Geriatric depression and anxiety disorders often manifest as neuropsychiatric symptoms among those with mild cognitive impairment. Both tend to co-occur, and overlap in symptomology and etiology. Such commonalities are likely to be reflected in the brain as common neural correlates. Using connectome-based predictive modeling (CPM), we examined the functional and structural connectomes predicting depression

Reduced empathic abilities are frequently observed in drug abusers. These deficits may compromise interpersonal interactions and contribute to diminished social functioning. However, previous evidence regarding empathy and addiction is behaviorally unspecific and virtually null in terms of their brain structural or functional correlates. Moreover, no previous study has investigated how empathy is affected

It is hypothesized that major depression disorder (MDD) is associated with impaired neuronal plasticity, and that antidepressant treatments restore neuroplasticity. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and erythropoietin (Epo) show neurotrophic and neuroprotective effects. We evaluated plasma Epo and BDNF levels in 50 MDD inpatients before treatment and in 50 healthy controls. The MDD inpatients

The zebrafish is increasingly well utilized in alcohol research, particularly in modeling human fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). FASD results from alcohol reaching the developing fetus intra utero, a completely preventable yet prevalent and devastating life-long disorder. The hope with animal models, including the zebrafish, is to discover the mechanisms underlying this disease, which may aid

Neurological and psychiatric side effects accompany the high-dose interferon-alpha (IFNA) therapy. The primary genes responsible for these complications are mostly unknown. Our genome-wide search in mouse and rat genomes for the conservative genes containing IFN-stimulated response elements (ISRE) in their promoters revealed a new potential target gene of IFNA, Grin3α, which encodes the 3A subunit

Schizophrenia (SZ), bipolar disorder (BD) and major depression disorder (MDD) have been regarded as highly diverged independent entities in current psychiatric diagnosis. However, ample new evidence suggests that they may have common biological traits. Neuroimaging studies showed that psychiatric disorders might associated with altered grey matter (GM) asymmetry compared to controls; however, the degree

The functional connectivity of the auditory network is considered to be important in the development of tinnitus. We hypothesized that sound therapy, as a commonly used effective treatment for tinnitus, can modulate the functional connectivity of the auditory network. In this prospective observational study, we recruited 27 tinnitus patients who had undergone 12 weeks of sound therapy and 27 matched

Aims The present investigation aimed at evaluating differences in psychiatric hospitalizations in Italy during and after the lockdown due to the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), compared to the same periods in 2018 and 2019. Methods We obtained and analyzed anonymized data on psychiatric admissions (n = 4550) from 12 general hospital psychiatric wards (GHPWs) in different Italian regions

Objective Alcohol use disorder (AUD) shows a high prevalence and often takes a severe and chronic course. However, the underlying mechanisms still need to be better understood. There is increasing evidence for a role of sex hormones in AUD and for the importance of sex-separated concepts in addiction research. Nevertheless, only few data give insight into how progesterone is involved in AUD. Method

This study examined the changes in the mental health state of college students with and without mental disorder background, during successive time cuts of the Argentina's lengthy mandatory quarantine, while adjusting for quarantine duration, sex, age, suicidal behavior history, loneliness, and region of residence. We used a longitudinal design (N = 1615, 26% with mental disorder history). Successive

Premorbid functioning has been related with several clinical features and prognosis of schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Comorbidity with substance use is highly prevalent and usually hinders clinical improvement in this kind of psychiatric disorders. This systematic review analyzes the differences in the premorbid functioning of subjects with a schizophrenia spectrum disorder with substance use (SSD+

Novel CoronaVirus Disease (COVID-19) has begun to expand swiftly beyond all borders and turned into a global source of infection for humans in that all media corporations began to repeatedly share breaking news to release the latest data of all countries. The consequence of that has been a heightened level of anxiety among humans and opting for unorthodox consumption behaviors as consumers. In this

Background Binge eating disorder (BED) often includes impulsive and compulsive behaviors related to eating behavior and food. Impulsivity and compulsivity generally may contribute to the etiology and maintenance of multiple psychiatric disorders including BED. This review aimed to identify and synthesize available behavioral studies of impulsivity and compulsivity among individuals with BED. Method

Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by a deficit of the fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP), encoded by the fragile X mental retardation gene (FMR1) on the X chromosome. It has been hypothesized that the absence of FRMP leads to higher levels of Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1) in the brain, possibly contributing to the intellectual impairment characteristic

