Faculty Bibliography

BACKGROUND:The utility of head computed tomography (CT) in predicting elevated intracranial pressure (ICP) is known to be limited in traumatic brain injury; however, few data exist in patients with spontaneous intracranial hemorrhage. METHODS:We conducted a retrospective review of prospectively collected data in patients with nontraumatic intracranial hemorrhage (subarachnoid hemorrhage [SAH] or intraparenchymal hemorrhage [IPH]) who underwent external ventricular drain (EVD) placement. Head CT scans performed immediately prior to EVD placement were quantitatively reviewed for features suggestive of elevated ICP, including temporal horn diameter, bicaudate index, basal cistern effacement, midline shift, and global cerebral edema. The modified Fisher score (mFS), intraventricular hemorrhage score, and IPH volume were also measured, as applicable. We calculated the accuracy, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of these radiographic features for the coprimary outcomes of elevated ICP (> 20 mm Hg) at the time of EVD placement and at any time during the hospital stay. Multivariable backward stepwise logistic regression analysis was performed to identify significant radiographic factors associated with elevated ICP. RESULTS:Of 608 patients with intracranial hemorrhages enrolled during the study time frame, 243 (40%) received an EVD and 165 (n = 107 SAH, n = 58 IPH) had a preplacement head CT scan available for rating. Elevated opening pressure and elevated ICP during hospitalization were recorded in 48 of 152 (29%) and 103 of 165 (62%), respectively. The presence of ≥ 1 radiographic feature had only 32% accuracy for identifying elevated opening pressure (PPV 30%, NPV 58%, area under the curve [AUC] 0.537, 95% asymptotic confidence interval [CI] 0.436-0.637, P = 0.466) and 59% accuracy for predicting elevated ICP during hospitalization (PPV 63%, NPV 40%, AUC 0.514, 95% asymptotic CI 0.391-0.638, P = 0.820). There was no significant association between the number of radiographic features and ICP elevation. Head CT scans without any features suggestive of elevated ICP occurred in 25 of 165 (15%) patients. However, 10 of 25 (40%) of these patients had elevated opening pressure, and 15 of 25 (60%) had elevated ICP during their hospital stay. In multivariable models, mFS (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.36, 95% CI 1.10-1.68) and global cerebral edema (aOR 2.93, 95% CI 1.27-6.75) were significantly associated with elevated ICP; however, their accuracies were only 69% and 60%, respectively. All other individual radiographic features had accuracies between 38 and 58% for identifying intracranial hypertension. CONCLUSIONS:More than 50% of patients with spontaneous intracranial hemorrhage without radiographic features suggestive of elevated ICP actually had ICP > 20 mm Hg during EVD placement or their hospital stay. Morphological head CT findings were only 32% and 59% accurate in identifying elevated opening pressure and ICP elevation during hospitalization, respectively.

TRIAL DESIGN/METHODS:Current protocols for treatment of acute ischemic stroke with intravenous thrombolytics, such as alteplase (tPA) and tenecteplase (tNK), recommend the completion of a routine non-contrast head CT at 24 hours post treatment to evaluate for hemorrhage prior to the initiation of antiplatelet therapy for secondary stroke prevention. This guideline was instituted because it had been part of the protocol in the NINDS multicenter randomized placebo-controlled trial that showed the benefit of IV thrombolytics within 3 hours of stroke onset. Recent observational studies indicate that the repeat (stability) head CT rarely alters clinical management, in the absence of neurological worsening or evidence of clinical signs of hemorrhagic conversion, such as seizures, severe headache, or novel acute deficits. A solitary CT carries with it a non-negligible dose of radiation with additive cost to the medical system at large. METHODS:We aimed to identify, with a randomized, blinded outcome assessment trial, if a routine head CT at 24 hours, in the absence of clinical indication, negatively influences clinical outcomes. We enrolled 58 patients, and evaluated differences between groups with t-tests. We also evaluated differences between outcomes (90 day modified Rankin Scale, mRS and change in National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, NIHSS) from pretreatment to discharge using multivariable logistic regression, including age, baseline NIHSS, and group as independent variables. RESULTS:We found no added benefit of routine CT on either outcome measure. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:It is likely safe to forgo follow up imaging after thrombolysis in the absence of clinical decompensation.

Some patients have behaviors that make interactions unpleasant, sometimes contributing to suboptimal outcomes and physician burnout. Understanding common difficult personality types can help doctors plan effective strategies for dealing with each, resulting in more effective communication, less stress, and better health outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess and describe required and elective components of the 4th post-graduate year (PGY4) in psychiatry residency programs. METHODS: We reviewed the websites of all 193 2014-2015 ACGME accredited psychiatry residency programs for content describing the specific components of the PGY4 year. RESULTS: Nearly all residency programs (99 %) had some form of required experiences during the PGY4 year. Ninety-four percent had clinical requirements for PGY4 residents, with longitudinal outpatient clinic being the most common (77 %). All programs offered some elective time during PGY4, but the amount of time ranged from 2 months to 100 %. CONCLUSION: Virtually all residency programs include some requirements in the 4th year (most commonly didactics and outpatient clinic) in addition to a broad array of elective experiences. Although 3 years may suffice for residents to complete ACGME requirements, a variety of factors may motivate programs to include required 4th year curricula. Future studies should explore the rationales for and possible benefits of programmatic requirements throughout 4 versus only 3 years of psychiatric training.

