The movement restrictions put in place as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic required modification of the population’s usual routines, including those of the most vulnerable groups such as patients with schizophrenia. This was a retrospective observational study. We used an online survey to collect information on patient adherence to the Mediterranean diet (Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener questionnaire), physical exercise (International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form), and tobacco consumption and levels of anxiety and depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) before and during the movement restrictions. A total of 102 people with schizophrenia participated in this study. During the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown the participants significantly increased the number of minutes spent sitting per day (z = −6.73; p < 0.001), decreased the time they spent walking (z = −6.32; p < 0.001), and increased their tobacco consumption (X² = 156.90; p < 0.001). These results were also accompanied by a significant increase in their reported levels of anxiety (z = −7.45; p < 0.001) and depression (z = −7.03, p < 0.001). No significant differences in patient diets during the pandemic compared to before the movement restrictions were reported. These results suggest the need to implement specific programs to improve lifestyle and reduce anxiety and depression during possible future pandemic situations.

Background: Clozapine (CLZ) stands out for its unique receptor profile, making it more effective than other antipsychotics, especially in treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS). There is growing evidence supporting its use in schizoaffective disorder (SZD), although diagnostic challenges and drug characteristics have complicated the implementation of specific clinical trials. Aim: Compare efficacy and tolerability of CLZ in real-world patients with TRS and SZD. Methods: Prospective, pragmatic, three-month, evaluator-blinded clinical trial with two randomised controlled arms (TRS groups) and a third fixed arm (SZD group). The clinical response was assessed by monthly visits during which the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS), Montgomery–Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia (CDSS), Clinical Global Impression (CGI) and Udvalg für Kliniske Undersogelser were administered. One hundred twenty-seven participants (74.8% men, 25.2% women; 84 TRS, 42 SZD; mean age of 38.53) completed the follow-up. Results: Patients treated with CLZ showed a greater reduction in all the PANSS subscales, MADRS and CDSS. In cases of SZD, there was a significant decrease in positive ( F : 3.72, p < 0.05) and negative ( F : 6.58, p < 0.01) symptoms, the overall score of PANSS ( F : 5.64, p < 0.01) and YMRS ( F : 12.01, p < 0.01). Patients using CLZ had a better subjective perception of their treatment (χ ² : 17.29, p < 0.01). CLZ prescription was the only predictor of better outcomes across all the scales and improved substance use (dual disorders). Conclusions: CLZ was effective in reducing psychotic and affective symptoms in patients with dual psychosis, with better outcomes in SZD compared with TRS. EudraCT protocol trial: 2021-001278-44 (Comparative analysis of the effectiveness of clozapine in resistant schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder; clinicaltrialsregister.eu/ctr-search/trial/2021-001278-44/ES ).

Due to the significant functional repercussions suffered by patients with dual disorder, we must evaluate which ones can benefit from intensive rehabilitative therapies in medium-stay psychiatric units. This was a retrospective study of patient medical records which intended to analyze sociodemographic and clinical variables and parameters related to the hospitalization and discharge of patients admitted to the Medium-Stay Unit (MSU) at the Castellón Provincial Hospital Consortium over 2 years (2017 and 2018), according to the presence or absence of dual disorders in these patients. Patients with a dual disorder represented 55.2% of the hospitalized patients. A higher proportion of them were male, were relatively younger, and had an earlier onset of mental illness, fewer associated medical pathologies, and shorter hospital admission times to the Short-Term Hospitalization Unit than those who did not present a dual disorder. A diagnosis on the schizophrenia spectrum with cannabis use or polyconsumption was the most common diagnosis; 98.2% of all the patients responded adequately to admission to the MSU. This work highlighted the need for higher doses of depot paliperidone in patients with dual disorders.

Little work has been done on the contents of psychiatric consultancies in prisons. To explore the sociodemographic, clinical and treatment profile of the patients who were assessed in the psychiatric consultancy of three prisons. This is a prospective, longitudinal, descriptive and multicenter-based epidemiological study of patients who were assessed in the psychiatric consultacy of three prisons in the Autonomous Community of Valencia from 2009 to 2011. Sociodemographic, clinical and prison data was obtained from each patient. Their frequency was compared with Pearson's Ji² and averages with the ANOVA test or with The Kruskall-Wallis method. The probability of keeping the patients in schedule was calculated with Kaplan-Meier's curves and differences with the Mantel-Haenzsel method (Logrank) were established. A logistic regression model was designed to determine the data linked to frequent users. 786 patients were assessed in 2,006 visits (2.5 visits/patient). 90% were male, 88.2% Spanish and their average age was 36 years. 29.9% suffered from an infectious chronic pathology. 69.5% used some kinds of substance. 59.2% suffered from personality disorder and 11.6% from the spectrum of schizophrenia. The most frequent medical profiles were: 49.1% with anxiety disorder, 20.8% depressive disorder and 11.7% psychotic disorder. These psychotic disorders meant a greater probability of 1.5 times for maintaining in schedule. The most commonly prescribed medications were quetiapine, mirtazapine, pregabalin and diazepam. There is a high prevalence of mental disorders in prisons. It is necessary to improve the available resources to deal with these pathologies in the most effective way.