Cognitive deficits have been recognized as a central feature of schizophrenia spectrum disorders. These deficits are often related to more severe negative symptoms, as well as a poorer adjustment in social functioning. Therefore, it is important to improve cognitive performance from the onset of the disease. In this study, we compared the effects of two atypical antipsychotics, risperidone and aripiprazole

Stress and low mood are powerful triggers for compulsive overeating, a maladaptive form of eating leading to negative physical and mental health consequences. Stress-vulnerable individuals, such as people with obesity, are particularly prone to overconsumption of high energy foods and may use it as a coping mechanism for general life stressors. Recent advances in the treatment of obesity and related

Background Affective disorders (AD) have been associated with a higher prevalence of the gut Flavonifractor genus and a lower abundance of the gut Christensenellaceae family. Objective and methods By pooling two independent study samples of patients with AD (n = 176), their unaffected first-degree relatives (n = 70) and healthy controls (n = 101) we aimed to replicate and extend our prior findings

Cocaine dependence (CD) is highly comorbid with personality disorders, with implications for poorer treatment response. The neurobiological mechanisms of this comorbidity are unclear. We aimed to test the role of comorbid personality disorders in the neuroanatomy of CD. We examined 4 groups using high-resolution structural neuroimaging, psychological questionnaires and cognitive tests: CD (n = 19)

Objective This study aimed to determine the impact of COVID-19 lockdown on social network sites (SNS) use and to explore whether SNS use is associated with body image disturbances and low self-esteem. Methods A total of 2601 women living in Spain aged 14–35 years completed questionnaire measures of SNS use, self-esteem, body dissatisfaction and drive for thinness. In the survey, participants were asked

Background Immunopathological concepts have been intensively discussed for schizophrenia. The polyriboinosinic–polyribocytidylic (PolyI:C) mouse model has been well validated to invasively study this disease. The intestinal microbiome exhibits broad immunological and neuronal activities. The relevance of microbiome alterations in the PolyI:C model to human schizophrenia should be explored. Methods

Background Emotional wellbeing of healthcare workers is critical to the quality of patient care, and effective function of health services. The corona virus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic exerted unique physical and emotional demands on healthcare workers, however little is known about the emotional wellbeing of healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in resource-restricted settings. This

Disrupted serotonergic and glutamatergic signaling interact and contribute to the pathophysiology of schizophrenia, which is particularly relevant for the hippocampus where diverse expression of serotonin receptors is noted. Hippocampal atrophy is a well-established feature of schizophrenia, with select subfields hypothesized as particularly vulnerable due to variation in glutamate receptor densities

Introduction During the COVID-19 pandemic period, the structure of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) activities changed fast. It was observed that the mental and physical health of the frontline workers reached levels of extreme clinical and psychological concern. Objective Understand the impact that COVID-19 is having on the front-line clinical team in the ICU environment, as well as reveal what proposals

Obesity has reached alarming rates worldwide. Although many people attempt to control weight by modifying their food-related behaviours, this typically only has short-term effects and most dieters regain the weight that was lost. Why do so many people struggle to regulate their food-related behaviours? One possible explanation is that these behaviours have become habits that are not immediately sensitive

Cannabinoids from the cannabis plant were one of the earliest psychoactive phytochemicals harnessed by humanity for their medicinal properties and remain one of the most frequently used and misused classes of chemicals in the world. Despite our long-standing history with cannabinoids, much more is said than is known regarding how these molecules influence the brain and behavior. We are in a rapidly

Anhedonia is one of the core symptoms of major depressive disorder (MDD), which is often inadequately treated by traditional antidepressants. The modern framework of anhedonia extends the definition from impaired consummatory pleasure or interest in rewards to a broad spectrum of deficits that impact functions such as reward anticipation, approach motivation, effort expenditure, reward valuation, expectation

Background Tryptophan hydroxylase 2 (TPH2) is a key enzyme in the biosynthesis of serotonin in the brain. This study aims to investigate the role of a functional variant in TPH2 (rs17110747) in the pathophysiology of ADHD. This variant has been implicated in mood disorders in recent meta-analysis. This study uses a comprehensive approach that combines association testing and pharmaco-dynamic evaluation

Obesity is a global health problem with high prevalence and defined by a high body mass index (BMI). Several comorbidities affecting the central nervous system (CNS) are associated with obesity (e.g., neurodegenerative diseases, cognitive deficit, and psychobehavioral disturbs). The zebrafish (Danio rerio) has been considered a suitable model organism to investigate the neurobehavioral features of

Reduced hippocampal volumes feature prominently in schizophrenia patients (SCZ). Although several studies have investigated hippocampal volume alterations between unaffected first-degree relatives (FR) of SCZ and healthy controls (HC), the results were inconsistent. Furthermore, it remains unclear whether FR have specific alterations in hippocampal subfield volumes. Three-Tesla T1-weighted MP-RAGE