Access to technology in practice helps physicians manage information, communicate, and research topics; however, those in training receive almost no formal preparation for integrating web-based technologies into practice. One reason for this is that many faculty-aside from junior faculty or those in recent generations-did not grow up using Internet communication, may use it minimally, if at all, in their own practices, and may know little about its forms and varieties. This report presents a case to illustrate how these disparities may play out in the supervisory situation and makes suggestions about helping supervisors integrate technology-awareness into their teaching.

S100B is a reporter of blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity which appears in blood when the BBB is breached. Circulating S100B derives from either extracranial sources or release into circulation by normal fluctuations in BBB integrity or pathologic BBB disruption (BBBD). Elevated S100B matches the clinical presence of indices of BBBD (gadolinium enhancement or albumin coefficient). After repeated sub-concussive episodes, serum S100B triggers an antigen-driven production of anti-S100B autoantibodies. We tested the hypothesis that the presence of S100B in extracranial tissue is due to peripheral cellular uptake of serum S100B by antigen presenting cells, which may induce the production of auto antibodies against S100B. To test this hypothesis, we used animal models of seizures, enrolled patients undergoing repeated BBBD, and collected serum samples from epileptic patients. We employed a broad array of techniques, including immunohistochemistry, RNA analysis, tracer injection and serum analysis. mRNA for S100B was segregated to barrier organs (testis, kidney and brain) but S100B protein was detected in immunocompetent cells in spleen, thymus and lymph nodes, in resident immune cells (Langerhans, satellite cells in heart muscle, etc.) and BBB endothelium. Uptake of labeled S100B by rat spleen CD4+ or CD8+ and CD86+ dendritic cells was exacerbated by pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus which is accompanied by BBBD. Clinical seizures were preceded by a surge of serum S100B. In patients undergoing repeated therapeutic BBBD, an autoimmune response against S100B was measured. In addition to its role in the central nervous system and its diagnostic value as a BBBD reporter, S100B may integrate blood-brain barrier disruption to the control of systemic immunity by a mechanism involving the activation of immune cells. We propose a scenario where extravasated S100B may trigger a pathologic autoimmune reaction linking systemic and CNS immune responses.

BACKGROUND: The declining numbers of clinician-researchers in psychiatry and other medical specialties has been a subject of growing concern. Residency training has been cited as an important factor in recruiting new researchers, but there are essentially no data to support this assertion. This study aimed to explore which factors have influenced motivation to conduct research among senior psychiatry residents. METHODS: The authors surveyed senior residents, inquiring about their level of interest in research, demographics, background, research experiences, and factors influencing motivation for research. The authors had confirmed participation from 16 of 33 residency programs with a class size of 10 or more. They received 127 responses, a 67% response rate, from participating programs. RESULTS: Residents with high stated interest in research differed from those with low and moderate interest in their research-intense post-residency plans. They were more likely to have graduate degrees. Those planning research careers had a consistent pattern of interest and involvement in research, starting well before residency. The majority of residents had had research exposure in college, but research involvement of those with very high versus lower interest diverged sharply thereafter. Those with high research interest were overwhelmingly male and tended to have lower debt than those with less interest. CONCLUSION: The great majority of residents appear to have decided whether or not to pursue a research career by the time they reached residency, and few of those with less than the highest research interest were enrolled in research tracks. Efforts to increase recruitment into research should center on identifying early developmental influences, eliminating barriers specific to women, and ensuring adequate funding to provide secure careers for talented potential researchers.

OBJECTIVE: Finding time to teach psychiatry has become increasingly difficult. Concurrently, changes in medical student education are elevating demands for teaching. Academic psychiatry is challenged by these pressures to find innovative ways to recruit, retain, and reward faculty for teaching efforts. To address this challenge, the authors recommend a multifactorial approach to meeting the medical student educational mission of psychiatry departments. METHODS: This approach includes a variety of efforts including having Chairs serve as role models, enforcing the service requirements of volunteer faculty, expanding teaching venues, providing faculty development, elevating the status of teaching through academies, attending to promotion of faculty educators, establishing and nominating faculty for teaching awards, and using medical center resources to provide rewards for teachers. CONCLUSION: Academic leaders must acknowledge the inherent value of teaching to the academic enterprise and delegate sufficient resources to recruit, retain, and reward educators for the essential work that they perform