Assessing the Fear of Covid-19 in Psychiatric Patients: Results from an Italian Multicentric Study.

Objective: Even though the COVID-19 emergency has concluded, its consequences are still relevant. Recent evidence suggests that a significant proportion of individuals experience persistent symptoms long after the initial infection has resolved, classified as "Long COVID" condition. Fear of COVID-19 increases anxiety and stress levels in healthy individuals and exacerbates the symptoms of those with pre-existing psychiatric disorders; therefore understanding the impact of the pandemic on psychiatric disorders remains of utmost importance.

Epigenetic Modifications and Neuroplasticity in the Pathogenesis of Depression: A Focus on Early Life Stress.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a debilitating mental illness, and it is considered to be one of the leading causes of disability globally. The etiology of MDD is multifactorial, involving an interplay between biological, psychological, and social factors. Early life represents a critical period for development.

Clinical response to nonsurgical periodontal therapy is associated with decreased serum leukocyte count and uric acid levels in kidney transplant recipients.

Objective: This study sought to investigate the relationship between clinical response to nonsurgical periodontal therapy (NSPT) and serum changes in leukocyte count, fasting blood glucose, hemoglobin, hematocrit, creatinine, and uric acid in kidney transplant recipients (KTR).

Methodology: A prospective study was performed on 20 KTRs. Periodontal and serum data were collected before and 90 days after NSPT, and delta values (Δ = after NSPT - before) were calculated.

Gender Differences in Gambling Disorder: Results from an Italian Multicentric Study.

Objective: Although gender-specific evidence on Gambling Disorder (GD) is still limited, some studies reported specific differences, mainly in psychopathological profiles, gambling behavior patterns, and pathogenesis. In order to further examine the role of gender in GD, we conducted a multicenter investigation in a sample of Italian outpatients.

Method: One hundred-four outpatients with a diagnosis of GD based on DSM-5 criteria were consecutively recruited at two clinics based in Milan.

Clinical factors associated with salivary flow rate in adults with acromegaly.

Objective: To investigate the stimulated salivary flow (SSF) and unstimulated salivary flow (USF) in adults with acromegaly and to identify possible clinical factors associated with salivary flow.

Study Design: A case-control study was conducted with a group composed of adults diagnosed with acromegaly (n = 29, mean age = 50.2 years) and a control group (n = 29, mean age = 54.

Case report: Personalizing the use of trazodone in real-world patients: a study of three cases of depression with comorbidities.

Depressive disorders are leading contributors to the global mental health-related burden, and they represent a challenge for real-world clinicians, due to the low rates of remission despite the high availability of treatments. Often, depression shows in the context of multiple chronic comorbidities, thus requiring precise and accurate management of pharmacological treatments to avoid interactions and side effects. These criticalities call for the need for new strategies of treatment, which may include new insights into the pharmacological properties of currently available antidepressant drugs, to enhance their efficacy in the different contexts in which depression may arise.

COVID-19 and psychiatric disorders among young people: a cross-sectional study.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, a significant rise in mental health issues was observed. Particularly, children and adolescents have shown a higher risk of developing mental disorders than adults. This study aimed to describe the evolving features of the requests for psychiatric emergency interventions during the COVID-19 pandemic in young people.

Cytokine levels in the gingival crevicular fluid and their association with periodontal status of down syndrome patients: a cross-sectional study.

Objective: To evaluate cytokine levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-17a, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and interferon (IFN)-γ in the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) of periodontal sites in individuals with Down syndrome (DS) and analyze their relationship with clinical periodontal parameters.

Materials And Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 49 DS patients and 32 individuals without DS (non-DS group). Periodontal probing depth (PPD), clinical attachment level (CAL), bleeding on probing (BoP), and visible plaque index (VPI) were evaluated.

Criminal behaviors and substance use disorder in psychiatric patients.

Objective: People with mental illness are overrepresented throughout the criminal justice system. In Italy, the Judicial Psychiatric Hospitals are now on the edge of their closure in favor of small-scale therapeutic facilities (REMS). Therefore, when patients end their duty for criminal behaviors, their clinical management moves back to the outpatient psychiatric centers.