Compulsive eating is a common symptom of different conditions, including obesity, binge eating disorder and bulimia. One hypothesis is that contemporary food products promote compulsive eating via addiction-like mechanisms. However, what is the addictive substance in food, and what is the phenotypic overlap between obesity / eating disorders and addictions are questions that remain unresolved. In this

The expanding legalization of cannabis across the United States is associated with increases in cannabis use, and accordingly, an increase in the number and severity of individuals with cannabis use disorder (CUD). The lack of FDA-approved pharmacotherapies and modest efficacy of psychotherapeutic interventions means that many of those who seek treatment for CUD relapse within the first few months

Background Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is the most effective treatment for severe depression. Recent neuroimaging studies have consistently reported that ECT induces volume increases in widely distributed brain regions. However, it still remains unclear about ECT-induced volume changes associated with clinical improvement. Methods Longitudinal assessments of structural magnetic resonance imaging

There is still a debate, if melancholic symptoms can be seen rather as a more severe subtype of major depressive disorder (MDD) or as a separate diagnostic entity. The present European multicenter study comprising altogether 1410 MDD in- and outpatients sought to investigate the influence of the presence of melancholic features in MDD patients. Analyses of covariance, chi-squared tests, and binary

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by inattention, impulsivity and hyperactivity. The etiology of the disorder is multi-factorial, with a main focus on genetic factors. However, emerging research shows the involvement of changes and imbalances in the intestinal microbiota. Evidence for the influence of gut microbiota on brain development

Objective Treatment for major depressive disorder (MDD) have evolved, although there is still a strong unmet need for more effective and tolerable options. The present study summarizes and discusses recent evidence regarding the non-transcranial magnetic stimulation (non-TMS) neurostimulation treatment for MDD. Methods The authors reviewed non-TMS neurostimulation clinical trials for MDD between 2010

Background Sleep disorders associated factors are under explored in schizophrenia while the literature suggests high and heterogeneous frequency. Aims The objective of the present study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors of sleep disorders in the real-world FACE-SZ national cohort. Method Stabilized schizophrenic outpatients were recruited in 10 expert centers for schizophrenia. Sleep

Background Limited extant research on neurocognitive endophenotypes in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) show inconsistent results. Limitations of this body of literature include small sample sizes, strict exclusion criteria, lack of objective standard normalized test scores, and significant lack of studies utilizing pediatric probands. This study aimed to address these limitations. Methods A large

The endocannabinoid system is implicated in anxiety, but the brain sites involved are not completely understood. The bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) has been related to anxiety and responses to aversive threats. Besides, endocannabinoid neurotransmission acting via CB1 receptors was identified in the BNST. However, the presence of CB2 receptors and the role of BNST endocannabinoid system

Introduction Imaging of retinal structure in psychosis spectrum disorders (PSD) is a novel approach to studying effect of this illness class on CNS structure. Studies of optical coherence tomography (OCT) have revealed significant reductions in regarding: retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), macular thickness (MT), ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GC-IPL) and macular volume (MV). Sex differences in

Cognitive and sensory deficits were considered a core feature of major depressive disorder (MDD). However, few studies investigated stereopsis integrity in patients with MDD. Thus, the objectives of this study investigated stereopsis integrity and its correlations with cognitive function and depressive symptom in patients with MDD. 90 patients with MDD and 116 healthy controls (HCs) were enrolled in

We investigated changes in alcohol consumption following the COVID-19 lockdown among French-speaking Belgian individuals at risk for severe alcohol use disorder. Participants (N = 299) at risk for alcohol use disorder (AUD, i.e., score higher than 19 at the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test), and 299 moderate drinkers (MOD, i.e., score lower than 8) individually matched for age, gender and education

Early life stress (ELS) exposure alters brain development, increasing vulnerability for mental illness in adulthood, including depression. Despite this association, there are no approved pharmacotherapies to protect against the emergence of mental illness resulting from ELS. Recent preclinical work showed that oxytocin (OT) administration in adulthood reduced depressive-like behaviour in male rats

Methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) is the most common treatment for opioid-dependent pregnant women worldwide. Despite its widespread use, MMT is associated with a variety of adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in exposed offspring, particularly cognitive impairments. The neurobiological abnormalities underlying these cognitive impairments are, however, poorly understood. This is, in part, due to

