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Acta Neuropsychiatr 2021 Apr 30:1-18. Epub 2021 Apr 30.

Service for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, University Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy.

Objective: Identifying an objective, laboratory-based diagnostic tool (e.g., changes in gene expression), when used in conjunction with disease-specific clinical assessment, could increase the accuracy of the effectiveness of a therapeutic intervention. Read More

Acta Neuropsychiatr 2021 Apr 30:1-55. Epub 2021 Apr 30.

National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland.

Neuropsychiatric sequalae to COVID-19 infection are beginning to emerge, like previous Spanish influenza and SARS episodes. Streptococcal infection in pediatric patients causing OCD (PANDAS) is another recent example of an infection-based psychiatric disorder. Inflammation associated with neuropsychiatric disorders has been previously reported but there is no standard clinical management approach established. Read More

Acta Neuropsychiatr 2021 Apr 30:1-48. Epub 2021 Apr 30.

Center for Psychophysics, Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, India.

Objective: Previous studies have examined the effect of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on the in-vivo concentrations of neuro-metabolites assessed through magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) in neurological and psychiatry disorders. This review aims to systematically evaluate the data on the effect of tDCS on MRS findings and thereby attempt to understand the potential mechanism of tDCS on neuro-metabolites.

Methods: The relevant literature was obtained through PubMed and cross-reference (search till June 2020). Read More

Acta Neuropsychiatr 2021 Apr 27:1-22. Epub 2021 Apr 27.

Norwegian National Advisory Unit on Concurrent Substance Abuse and Mental Health Disorders, Innlandet Hospital Trust, Ottestad, Norway.

Objective: Cross-sectional data show that Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) patients often have increased levels of circulating inflammatory markers. There is, however, still a paucity of longitudinal studies with long follow-up times on levels of cytokines in such patients. The current study assesses patients with and without PTSD diagnosis one year after discharge from inpatient treatment. Read More

Acta Neuropsychiatr 2021 Apr 5:1-29. Epub 2021 Apr 5.

Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, The Key Laboratory of Mental Disorder's Management of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Engineering Center for Mathematical Mental Health, Hangzhou310003, Zhejiang, PR China.

Objective: A few former studies suggested there are partial overlaps in abnormal brain structure and cognitive function between Hypochondriasis (HS) and schizophrenia (SZ). But their differences in brain activity and cognitive function were unclear.

Methods: 21 HS patients, 23 SZ patients, and 24 healthy controls (HC) underwent Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) with the regional homogeneity analysis (ReHo), subsequently exploring the relationship between ReHo value and cognitive functions. Read More

Acta Neuropsychiatr 2021 Apr 5:1-13. Epub 2021 Apr 5.

Division of Gastroenterology & Nutrition, Department of Paediatrics, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada.

Introduction: The gut-brain axis refers to the bidirectional communication that occurs between the intestinal tract and central nervous system. Through a series of neural, immune, endocrine and metabolic signalling pathways, commensal microbiota are able to influence central nervous system development and neurological function. Alterations in gut microbiota have been implicated in various neuropathologies. Read More

Acta Neuropsychiatr 2021 Apr 5:1-14. Epub 2021 Apr 5.

Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.

Objective: the aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that synthesis of nitric oxide (NO) and activation of CB1 receptors have opposite effects in a behavioural animal model of panic and anxiety.

Methods: to test the hypothesis male Wistar rats were exposed to the elevated T maze (ETM) model under the following treatments: L-Arginine (L-Arg) was administered before treatment withWIN55,212-2, a CB1 receptor agonist ; AM251, a CB1 antagonist, was administered before treatment with L-Arg. All treatments were by intraperitoneal route. Read More

Acta Neuropsychiatr 2021 Mar 4:1-9. Epub 2021 Mar 4.

Mental Health Centre Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Objective: Seasonal and non-seasonal depression are prevalent conditions in visual impairment (VI). We assessed the effects and side effects of light therapy in persons with severe VI/blindness who experienced recurrent depressive symptoms in winter corresponding to seasonal affective disorder (SAD) or subsyndromal SAD (sSAD).

Results: We included 18 persons (11 with severe VI, 3 with light perception and 4 with no light perception) who met screening criteria for sSAD/SAD in a single-arm, assessor-blinded trial of 6 weeks light therapy. Read More

Acta Neuropsychiatr 2021 Feb 17:1-6. Epub 2021 Feb 17.

Centre of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, North-West University, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom, 2520, South Africa.

Objective: To investigate the long-term effects of juvenile sub-chronic sildenafil (SIL) treatment on the depressive-like behaviour and hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels of adult Sprague-Dawley (SD) versus Flinders Sensitive Line (FSL) rats.

Methods: SD and FSL rats were divided into pre-pubertal and pubertal groups, whereafter 14-day saline or SIL treatment was initiated. Pre-pubertal and pubertal rats were treated from postnatal day 21 (PND21) and PND35, respectively. Read More

Acta Neuropsychiatr 2021 Jun 17;33(3):148-155. Epub 2021 Feb 17.

