[The endocannabinoid system and its possible role in neurobiology of psychiatric disorders].

In the last years, numerous researches led to identify endocannabinoid system, a sophisticated short-range signaling system which is located both in Central Nervous System (CNS) and in whole organism. Because of its flexibility of expression, it plays a modulatory role in controlling the answers to stimuli which disturb homeostasis. On one hand it lets them occur whilst on the other it limits them in order to protect organism from consequences due to excessive reaction.

Olfactory identification deficits and associated response inhibition in obsessive-compulsive disorder: on the scent of the orbitofronto-striatal model.

Olfactory identification ability implicates the integrity of the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC). The fronto-striatal circuits including the OFC have been involved in the neuropathology of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). However, only a few studies have examined olfactory function in patients with OCD.

[Dissociative symptoms in patients with mood and anxiety disorders].

Aim: The objective of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of dissociative symptoms in outpatients affected by mood or anxiety disorder and their potential implication in general psychopathology and treatment response.

Methods: The sample was recruited at Italian and Spanish psychiatric outpatient services. The sample consisted in 40 (13 Male, 27 Female) outpatients, 22 Italians (55%) and 18 Spanish (45%).

Corpus callosum abnormalities and potential age effect in men with schizophrenia: an MRI comparative study.

The goal of this investigation was to evaluate corpus callosum (CC) morphometry in schizophrenia. In consideration of possible confounders such as age, gender and handedness, our study sample was restricted to right-handed male subjects, aged 18-55 years. In addition, we controlled for age at onset, illness duration and exposure to antipsychotic medication.