The encephalitis lethargica (EL) epidemic swept the world from 1916 to 1926 and is estimated to have afflicted between 80,000 to one million people. EL is an unusual neurological illness that causes profound sleep disorders, devastating neurological sequalae and, in many cases, death. Though uncommon, EL is still occasionally diagnosed today when a patient presents with an acute or subacute encephalitic

Adolescence represents a neurodevelopmental period characterised by heightened reward drive and weaker inhibitory control that may increase vulnerability to compulsive overconsumption of highly-palatable foods and food addiction. This narrative review aimed to summarise research investigating the presence of food addiction in adolescents and establish the role that impulsivity traits (i.e., reward

Background Impaired clinical and cognitive insight are prevalent in schizophrenia and relate to poorer outcome. Good insight has been suggested to depend on social cognitive and metacognitive abilities requiring global integration of brain signals. Impaired insight has been related to numerous focal gray matter (GM) abnormalities distributed across the brain suggesting dysconnectivity at the global

The micro-organisms residing within the gastrointestinal tract, namely gut microbiota, form a dynamic population proper of each individual, mostly composed by bacteria which co-evolved symbiotically with human species. The advances of culture-independent techniques allowed the understanding of the multiple functions of the gut microbiota in human physiology and disease, the latter often recognising

Ethanol is one of the most commonly abused substances in the world, and ethanol abuse and dependence disorders represent major societal problems. However, appropriate treatment is lacking as we still do not fully understand the molecular bases of these disorders. The zebrafish is one of the model organisms utilized for studying such mechanisms. In this study, we examined the effects of acute ethanol

Rett syndrome (RTT) is an X-linked neurodevelopmental disorder that is predominantly caused by alterations of the methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MECP2) gene. Disease severity and the presence of comorbidities such as gastrointestinal distress vary widely across affected individuals. The gut microbiome has been implicated in neurodevelopmental disorders such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) as a regulator

According with clinical data, women evolve differently from drug use to drug abuse. Among drugs of abuse, cocaine is the most consumed psychostimulant. Animal studies demonstrated that females show increased motivation to seek cocaine during the self-administration paradigm (SA) than males. Moreover, suffering childhood adversity or major depressive disorder are two factors that could increase the

Background Randomised clinical trials (RCTs) investigating transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) efficacy for depression show significant heterogeneity in outcomes. Objective To investigate the magnitude of the sham tDCS response and its potential moderators in the treatment of depression. Methodology A systematic review and aggregate meta-analysis (PROSPERO ID CRD42020161254). The systematic

Gastrointestinal side effects (SEs) are frequently observed in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) while taking antidepressants and may lead to treatment discontinuation. The aim of this meta-analysis is to provide quantitative measures on short-term rates of gastrointestinal SEs in MDD patients treated with second-generation antidepressants. An electronic search of the literature was conducted

First generation antipsychotics (FGAs) are more likely to induce extrapyramidal side-effects (EPS) than second generation antipsychotics (SGAs), and EPS have been shown associated to cognitive deficits in schizophrenia. So far, no study has explored the relationships between EPS and social cognition (SC) in people with schizophrenia. Therefore, we assessed the prevalence of EPS in a large sample of

Cocaine use disorder develops in part due to the strong associations formed between drugs and the stimuli associated with drug use. Recently, treatment strategies including manipulations of drug-associated memories have been investigated, and the possibility of interfering with N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA)-mediated neurotransmission may represent an important option. The aim of this study was to examine

Approximately 30% of patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) present resistance to current pharmacological therapies. There is the possibility that an appropriate nutritional regimen can maintain euthymia. Poor dietary pattern and lack of nutritional knowledge are common among today's population; nutrient-rich foods are being replaced by highly processed foods that lead to a higher risk of developing

Primary cilia function as cells' antennas to detect and transduce external stimuli and play crucial roles in cell signaling and communication. The vast majority of cilia genes that are causally linked with ciliopathies are also associated with neurological deficits, such as cognitive deficits. Yet, the roles of cilia dysfunctions in the pathogenesis of psychiatric disorders have not been studied. Our

Internet gaming disorder (IGD) has been defined as a specific behavioral disorder, associated with abnormal interactions among large-scale brain networks. Researchers have sought to identify the network dysfunction in IGD using resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC). However, results across studies have not reached an agreement yet and the mechanism remains unclear. The present research aimed

Background Previous studies have shown that gaming-related cues could induce gaming cravings and bring about changes in brain activities in subjects with Internet gaming disorder (IGD). However, little is known about the brain network organizations in IGD subjects during a cue-craving task and the relationship between this network organization and IGD severity. Methods Sixty-one IGD subjects and 61