Effects of mindfulness-based interventions on symptoms and interoception in trauma-related disorders and exposure to traumatic events: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Interoception is defined as the sense of the internal state of the body. Dysfunctions in interoception are found in several mental disorders, including trauma-related conditions. Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBIs) have been shown to influence interoceptive processes.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder as an Epiphenomenon of Comorbid Bipolar Disorder? An Updated Systematic Review.

Background: Bipolar disorder (BD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) comorbidity is an emerging condition in psychiatry, with relevant nosological, clinical, and therapeutic implications.

Methods: We updated our previous systematic review on epidemiology and standard diagnostic validators (including phenomenology, course of illness, heredity, biological markers, and treatment response) of BD-OCD. Relevant papers published until (and including) 15 October 2023 were identified by searching the electronic databases MEDLINE, Embase, PsychINFO, and Cochrane Library, according to the PRISMA statement (PROSPERO registration number, CRD42021267685).

Selective alterations of endocannabinoid system genes expression in obsessive compulsive disorder.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is listed as one of the top 10 most disabling neuropsychiatric conditions in the world. The neurobiology of OCD has not been completely understood and efforts are needed in order to develop new treatments. Beside the classical neurotransmitter systems and signalling pathways implicated in OCD, the possible involvement of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) has emerged in pathophysiology of OCD.

Early-onset obsessive-compulsive disorder: Sociodemographic and clinical characterization of a large outpatient cohort.

Introduction: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a prevalent and disabling condition characterized by a wide variety of phenotypic expressions. Several studies have reinforced the hypothesis of OCD heterogeneity by proposing subtypes based on predominant symptomatology, course, and comorbidities. Early-onset OCD (EO) could be considered a neurodevelopmental subtype of OCD, with evidence of distinct neurocircuits supporting disease progression.

Climate Change Perception and Mental Health. Results from a Systematic Review of the Literature.

Climate change is one of the main global challenges and influences various aspects of human health. Numerous studies have indeed demonstrated an association between extreme climate-related events and physical and mental health outcomes, but little is still known about the association between the perception/awareness of climate change and mental health. In accordance with the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, a search was conducted on PubMed and Scopus.

Mild internet use is associated with epigenetic alterations of key neurotransmission genes in salivary DNA of young university students.

The potentially problematic use of the Internet is a growing concern worldwide, which causes and consequences are not completely understood yet. The neurobiology of Internet addiction (IA) has attracted much attention in scientific research, which is now focusing on identifying measurable biological markers. Aim of this study was to investigate epigenetic and genetic regulation of oxytocin receptor (OXTR), dopamine transporter (DAT1) and serotonin transporter (SERT) genes using DNA obtained from saliva samples of young university students: the Internet Addiction Test (IAT) was administered to evaluate the potential existence and intensity of IA.

A possible role for G-quadruplexes formation and DNA methylation at IMOOD gene promoter in Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition still classified and diagnosed with subjective interview-based assessments and which molecular clues have not completely been elucidated. We have recently identified a new regulator of anxiety and OCD-like behavior called Immuno-moodulin (IMOOD) and, here, we report that IMOOD gene promoter is differentially methylated in OCD subjects when compared to genomic material collected from healthy controls and this alteration is significantly correlated with the increased expression of the gene in OCD. We also demonstrated that IMOOD promoter can form G-quadruplexes and we suggest that, in homeostatic conditions, these structures could evoke DNA-methylation silencing the gene, whereas in pathological conditions, like OCD, could induce gene expression making the promoter more accessible to transcriptional factors.

Partial Response to Antidepressant Treatment: The Role of Nutraceutical Compounds.

Objective: Depression represents one of the most severe psychiatric disorders, characterized by low mood episodes, as well as loss of interest. Major Depressive Episodes (MDE) treatment relies primarily on monoaminergic prescriptions. However, although the presence of many antidepressant medications, their efficacy is still partial.

The potential effect of metformin on cognitive and other symptom dimensions in patients with schizophrenia and antipsychotic-induced weight gain: a systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression.

Introduction: Metformin has shown good efficacy in the management of antipsychotic-induced metabolic syndrome (MetS) in patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorders. Its ability to induce antidepressant behavioural effects and improve cognitive functions has also been investigated: yet information has not been systematized. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate the effects of metformin on cognitive and other symptom dimension in schizophrenic patients treated with antipsychotics through a systematic review and meta-analysis.