Objective: Whereas numerous experimental and clinical studies suggest a complex involvement of serotonin in the regulation of anxiety, it remains to be clarified if the dominating impact of this transmitter is best described as anxiety-reducing or anxiety-promoting. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of serotonin depletion on acquisition, consolidation, and expression of conditioned fear.

Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to foot shocks as unconditioned stimulus and assessed with respect to freezing behaviour when re-subjected to context. Read More

Acta Neuropsychiatr 2021 Jun 22;33(3):134-140. Epub 2021 Jan 22.

Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany.

Background: Dietary lipids (omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3) PUFAs) and saturated fatty acids (SFA) seem to play an important role in brain health. (n-3) PUFAs have been shown to improve cerebral perfusion and to promote synaptogenesis. In this study, we investigated the relationship between dietary fat composition, cognitive performance and brain morphology in cognitively healthy individuals. Read More

Acta Neuropsychiatr 2021 Jun 22;33(3):141-147. Epub 2021 Jan 22.

Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, Canada.

Objective: Ginsenosides, biologically active components of the root of Panax ginseng, have been reported to have therapeutic benefits in a number of disease states including psychiatric conditions such as major depressive disorder. Our objective was to determine if a standardised commercial ginseng extract, G115®, could reduce the signs of behavioural despair commonly observed in animal models of depression either alone or in combination with the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) fluoxetine.

Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats (N = 51) were divided into four groups: vehicle control, G115® ginseng root extract, fluoxetine and fluoxetine plus G115®. Read More

Acta Neuropsychiatr 2021 06 11;33(3):156-159. Epub 2021 Jan 11.

Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.

Acta Neuropsychiatr 2021 06 11;33(3):160-163. Epub 2021 Jan 11.

Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, CIBERSAM, Dr Antoni Pujadas, 42, 08830, Sant Boi de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.

Acta Neuropsychiatr 2021 Jun 11;33(3):126-133. Epub 2021 Jan 11.

School of Nutrition. Federal University of Alagoas, Maceió, Alagoas, Brazil.

Objective: To evaluate the use of biofeedback intervention in the levels of depression. The main hypothesis tested if the use of biofeedback improves depression levels compared to the control group.

Methods: A randomised clinical trial. Read More

Acta Neuropsychiatr 2021 Jun 22;33(3):121-125. Epub 2020 Dec 22.

Department of Mental Disorder Research, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, 4-1-1, Ogawa-Higashi, Kodaira, Tokyo187-8502, Japan.

Objective: Previous studies have shown differences in the regional brain structure and function between patients with bipolar disorder (BD) and healthy subjects, but little is known about the structural connectivity between BD patients and healthy subjects. In this study, we evaluated the disease-related changes in regional structural connectivity derived from gray matter magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. Methods: The subjects were 73 patients with BD and 80 healthy volunteers who underwent 3-Tesla MRI. Read More

Acta Neuropsychiatr 2021 Jun 9;33(3):113-120. Epub 2020 Dec 9.

Department of Psychiatry and De-addiction, Centre of Excellence in Mental Health, ABVIMS. -Dr.R.M.L. Hospital, New Delhi, India.

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with acceptability and efficacy of yoga training (YT) for improving cognitive dysfunction in individuals with schizophrenia (SZ).

Methods: We analysed data from two published clinical trials of YT for cognitive dysfunction among Indians with SZ: (1) a 21-day randomised controlled trial (RCT, N = 286), 3 and 6 months follow-up and (2) a 21-day open trial (n = 62). Multivariate analyses were conducted to examine the association of baseline characteristics (age, sex, socio-economic status, educational status, duration, and severity of illness) with improvement in cognition (i. Read More

Acta Neuropsychiatr 2021 Apr 1;33(2):55-64. Epub 2020 Dec 1.

Ministerio Público do Estado de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.

Objective: The present study was designed to test the hypothesis that there is a reduction in the activity of the enzyme cytochrome c oxidase (Cox) in Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Methods: Systematic review of literature and meta-analysis were used with data obtained from the PubMed, Scopus, MEDLINE, Lilacs, Eric and Cochrane. The keywords were Alzheimer's AND Cox AND mitochondria; Alzheimer's AND Cox AND mitochondria; Alzheimer's AND complex IV AND mitochondria. Read More

Acta Neuropsychiatr 2021 Feb 23;33(1):51-54. Epub 2020 Nov 23.

Shanghai Key Laboratory of Compound Chinese Medicines, The Ministry of Education (MOE) Key Laboratory for Standardization of Chinese Medicines, Shanghai R&D Center for Standardization of Chinese Medicines, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.

The aim of the present study is to determine whether plasma bile acids (BAs) could be used as an auxiliary diagnostic biomarker to distinguish patients with schizophrenia from healthy controls. Seventeen different BAs were quantitatively measured in plasma of 12 healthy participants and 12 patients with schizophrenia. Then, the data were subjected to correlation and linear discriminant analysis (LDA). Read More

Acta Neuropsychiatr 2021 Feb 13;33(1):1-8. Epub 2020 Nov 13.

