Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Alcohol Craving in Alcohol Use Disorders: A Meta-analysis.

Aims: We aimed to evaluate the immediate and up to 3 months' effect of multiple-session repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on alcohol craving in AUD.

Methods: We performed a systematic review and random effects meta-analysis. We included randomized controlled trials with at least 10 sessions of rTMS and postintervention alcohol craving assessment.

Non-binary gender, vulnerable populations and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic: Data from the COVID-19 MEntal health inTernational for the general population (COMET-G) study.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has brought significant mental health challenges, particularly for vulnerable populations, including non-binary gender individuals. The COMET international study aimed to investigate specific risk factors for clinical depression or distress during the pandemic, also in these special populations.

Methods: Chi-square tests were used for initial screening to select only those variables which would show an initial significance.

Somatic multicomorbidity and disability in patients with psychiatric disorders in comparison to the general population: a quasi-epidemiological investigation in 54,826 subjects from 40 countries (COMET-G study).

Background: The prevalence of medical illnesses is high among patients with psychiatric disorders. The current study aimed to investigate multi-comorbidity in patients with psychiatric disorders in comparison to the general population. Secondary aims were to investigate factors associated with metabolic syndrome and treatment appropriateness of mental disorders.

Neurological soft signs and schizophrenia.

Neurological soft signs (NSS) are likely to represent abnormal neurodevelopment and aberration in neural maturation and connectivity. They may not be unique to schizophrenia, but they appear to be a trait characteristic in psychosis and therefore could serve as an objective measure for the assessment of serious psychiatric disorder in the prodromal phase, at onset, and along the course of the disease. Evidence so far proposes that NSS are independent of antipsychotic treatment and therefore constitute a trait symptom, independent of the illness stage and medication.

Adherence to facemask use in public places during the autumn-winter 2020 COVID-19 lockdown in Greece: observational data.

Background: Wearing facemasks is of proven efficacy as a public health protective measure against COVID-19. Currently there are no observational data concerning the wearing of facemasks and the adherence to guidelines concerning their handling.

Methods: Registration of the way passers-by were wearing facemasks at 26 different locations of five major cities in Greece.

[The role of ketamine in the treatment of treatment-resistant bipolar depression].

Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD) calls for the development of effective interventions for mood elevation and stabilization. Recently, both ketamine and its S-enantiomer (esketamine) have been investigated with successful clinical trials demonstrating effectiveness in TRD. More specifically, in 2019, intranasally administered esketamine, as opposed to the more effective intravenous ketamine, has been approved by the FDA as a treatment option for TRD.

[Clinical characteristics and treatment of treatment-resistant bipolar depression].

Depression represents the predominant mood pole in bipolar disorder. Bipolar depression typically has a poor response to antidepressant medication, and also involves the risk of polarity shifts, induction of mixed states, and / or rapid cycle induction. The diagnosis of bipolar depression can be delayed by 8 to 10 years.

Mental health and conspirasism in health care professionals during the spring 2020 COVID-19 lockdown in Greece.

Introduction: The aim of the study was to investigate mental health and conspiracy theory beliefs concerning COVID-19 among health care professionals (HCPs).

Material And Methods: During lockdown, an online questionnaire gathered data from 507 HCPs (432 females aged 33.86 ± 8.

Subclinical thyroid dysfunction and major depressive disorder.

Purpose: This review attempts to investigate the link between subclinical thyroid dysfunction (SCH) and major depressive disorder (MDD). It has been speculated that SCH may be related to MDD through an autoimmune mechanism.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted in the PubMed database for relevant research and review articles.

Decision-making Capacity for Treatment of Psychotic Patients on Long Acting Injectable Antipsychotic Treatment.

Objective: Providing informed, consent requires patients' Decision-Making Capacity for treatment. We evaluated the Decision Making Capacity of outpatients diagnosed with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder on treatment with Long Acting Injectable Antipsychotic medication.

Method: This is a retrospective, cross-sectional, correlational study conducted at two Depot Clinics in Athens, Greece.

Treatment response and tolerability with once-monthly paliperidone palmitate initiated shortly after hospital admission in patients with schizophrenia.

Objectives: Partial or non-adherence in patients with schizophrenia is common and increases the risk of relapse. This study explored safety, tolerability and treatment outcomes in patients hospitalised for an exacerbation of schizophrenia initiated on maintenance treatment of once-monthly paliperidone palmitate (PP1M).

Methods: A 6-week, observational cohort study of patients initiated on PP1M within 3 weeks after hospital admission.

Dementia and osteoporosis in a geriatric population: Is there a common link?

Aim: To determine the existence of a common pathological link between dementia and osteoporosis through reviewing the current evidence base.

Methods: This paper reviews the current literature on osteoporosis and dementia in order to ascertain evidence of a common predisposing aetiology. A literature search of Ovid MED-LINE (1950 to June 2016) was conducted.

The Relationship of Common Risk Variants and Polygenic Risk for Schizophrenia to Sensorimotor Gating.

Background: Prepulse inhibition (PPI) of the startle reflex has been suggested as a candidate endophenotype for schizophrenia research, as it shows high heritability and has been found deficient in schizophrenia spectrum disorders. The objectives of the study were to 1) identify common genetic variants associated with baseline startle and PPI; 2) estimate the single nucleotide polymorphism heritability; and 3) examine the relationship of polygenic score for schizophrenia with baseline startle and PPI.

Methods: A cohort of healthy young male subjects (n = 1493) originating from the Learning on Genetics of Schizophrenia Spectrum project was assessed for baseline startle and PPI.

Cognitive and personality analysis of startle reactivity in a large cohort of healthy males.

Subjects with low/undetectable startle are usually excluded from startle studies but few reports not confounded by this factor, show reduced startle in healthy impulsive subjects, or clinical populations with disorders of affect and impulsivity but also in schizophrenia and its prodrome. We examined the relationship of startle reactivity including startle "non-responding" status to cognitive and affective personality traits in a large and ethnically/demographically homogeneous cohort of healthy males from the LOGOS study, Heraklion, Crete. Startle reactivity was monotonically related to sensitivity to reward (higher in "non-responders", lower in strong responders).

"Pseudosarcoma" in a pregnant woman.

Background: Intravascular fasciitis (IVF) is a rare benign condition characterised by reactive myofibroblastic proliferation arising from the superficial or deep fascia and involving arteries and/or veins. It is a distinct variant of the more common condition of nodular fasciitis, which possesses similar clinical and histological features to IVF, but lacks vascular invasion. A thorough review of the literature revealed 26 reported cases of IVF.

A case of a prolactinoma resistant to dopamine agonists.

Dopamine agonists are the drugs of choice in the treatment of prolactinomas, the most common type of pituitary adenomas. However, up to 25% of prolactinomas do not respond to these drugs and alternative treatments have to be considered. We describe a 37-year old female with a microprolactinoma who, although having received all available formulations of dopamine agonists over a period of 11 years, did not respond either clinically--diminution of galactorrhea and restoration of her menstrual cycle--or hormonally through normalisation of the elevated prolactin levels.