The emerging modern face of mood disorders: a didactic editorial with a detailed presentation of data and definitions.

The present work represents a detailed description of our current understanding and knowledge of the epidemiology, etiopathogenesis and clinical manifestations of mood disorders, their comorbidity and overlap, and the effect of variables such as gender and age. This review article is largely based on the 'Mood disorders' chapter of the Wikibooks Textbook of Psychiatry http://en.wikibooks.

Disruption of biological rhythms as a core problem and therapeutic target in mood disorders: the emerging concept of 'rhythm regulators'.

Biological rhythms have always been considered to be disrupted in depression, with the predominant theory being that of hyperarousal. However, recent data suggest that it might be more appropriate to suggest that depressed patients are incapable of achieving and maintaining the particular level of internal homeostasis which permits them to function smoothly, to lower the level of arousal during sleep sufficiently so that quality of sleep is good, and to increase this level enough during the day so the person can function properly. Therefore, the transition from one state to another is somewhat problematic, delayed, incomplete and desynchronised.

Association of a trait-like bias towards the perception of negative subjective life events with risk of developing premenstrual symptoms.

Objective: Premenstrual symptoms affect the majority of healthy women. Premenstrual symptomatology has earlier been linked to stress and a state-like alteration in the perception of life events in the late-luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. We hypothesised that there is also a trait-like negative bias in the perception of life events evident throughout the whole cycle which is associated with the likelihood to manifest more marked symptoms in the late-luteal phase of the cycle.

Obesity and smoking in patients with schizophrenia and normal controls: a case-control study.

Cardiovascular risk factors, especially obesity and smoking are highly prevalent in patients with schizophrenia. Central obesity and the metabolic syndrome are conditions mostly attributed to the use of antipsychotic medication and lifestyle habits, and they constitute a significant health concern. Our study sample included 105 patients suffering from schizophrenia aged 36.

Treatment of psychotic symptoms in bipolar disorder with aripiprazole monotherapy: a meta-analysis.

Background: We present a systematic review and meta-analysis of the available clinical trials concerning the usefulness of aripiprazole in the treatment of the psychotic symptoms in bipolar disorder.

Methods: A systematic MEDLINE and repository search concerning clinical trials for aripiprazole in bipolar disorder was conducted.

Results: The meta-analysis of four randomised controlled trials (RCTs) on acute mania suggests that the effect size of aripiprazole versus placebo was equal to 0.

Is anticonvulsant treatment of mania a class effect? Data from randomized clinical trials.

Our aim was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of anticonvulsant agents for the treatment of acute bipolar mania and ascertain if their effects on mania are a "class" effect. We conducted a systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with placebo or active comparator, in acute bipolar mania in order to summarize available data on anticonvulsant treatment of mania/mixed episodes. We searched (PubMed/MEDLINE) with the combination of the words "acute mania" and "clinical trials" with each one of the following words: "anticonvulsants/antiepileptics,""valproic/valproate/divalproex,""carbamazepine,""oxcarbazepine,""lamotrigine,""gabapentin,""topiramate,""phenytoin,""zonisamide,""retigabine,""pregabalin,""tiagabine,""levetiracetam,""licarbazepine,""felbamate," and "vigabatrin.

Efficacy and safety of aripiprazole in the treatment of bipolar disorder: a systematic review.

Background: The current article is a systematic review concerning the efficacy and safety of aripiprazole in the treatment of bipolar disorder.

Methods: A systematic Medline and repositories search concerning the usefulness of aripiprazole in bipolar disorder was performed, with the combination of the words 'aripiprazole' and 'bipolar'.

Results: The search returned 184 articles and was last updated on 15 April 2009.

Preliminary data concerning the reliability and psychometric properties of the Greek translation of the 20-item Subjective Well-Being Under Neuroleptic Treatment Scale (SWN-20).

Background: The 20-item Subjective Well-Being Under Neuroleptic Treatment Scale (SWN-20) is a self-report scale developed in order to assess the well-being of patients receiving antipsychotic medication independent of the improvement in their psychotic symptoms. The current study reports on the reliability and the psychometric properties of the Greek translation of the SWN-20.