Unit of PharmacoTherapy, -Epidemiology and -Economics, Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands.

Objective: Vitamin D deficiency may be a clinical problem in patients with addictions. The authors systematically searched for studies addressing vitamin D and addiction and develop a hypothesis which can direct future research of the possible mechanistic role of vitamin D in the process of addiction.

Methods: Systematic review of the literature found in PubMed and EMBASE followed by narrative review combined with clinical experiences leading to hypotheses for future research. Read More

Acta Neuropsychiatr 2021 Apr 4;33(2):85-91. Epub 2020 Nov 4.

Moriyama General Mental Hospital, Aichi, Japan.

Objective: We have often observed dementia symptoms or severe neurocognitive decline in the long-term course of schizophrenia. While there are epidemiological reports that patients with schizophrenia are at an increased risk of developing dementia, there are also neuropathological reports that the prevalence of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in schizophrenia is similar to that in normal controls. It is difficult to distinguish, based solely on the clinical symptoms, whether the remarkable dementia symptoms and cognitive decline seen in elderly schizophrenia are due to the course of the disease itself or a concomitant neurocognitive disease. Read More

Acta Neuropsychiatr 2021 Apr 28;33(2):65-71. Epub 2020 Oct 28.

Norwegian National Advisory Unit on Concurrent Substance Abuse and Mental Health Disorders, Innlandet Hospital Trust, Brumunddal, Norway.

Psychotherapy research aims to investigate predictors and moderators of treatment outcome, but there are few consistent findings. This study aimed to investigate cytokines in patients undergoing treatment for anxiety disorders and whether the level of cytokines moderated the treatment outcome. Thirty-seven patients with comorbid and treatment-resistant anxiety disorders were investigated using multilevel modelling. Read More

Acta Neuropsychiatr 2021 Apr 28;33(2):72-84. Epub 2020 Oct 28.

Department of Affective Disorders, Aarhus University Hospital - Psychiatry, Aarhus, Denmark.

To investigate the association between newly developed type 2 diabetes (T2D) and incident psychopharmacological treatment and psychiatric hospital contact. Via Danish registers, we identified all 56 640 individuals from the Central and Northern Denmark Regions with newly developed T2D (defined by the first HbA1c measurement ≥6.5%) in 2000-2016 as well as 315 694 age- and sex-matched controls (without T2D). Read More

Acta Neuropsychiatr 2021 Feb 15;33(1):43-48. Epub 2020 Oct 15.

Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran.

Objective: Neurotoxicity is an adverse effect caused by cisplatin due to inflammation and oxidative stress in the central nervous system. The present study aimed to assess the effects of vitamin E injection on the learning and memory of rats with cisplatin-induced cognitive impairment.

Methods: Male rats were administered with cisplatin (2 mg/kg/7 day; intraperitoneally [i i. Read More

Acta Neuropsychiatr 2021 Apr 15;33(2):104-110. Epub 2020 Oct 15.

Clinical and Experimental Sciences (CNS and Psychaitry), Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.

Background: Hair cortisol concentration (HCC) can be used to periodically assess hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis function, and appears correlated with prolonged exposure to stress.

Methods: Serial assessment (at Baseline, Week 6 and Week 12) of participants (n = 35) with anxiety disorders by psychopathological rating scales, with assays of HCC and levels of peripheral anti- and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Patients underwent antidepressant treatment for an initial 6 weeks, followed by cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor-2 (COX-2) inhibitor (celecoxib) augmentation or 'treatment as usual' for a further 6 weeks. Read More

Acta Neuropsychiatr 2021 Apr 15;33(2):92-103. Epub 2020 Oct 15.

Department of Affective Disorders, Aarhus University Hospital - Psychiatry, Aarhus, Denmark.

Objectives: To investigate how individuals with a history of affective disorder use and perceive their use of social media and online dating.

Methods: A questionnaire focusing on affective disorders and the use of social media and online dating was handed out to outpatients from unipolar depression and bipolar disorder clinics and general practice patients with or without a history of affective disorders (latter as controls). The association between affective disorders and use of social media and online dating was analysed using linear/logistic regression. Read More

Acta Neuropsychiatr 2021 Feb 28;33(1):37-42. Epub 2020 Sep 28.

Department of Biological and Medical Psychology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.

We assessed the frequency, duration, and degree of unpleasantness of olfactory hallucinations in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Informants of 31 AD patients were invited to rate the frequency, duration, and degree of unpleasantness of olfactory, auditory, and visual hallucinations. Analysis demonstrated little occurrence of olfactory hallucinations compared with auditory or visual hallucinations. Read More

Acta Neuropsychiatr 2021 Feb 24;33(1):22-30. Epub 2020 Sep 24.

Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and the Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany.

Objective: Depression and coronary heart disease (CHD) are highly comorbid conditions. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays an important role in cardiovascular processes. Depressed patients typically show decreased BDNF concentrations. Read More