Publications by authors named "Dell'osso L"
Background: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and post-traumatic stress spectrum have been recently applied to understand the impact of life-threatening disease or injury in one's child; nevertheless, scant data are available on a particular chronic illness such as epilepsy whose phenotypic expression is seizures, which are acute, sudden, and unpredictable manifestations. Subjects with bipolar disorders or with mood spectrum symptoms demonstrated to be more vulnerable to develop PTSD in the aftermath of a trauma.
Objectives: The main aim of this study was to evaluate post-traumatic symptoms among 134 parents of children with a diagnosis of epilepsy, followed at the outpatient neurologic unit of Department of Pediatrics in Santa Chiara Hospital in Pisa, as well as gender differences.
Background: Emergency services personnel face frequent exposure to potentially traumatic events, with the potential for chronic symptomatic distress. The DSM-5 recently recognized a particular risk for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among first responders (criterion A4) but data are still scarce on prevalence rates and correlates.
Objective: The aim of the present study was to explore the possible role of age, gender, and education training in a sample of emergency personnel diagnosed with DSM-5 PTSD.
Objectives: Fibromyalgia (FM) is defined as a severe, chronic, non-articular rheumatic condition characterised by widespread musculoskeletal pain, hyperalgesia and generalised tender points, in the absence of inflammatory or structural musculoskeletal abnormalities. Pain is the predominant symptom, allodynia and hyperalgesia are common signs. Extreme fatigue, impaired cognition and non-restorative sleeping difficulties coexist in addition to other somatic symptoms.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis case report draws attention to the potential relevance of undetected autism spectrum symptoms in a bipolar patient with high work functioning showing a peculiar addictive profile with impulsive and antisocial behaviors. A 23-year-old man with a diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder (BD) and Substance Use Disorder (SUD) was hospitalized at the Psychiatric Clinic of the University of Pisa for diuretics and -2 adrenergic agonist abuse in a remission phase of benzodiazepines and substance abuse. He reported a history of behavioral addictions in the framework of a global high work functioning with particular skills in computer science.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAim: Asylums comprises the main focus of historical research on early 20th century psychiatry. To assess the characteristic of asylum transfers in a clinical population, we analyzed newly found clinical records from University of Pisa Clinic for Mental and Nervous Illness. We focused on the early years of this structure’s activities considering all admissions from 24th April 1907 to 31st January 1913.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The aim of the present study was to appraise retrospectively the influence of valproate (VPA) and antidepressants (ADs) on the steady-state plasma concentrations of clozapine (CLZ), the prototype of various second-generation antipsychotics, norclozapine (NCLZ, its main metabolite), and their ratio (NCLZ:CLZ).
Methods: Sixty-seven psychotic patients with a prevalent diagnosis of bipolar disorder were studied. We then analyzed data altogether and subdivided them into 4 groups, according to pharmacological treatments: #1 CLZ (n = 21), #2 CLZ plus ADs (n = 13), #3 CLZ plus VPA (n = 16), and #4 CLZ plus ADs plus VPA (n = 17).
Article Synopsis
- A dimensional approach to mental disorders can help understand the impact of traumatic experiences, especially in parents of children with serious illnesses like epilepsy.
- Evidence indicates that parents with autism spectrum symptoms may be more susceptible to post-traumatic stress symptoms.
- The study found significant correlations between autism subthreshold symptoms in fathers and post-traumatic stress indicators, suggesting that these subthreshold features can affect how parents react to trauma.
Purpose: To describe the effects of extraocular muscle extirpation performed after previous eye muscle surgery in a 20-year-old woman with infantile nystagmus syndrome (INS) for whom we have 19 years of follow-up data.
Methods: Clinical examinations were performed. Eye movement data analysis was carried out using the eXpanded Nystagmus Acuity Function (NAFX) and longest foveation domain (LFD).
Article Synopsis
- The study explores the link between autistic traits and Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), highlighting the clinical importance of these traits in individuals with BPD.
- The research involved 50 patients with BPD and 69 healthy individuals, using structured interviews and self-report assessments to analyze traits.
- Findings indicated that BPD patients exhibited more autistic traits than controls, significantly influencing features like suicidality and experiences of abuse, suggesting a need for further investigation into this relationship.
Importance: Enhanced understanding of factors associated with symptomatic and functional recovery is instrumental to designing personalized treatment plans for people with schizophrenia. To date, this is the first study using network analysis to investigate the associations among cognitive, psychopathologic, and psychosocial variables in a large sample of community-dwelling individuals with schizophrenia.
Objective: To assess the interplay among psychopathologic variables, cognitive dysfunctions, functional capacity, personal resources, perceived stigma, and real-life functioning in individuals with schizophrenia, using a data-driven approach.
Article Synopsis
- Delirious mania is a serious condition that combines symptoms of delirium, mania, and psychosis without any prior physical or mental health issues.
- A case study is presented where delirious mania was possibly caused by low blood pressure due to antihypertensive medication.
- The patient's symptoms fully resolved after stopping the medication and stabilizing blood pressure.
Subthreshold autism spectrum disorder in patients with eating disorders.
Compr Psychiatry
February 2018
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to explore the connection between eating disorders (EDs) and autism spectrum disorders (ASD) by assessing subthreshold autism symptoms in individuals with EDs, particularly comparing those with and without binge eating behaviors.
- A total of 138 ED participants and 160 healthy controls were evaluated using standardized diagnostic tools, revealing that individuals with EDs exhibited significantly higher autism spectrum symptoms than healthy controls, with notable differences between restrictive and binge eating behaviors.
