Psychiatry

There is a long and rich tradition of excellence in the Department of Psychiatry is growing into one of largest clinical departments since its inception. It is rich in both clinical and research areas with current focuses on addiction, brain aging, trauma, schizophrenia, and obesity.

The vision of the Department of Psychiatry is to become a leading academic institution in providing exceptional clinical care, conducting neuroscience research, elaborating community mental health issues, and training outstanding clinicians. We welcome you to visit our website and view our tradition of excellence that has kept us at the frontiers of medicine and become the "best of the best" departments of psychiatry in the world.

Four-year outcomes of child and adolescent anxiety disorders and Triggers of behaviour

In a follow-up study of child/adolescent patients treated for an anxiety disorder, there were relatively high rates of recurrence and chronicity. Three hundred nineteen youth, originally diagnosed with separation, social, and/or generalized anxiety disorder, were randomly assigned to receive 12 weeks of a selective serotonin reuptake inhibiter, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), their combination, or pill placebo. After four years of follow-up with annual assessments, the patients' courses were classified as: remission in almost 22%, relapse in 48 %, and chronic in 30%. Treatment assignment in the clinical trial was not associated with remission status at follow-up. The study suggests that the prognosis of childhood anxiety disorders is less favourable than had been perceived.

                                                 

Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for ADHD in adults

Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT), and the closely related mindfulness training, combine the clinical application of mindfulness meditation with elements of cognitive therapy. A randomized clinical trial in adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) compared the combination of MBCT and treatment as usual with treatment as usual only. MBCT was provided weekly and included meditation exercises, psycho education, and group discussions. Approximately half of each group concurrently received ADHD medication, treatment as usual for ADHD in the Netherlands where the trial was conducted. At the end of the trial, patients assigned to MBCT experienced reduced core ADHD symptoms compared with controls; effects were maintained at six months. MBCT shows promise compared with treatment as usual but requires further testing compared with active controls

Updated practice guideline on mild cognitive impairment in adults

An updated clinical practice guideline on mild cognitive impairment (MCI) has been published by the American Academy of Neurology. The guideline emphasizes the importance of appropriate diagnosis of MCI in order to assess for reversible causes of cognitive impairment, help patients and families understand the cause of their cognitive concerns, discuss prognostic implications with regard to dementia risk, and help plan for the future. Neuropsychological testing is recommended in patients who screen positive for MCI by history and brief office-based cognitive testing.

                                     

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