Prevalence of orthorexia nervosa in clinical and non-clinical populations: a systematic review.

Objective: Orthorexia nervosa (ON) is characterized by the pursuit of extreme dietary purity due to an exaggerated focus on food quality that could ultimately lead to a new kind of eating disorder. Even though researchers have tried to reach a univocal description of ON, to this date, there is no consensus on its diagnostic criteria, making it considerably more difficult to develop a valid questionnaire for assessing the symptoms of ON and to assess its actual prevalence. The aim of this review was to evaluate and gather scientific evidence about the prevalence of ON in both clinical and non-clinical adult populations, using the main validated scale for ON evaluation.

Autistic traits as predictors of post-traumatic stress symptoms among patients with borderline personality disorder.

Background: Autistic traits (AT) seem to be particularly frequent among patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD). Moreover, the autism spectrum is considered a vulnerability factor for the development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, increasing the vulnerability of BPD subjects toward the development of a stress-related disorder.

Aim: The study aimed to investigate the association between AT and trauma-related symptoms in a clinical sample of patients with BPD.

Platelet Levels of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Is There a Specific Association with Autism Spectrum Psychopathology?

To date, although several studies have investigated the circulating levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), only a few authors have addressed their evaluation in adults. Furthermore, an important limitation of these studies lies in the fact that circulating BDNF is stored in platelets and released into the circulation when needed. To the best of our knowledge, a very limited number of studies have related peripheral BDNF values to platelet counts, and yet no study has evaluated intra-platelet BDNF levels in adults with ASD.

Video Gaming in Older People: What Are the Implications for Cognitive Functions?

Mild cognitive impairment impacts a sizable segment of the older population, and often evolves into dementia within a few years. At this stage, subjects may benefit from non-pharmacological therapies that can delay or stop the progression of the mild cognitive impairment into dementia and are crucial for improvement in the subject's quality of life, while also being easily accessible and safe for use. Many research studies have shown that a variety of exercises, including cognitive training, have the potential to enhance or optimize cognitive function and general well-being.

Case report: hikikomori syndrome in Italy and its link with autistic traits and internet gaming disorder.

During the last few decades, a growing field of literature is focusing on hikikomori, a phenomenon described as a form of pathological social withdrawal or social isolation that lasts for more than 6 months leading to significant functional impairment and/or distress. Despite initially considered a culture-bound syndrome, hikikomori syndrome later gained a wider recognition in different countries, ranging from an attempt to take refuge in an idealistic world, when society success' standards are not reached, to a maladaptive coping strategy complicating several psychiatric illnesses such as anxiety disorders, major depression, internet addiction, internet gaming disorder (IGD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In this framework, difficulties in social interaction, in problem solving strategies and socio-emotional reciprocity, may lead to social withdrawal and hikikomori-like behaviors.

Panic-agoraphobic symptoms in adults with ASD: the role of ruminative thinking and inflexibility.

Background: Scientific literature has highlighted the link between autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and anxiety disorders, but few studies have delved into the relationship between ASD and panic-agoraphobic disorders. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between autism spectrum and panic-agoraphobic symptoms, examining whether and which autistic domains are predictive of the presence of specific panic-agoraphobic symptoms.

Materials And Methods: Forty-five adult subjects with ASD and 50 healthy controls (HCs) were evaluated through the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5, Research Version and assessed with the Adult Autism Subthreshold Spectrum (AdAS Spectrum) and the Panic-Agoraphobic - Short Version (PAS-SV) questionnaires.

Presence and correlates of autistic traits among patients with social anxiety disorder.

Introduction: Due to their similar behavioral presentation, it can sometimes be challenging to distinguish between a social anxiety disorder (SAD) and the social avoidance that is frequently described in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Moreover, a growing body of evidences is reporting that a significant proportion of subjects with ASD also meet the requirements for SAD and, vice versa, subjects with SAD tend to exhibit a higher prevalence of autistic traits.

Aim: In this framework, the current study aims to evaluate prevalence and correlates of autistic traits in a sample of adult subjects diagnosed with SAD and healthy controls (HC), also evaluating which autism spectrum dimensions may statistically predict higher SAD symptoms.

Autistic Traits as Predictors of Increased Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Severity: The Role of Inflexibility and Communication Impairment.

Due to similar manifestations, some authors have proposed a potential correlation between autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). This link has long been recognized and debated, with some authors arguing that these disorders frequently occur comorbid but distinct while others believe they are part of the same spectrum. The aim of our study was to explore the prevalence and correlates of autistic traits in 55 OCD patients and 55 matched controls and to assess possible autistic dimensions predictive of higher OCD symptoms.

Implications of Social Anxiety Symptoms in Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Is There a Predictive Role of Interpersonal Sensitivity and Substance Abuse?

Social anxiety disorder (SAD) has been frequently reported by subjects with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). However, interestingly, the overlap between social anxiety and autistic traits may sometimes impede ASD diagnosis in subjects without intellectual or language impairment. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the presence and correlates of social phobic features among subjects with ASD, with a specific focus on evaluating which social anxiety symptoms may be statistically predictive of an ASD diagnosis.

Measuring the neglected anxiety disorder: validation of the social anxiety spectrum-short version (SHY-SV) questionnaire.