- Results indicated that participants with restrictive anorexia had higher total autism spectrum scores and specific trait scores compared to those with binge eating behaviors, highlighting a complex relationship between EDs and ASD-related symptoms.
Background And Aims: Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGDs) are multifactorial disorders of the gut-brain interaction. This study investigated the prevalence of Axis I and spectrum disorders in patients with FGD and established the link between FGDs and psychopathological dimensions.
Methods: A total of 135 consecutive patients with FGD were enrolled.
Purpose: To report and discuss a focal oscillopsia in a small area of the visual field produced by, and after the removal of, an epiretinal membrane (ERM) in an individual with infantile nystagmus syndrome (INS) since birth with no associated afferent visual deficits.
Study Design: A retrospective case report.
Methods: A chart review, including clinical and electrophysiological data.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates the prevalence of orthorexia nervosa (ON), a condition focused on healthy eating, among young adults at the University of Pisa, with a notable increase found particularly in females.
- Data was collected using the ORTO-15 questionnaire and analyzed through various statistical methods to understand the relationship between ON and factors like diet type, gender, and BMI.
- Results revealed that over a third of participants exhibited ON symptoms, with diet type being a more significant predictor of ON than gender, suggesting that ON may be a variant of anorexia nervosa within the spectrum of eating disorders.
Background: Research has supported the role of cognitive processes in the development and maintenance of insomnia, yet a standardized characterization of mind-wandering experiences in insomniacs is lacking.
Objectives: The aim was to understand the quantitative nature of thoughts and feelings during mind wandering in insomniacs and healthy controls and their relationship with sleep-related parameters.
Methods: We used the 5-minute eyes-closed wakeful rest as an experimental model condition of mind wandering.
Article Synopsis
- The MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB) was used to compare cognitive function among 852 schizophrenia outpatients, 342 unaffected relatives, and 774 healthy controls to determine its sensitivity in family studies.
- Results showed that schizophrenia patients scored significantly lower across all cognitive domains, while their unaffected relatives had scores in between the patient and healthy control groups, indicating some level of cognitive impairment.
- The study suggests that the cognitive performance of the relatives is influenced by the probands' scores, hinting at possible genetic or environmental factors affecting cognitive functioning in families.
Article Synopsis
- - The study examined how demographic and clinical factors affect recurrence rates of bipolar disorder (BD) in a group of 266 outpatients over four years, finding that episode frequency decreased for many patients.
- - Key predictors of recurrence included the number of previous depressive episodes, female gender, older age, and a history of mixed episodes, with about one-third of patients experiencing no recurrences during the follow-up.
- - It concluded that long-term evidence-based treatment and regular follow-ups can improve patient outcomes, and appropriate use of antidepressants may not negatively impact the illness.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigated the relationship between antipsychotic medications and changes in heart rhythm (QT/QTc duration) in male patients with psychotic disorders.
- A review of 184 patient charts revealed that the majority had normal QTc values, with only a small percentage showing slight increases, particularly associated with specific medications.
- The findings indicated that aripiprazole had the least impact on QT/QTc prolongation, while paliperidone showed a more significant effect, particularly on QT duration.
Article Synopsis
- This study investigates how resilience and self-stigma affect depression severity in 921 schizophrenia patients, finding key relationships among these factors.
- The analysis shows that lower resilience, higher negative symptoms, and being female are directly linked to higher depression severity, while internalized stigma primarily mediates the relationship between avolition (a lack of motivation) and resilience.
- The findings suggest that improving personal resources, like resilience, could be crucial for developing more effective psychosocial treatments for depression in schizophrenia, although the study's design limits its generalizability.
Fibromyalgia (FM) is a central sensitization syndrome characterized by chronic widespread pain. FM is often comorbid with psychiatric disorders, as well as psychological distress that worsens the quality-of-life of people affected. The aim was to collect current evidence about the management of FM from a psychosomatic perspective.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- Ovarian cancer is considered one of the most lethal forms of cancer, creating a highly distressing experience for affected women.
- Many women diagnosed with ovarian cancer often experience significant emotional turmoil throughout their illness.
- This paper reviews existing research on the link between ovarian cancer and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Self-reported 'personal recovery' and clinical recovery in schizophrenia (SRPR and CR, respectively) reflect different perspectives in schizophrenia outcome, not necessarily concordant with each other and usually representing the consumer's or the therapist's point of view. By means of a cluster analysis on SRPR-related variables, we identified three clusters. The first and third cluster included subjects with the best and the poorest clinical outcome respectively.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIncreasing literature suggests the need to explore for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and post-traumatic stress symptoms in parents and caregivers of children with acute and chronic illnesses but scant data are available on epilepsy. The aim of the present study was to estimate full and partial PTSD rates among parents of children with epilepsy comparing DSM-5 and DSM-IV-TR criteria. Further, the aim of the present study was to examine possible gender differences between mothers and fathers.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- The study aimed to understand the connection between insomnia-specific rumination, hyperarousal (both trait and state), and emotional dysregulation among insomnia patients.
- Researchers evaluated 68 subjects with insomnia and 36 good sleepers, finding that insomnia patients scored significantly higher on measures of insomnia severity, arousal, and emotion regulation difficulties.
- Results indicated that insomnia rumination correlates with both trait and pre-sleep state hyperarousal, and it mediates relationships between these factors and emotion dysregulation, highlighting the complexity of insomnia-related cognitive processes.