis, likely due to effective screening. There were 8 infectious fatalities in children treated with TNF-α inhibitors. Overall, although rare, serious infections occur in immunocompromised children and adolescents with JIA and pIBD receiving TNF-α inhibitors.

Background/Purpose: Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) inhibitors are effective in the treatment of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), but may increase infection rates due to immunosuppression. However, as JIA results from immune system dysfunction, high disease activity may also render patients vulnerable to infection. To our knowledge, no prior studies have prospectively evaluated whether infection rates in JIA patients vary with changes in treatment or disease activity. This study assesses infection rates in JIA patients treated with and without TNF-α inhibitors, correlates disease activity with infection risk, and explores cytokine alterations in JIA patients. Methods: This 12 month, prospective cohort study includes JIA subjects ages 1–21 years. TNF subjects are newly initiated on TNF-α inhibitors. Non-TNF subjects are treated without TNF-α inhibitors. At each visit, questionnaires captured mild or severe infections and treatments required. JIA disease activity (by Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire [CHAQ] and physician joint count/global assessment) was also recorded. TNF-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and IL-17 cytokine levels were collected at pre-specified time points. Herein, we report our interim analysis of endpoints. Poisson regression and generalized estimating equations (GEE) were utilized as appropriate. Results: Fifty-eight subjects have been enrolled, 20 TNF and 38 non-TNF subjects (mean follow-up 7.0 and 8.6 months, respectively). We found no difference in infection rates between groups (TNF group 0.078 versus non-TNF group 0.076 infections/month, p = 0.93). No severe infections or hospitalizations occurred in either group. Numbers of physician sick visits, antimicrobial prescriptions, and missed school days related to infection were similar between groups. Adjusting for study group and other markers of disease activity, higher joint count was associated with increased physician sick visit rates. Higher joint count and higher CHAQ were both associated with higher rates of missed school. Cytokine serum protein analysis showed higher levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-8 in TNF versus non-TNF subjects at baseline (prior to the initiation of TNF-α inhibition in TNF subjects). Subsequently, TNF-α and IL-10 were higher in TNF versus non-TNF subjects across 6 months of follow-up (p

Background A high prevalence of autoimmune disease (AD) has been documented in relatives of adult patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, data on familial inheritance patterns in pediatric SLE patients is scarce. Findings The charts of 69 patients with pediatric-onset SLE were reviewed retrospectively. The primary aim was to describe the prevalence and types of AD in relatives of children with SLE. The secondary aims were: 1) to compare severity of SLE in children with and without relatives affected by AD, and 2) to evaluate the impact of baseline demographics on severity of SLE in subjects. At diagnosis, 42% of subjects had one or more first, second, or third degree relative(s) with AD; and 32% of subjects had one or more first degree relative(s) with AD. The most common diseases in relatives of children with SLE were SLE (21%) and thyroid disease (15%). Subjects with no family history of AD were more likely to have severe SLE. SLE severity in subjects did not differ by gender. Children presenting with SLE at an earlier age were found to have more severe disease. Conclusions This study demonstrated a high prevalence of AD in families of children with SLE, although a family history of AD did not correlate with more severe SLE in subjects. Future larger studies are necessary to elucidate patterns of familial inheritance and baseline patient characteristics that may affect severity of disease in pediatric SLE.