Schizophrenia is a chronic psychiatric disorder marked by severe disturbances in thought, perception, and behavior. Long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotics, such as paliperidone, are widely used to promote sustained remission and ensure medication adherence, especially in patients prone to relapse. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has introduced unique challenges, with studies indicating that infections like COVID-19 may exacerbate psychiatric symptoms through neuroinflammatory pathways. This...

Schizophrenia is a multifaceted psychiatric disorder characterized by hallucinations, delusions, cognitive impairments, and behavioral disturbances. Genetic factors significantly contribute to its pathogenesis, accounting for approximately 80% of the heritability. Globally, about 1% of the population is affected by schizophrenia, with 45,054 individuals in Kazakhstan receiving medical treatment for the condition, indicating a prevalence rate of 238,6 per 100,000 people. The rise in mental health...

In 1994, the DSM-IV added the specifier "with poor insight" to the diagnostic criteria of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The DSM-5 went one step further and now allows clinicians to diagnose OCD "with absent insight/delusional beliefs," thereby blurring the long-standing distinction between OCD and psychosis. The present study surveyed OCD experts as to their opinions on the insight specifier and the future classification of OCD. The final sample comprised 60 OCD experts, with a subgroup...

CONCLUSIONS: There was a good deal of consensus in key questions-covering many aspects of understanding, treatment, and support-to be answered about severe paranoia. Most questions were considered largely equally important.