Background: In the recent years, a growing body of literature stressed the importance of a dimensional perspective on mental disorders. In particular, since its conceptualization, one of the main concerns in the field of Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) has been the definition of a diagnostic threshold, leading to the suggestion that SAD may be more properly classified as a spectrum of severity rather than a discrete disorder based on subjectively determined threshold. The purpose of the current research is to evaluate the psychometric qualities of the Social Anxiety Spectrum - Short Version (SHY-SV), a novel questionnaire designed to measure the complete range of social anxiety symptoms, from overt manifestations to subthreshold ones.

The mediating effect of mood spectrum on the relationship between autistic traits and catatonia spectrum.

Background: In the recent years, several studies have shown a correlation between autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and catatonia. It is also known that both conditions are found to be associated with mood disorders. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between autistic traits and catatonic symptoms, as well as the potential mediating role of mood disorder spectrum in the relationship between them.

Effects of exogenous melatonin on sleep and circadian rhythm parameters in bipolar disorder with comorbid delayed sleep-wake phase disorder: An actigraphic study.

The present study evaluates the effect of exogenous melatonin (exo-MEL) on sleep and circadian parameters in patients with bipolar disorder (BD) and delayed sleep-wake phase disorder (DSWPD). BD euthymic patients (n = 83, mean age = 45.13 ± 13.

Validation of the short version of the obsessive compulsive spectrum questionnaire.

Aim: In the recent years, a rising amount of research has stressed the importance of a dimensional perspective on mental disorders. In particular, the conceptualization of an obsessive-compulsive spectrum appears to be in line with the very first descriptions of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and has been partially acknowledged by the inclusion of the "OCD-spectrum related syndromes and disorders" section in the DSM-5. The goal of the current study is to ascertain the psychometric characteristics of the Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum-Short Version (OBS-SV), a novel questionnaire designed to measure the complete range of obsessive-compulsive symptoms, from severe full blown to subthreshold ones.

Autism Spectrum Disorder in a Patient with Bipolar Disorder and Its Relationship with Catatonia Spectrum: A Case Study.

According to several studies, the prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) ranges from 2.4 to 9.9 percent among adult mental inpatients.

Validation of the Short Version of the Panic Agoraphobic Spectrum (PAS-SV) Questionnaire.

Objective: a spectrum model of psychopathology has allowed, in recent years, to recognize the subclinical or sub-threshold symptomatology that may be associated with full-blown mental disorders. The conceptualization of a panic - agoraphobic spectrum was developed in consideration of the substantial clinical heterogeneity revealed by studies on panic disorder with or without agoraphobia. The current study aims to determine the psychometric properties of the Panic Agoraphobic Spectrum - Short Version (PAS-SV), a new questionnaire designed to identify the spectrum of panic - agoraphobic symptoms.

A comprehensive perspective of autistic traits and catatonic symptoms in a patient with Fronto-Temporal Dementia and Bipolar Disorder: a case report.

Background: Fronto-Temporal Dementia (FTD) is a neurodegenerative disorder featuring frontotemporal lobe atrophy which leads to profound changes in behavior and cognition in the affected subjects. Considering that the onset of this type of dementia is typically characterized by the development of affective symptoms, differential diagnosis between FTD and Bipolar Disorder (BD) is particularly difficult. An important overlapping feature between BD and FTD is the presence of catatonic symptoms: Catatonia is extremely frequent in FTD, and, on the other hand, BD is the psychiatric disease with the highest frequency of association with catatonic states.

Exploratory Study on the Associations between Lifetime Post-Traumatic Stress Spectrum, Sleep, and Circadian Rhythm Parameters in Patients with Bipolar Disorder.

The present study aimed at exploring whether lifetime post-traumatic stress spectrum symptoms are associated with chronotype in patients with bipolar disorder (BD). Moreover, we explored whether the chronotype can moderate the potential associations between lifetime post-traumatic stress spectrum symptoms and rest-activity circadian and sleep-related parameters. A total of 74 BD patients were administered the Trauma and Loss Spectrum Self-Report (TALS-SR) lifetime version for lifetime post-traumatic stress spectrum symptoms, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) for self-reported sleep quality, and the Reduced Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (rMEQ) to discriminate evening chronotypes (ETs), neither chronotype (NT), and morning chronotype (MT).

Biological Correlates of Post-Traumatic Growth (PTG): A Literature Review.

Since the beginning of medical science, much research have focused on the psychopathological effects of traumatic experiences. Despite in past centuries the scientific literature on mental health has been mainly focused on the harmful effects of traumatic occurrences, more recently the idea of "post-traumatic growth" emerged, on the basis of a growing interest in the characteristics of resilience and possible positive consequences of trauma. In this framework, increasing attention is now being paid to the psychological meaning of PTG, with a consistent number of psychopathological and epidemiological studies on this subject, but limited literature focused on neurobiological correlates or eventual biomarkers of this condition.

A Case of Lithium Encephalopathy with Therapeutic Lithium Levels: The Diagnostic Role of EEG.

. Lithium is considered a first-line therapy for both the acute phase and the maintenance of bipolar disorder. Many studies highlighted its neuroprotective and neuroplastic capacity suggesting a potential usefulness in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

Sex differences in brain homotopic co-activations: a meta-analytic study.

An element of great interest in functional connectivity is 'homotopic connectivity' (HC), namely the connectivity between two mirrored areas of the two hemispheres, mainly mediated by the fibers of the corpus callosum. Despite a long tradition of studying sexual dimorphism in the human brain, to our knowledge only one study has addressed the influence of sex on HC.We investigated the issue of homotopic co-activations in women and men using a coordinate-based meta-analytic method and data from the BrainMap database.