Methods: A total of 100 inpatients or outpatients with schizophrenia (79 males and 21 females, aged 42.

The clinical-familial correlates and naturalistic outcome of panic-disorder-agoraphobia with and without lifetime bipolar II comorbidity.

Background: Much of the literature on panic disorder (PD)-bipolar disorder (BP) comorbidity concerns BP-I. This literature emphasizes the difficulties encountered in pharmacologic treatment and outcome when such comorbidity is present. The present report explores these issues with respect to BP-II.

Revisiting the Dexamethasone Suppression Test in unipolar major depression: an exploratory study.

Background: Important methodological questions still exist concerning the Dexamethasone Suppression Test (DST), including the possibility of a better way of interpreting it. The aim of the present study was to explore the feasibility of an alternative way of interpreting DST results.

Methods: A total of 50 patients with major depression aged 41.

The contemporary face of bipolar illness: complex diagnostic and therapeutic challenges.

Manic depression, or bipolar disorder, is a multifaceted illness with an inevitably complex treatment. The current article summarizes the current status of our knowledge and practice concerning its diagnosis and treatment. While the prototypic clinical picture concerns the "classic" bipolar disorder, today mixed episodes with incomplete recovery and significant psychosocial impairment are more frequent.

Association of the s allele of the 5-HTTLPR with neuroticism-related traits and temperaments in a psychiatrically healthy population.

Introduction: Research concerning the genetic background of traits, temperaments and psychiatric disorders has been rapidly expanding. One of the most frequently studied genetic polymorphisms in the background of psychological and psychiatric phenomena is the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism of the serotonin transporter gene which has earlier been found to be associated with neuroticism and neuroticism-related traits and disorders. However, both the neuroticism trait and psychiatric disorders are complex and composed of several subfacets.

Increased plasma homocysteine levels in patients with multiple sclerosis and depression.

Background: The aim of the study was to assess the plasma levels of homocysteine in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and to investigate whether an association with depression exists.

Methods: Plasma homocysteine (Hcy), vitamin B12 and plasma folate were measured in 65 moderately disabled patients with relapsing/remitting MS (RR-MS) and 60 healthy controls. All subjects were assessed with the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI).

Treatment of bipolar disorder: a systematic review of available data and clinical perspectives.

This paper is a systematic review of the available data concerning the treatment of bipolar disorder: a systematic Medline search concerning treatment guidelines and clinical trials. The search for treatment guidelines returned 583 articles and 913 papers for RCTs. The search was last performed on 1 March 2008.

Assessing the role of cingulate cortex in bipolar disorder: neuropathological, structural and functional imaging data.

Objectives: Most of the neuroanatomical models of bipolar disorder (BD) propose a key role for the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). We provide here a review of currently available data regarding the CC neuroimaging and neuropathological alterations in BD.

Materials And Methods: After an exploratory search of the MEDLINE, we first identified all English-written articles that provide separate data for BD patients and report original experimental data on cingulate gyrus.

Towards a genetically validated new affective temperament scale: a delineation of the temperament phenotype of 5-HTTLPR using the TEMPS-A.

Background: Although it has been described that affective temperaments are associated with the 5-HTTLPR, less attention was paid to the association between this polymorphism and subscales and items related to each affective temperament. The aim of our study was to investigate the association of affective temperament subscales and individual items with the s allele of the 5-HTTLPR.

Method: 138 psychiatrically healthy women completed the TEMPS-A questionnaire and were genotyped for 5-HTTLPR.

Development of a standardized scoring method for the Graphic Sequence Test suitable for use in psychiatric populations.

Although the graphic version of the Alternating Sequences Test which was introduced by Luria exists for years little has been done to standardize it. The aim of the current study was to develop a novel and detailed standardized method of administration and scoring. The study sample included 93 normal control subjects (53 women and 40 men) aged 35.

Personality disorders and violence.

Purpose Of Review: To review the most recent literature on the relationship between personality disorders and violent behavior. The review does not aim to address the issue of a possible etiological connection between previously being the victim of violent acts and later developing a personality disorder.

Recent Findings: Recent data suggest that personality disorders, especially antisocial and borderline, are strongly related to the manifestation of violent acts.