Aim: To gather and review data describing the epidemiology of schizophrenia and clinical guidelines for schizophrenia therapy in seven Central and Eastern European countries, with a focus on negative symptoms.Methods:A literature search was conducted which included publications from 1995 to 2012 that were indexed in key databases.Results:Reports of mean annual incidence of schizophrenia varied greatly, from 0.04 to 0.58 per 1,000 population. Lifetime prevalence varied from 0.4% to 1.4%. One study reported that at least one negative symptom was present in 57.6% of patients with schizophrenia and in 50–90% of individuals experiencing their first episode of schizophrenia. Primary negative symptoms were observed in 10–30% of patients. Mortality in patients with schizophrenia was greater than in the general population, with a standardized mortality ratio of 2.58–4.30. Reasons for higher risk of mortality in the schizophrenia population included increased suicide risk, effect of schizophrenia on lifestyle and environment, and presence of comorbidities. Clinical guidelines overall supported the use of second-generation antipsychotics in managing negative symptoms of schizophrenia, although improved therapeutic approaches are needed.Conclusion:Schizophrenia is one of the most common mental illnesses and poses a considerable burden on patients and healthcare resources alike. Negative symptoms are present in many patients and there is an unmet need to improve treatment offerings for negative symptoms beyond the use of second-generation antipsychotics and overall patient outcomes.

Background and aim: Managing the therapy of patients with chronic liver diseases and comorbidities presents significant challenges for physicians and pharmacists, particularly regarding drug-induced liver damage and polypharmacy. Given the liver’s central role in drug detoxification, polypharmacy in liver disease requires special attention. The aim of the review was to assess the prevalence of polypharmacy among patients with chronic liver diseases. Approach and Results: A literature search focused on randomized controlled trials, database reviews, and medical records. Review of PubMed, SCOPUS, and ScienceDirect databases identified 2578 manuscripts, however only 11 studies met the inclusion criteria. The results of studies showed that the prevalence of polypharmacy among patients with chronic liver disease can exceed 50%, and can lead to high prevalence of MRP and pDDI among those patients. Conclusions: Findings reveal a critical link between polypharmacy and adverse outcomes in chronic liver diseases, including cirrhosis, hepatitis, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Individualized treatment plans, considering factors such as age, gender, comorbidities, and liver disease severity are essential. The interventions focused on mitigating MRP and reducing pDDI need to be implemented in order to reduce the potential harm of polypharmacy.

Background/Objectives: Public perception of clinical trials (CT) in Poland remains underexplored. This study aims to assess attitudes towards clinical trials, to identify key sociodemographic and health-related predictors of participation willingness, and to evaluate the perceived health impact (CT-PHI) associated with participants’ involvement in trials. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted (2–20 March 2022) among 2050 Polish adults who had benefited from medical care in the past 24 months. This study examined sociodemographic factors, health-related factors (self-perceived health, EQ-5D-5L, the level of awareness of patient rights, use of public vs. private healthcare, adherence), and motivations for participation in trials (health-related, financial, and altruistic). Multivariate logistic and generalized linear models identified predictors of participation willingness and CT-PHI variability. Results: Overall, 56.3% of the respondents expressed a willingness to participate in clinical trials. The main motivation was health improvement (45.8%), followed by financial incentives (23.2%) and altruism (22.7%). Those driven by health reasons showed the highest sensitivity to demographic and health-related factors. In this group, higher CT-PHI scores were associated with older age (66+: B = 1.24, p < 0.001), female gender (B = 0.41, p = 0.034), rural residence (B = 0.41, p = 0.033), dual use of public/private healthcare (B = 0.64, p = 0.001), adherence (B = 2.50, p < 0.001), and greater pain severity (moderate: B = 1.36, p < 0.001; severe: B = 0.91, p = 0.023). Socioeconomic factors played a greater role for financially motivated individuals, while altruistic participants showed the least variability in influencing factors. Conclusions: Willingness to participate in clinical trials in Poland is influenced by the motivation type. A patient-centered approach to recruitment strategies, considering diverse motivations and sociodemographic factors, is essential for optimizing participation in clinical trials.