Publications by authors named "Francesco Weiss"

Introduction: After a long period of obscurantism, a possible role of psychedelics in clinical practice has progressively become a tangible perspective during the last two decades. However, the resounding enthusiasm linked to such 'psychedelic renaissance' runs the risk to unduly minimize the possible hazards associated with these compounds, while expanding their alleged benefits to improbable panacea-like proportions. In order to avoid mystifying or demonizing the properties of 5-HT2a agonists on emotional grounds, this subject requires a strictly unprejudiced and cautious approach to the evidence.

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Article Synopsis
  • Patients with severe obesity often experience psychiatric symptoms, which can influence their weight loss journey, especially after bariatric surgery.
  • A study of 99 patients evaluated the link between negative emotional dysregulation (NED) and the effectiveness of weight loss following surgery, using various psychological assessment tools.
  • Results showed that patients with NED (NED+) had a higher rate of inadequate weight loss one year post-surgery compared to those without NED (NED-), indicating a significant connection between emotional dysregulation and weight loss outcomes.
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Purpose: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. A positive association between ADHD and obesity has been observed, especially in adult samples. In this study, prevalence and correlates of self-reported symptoms indicative of a positive screening for ADHD were examined in patients seeking bariatric treatment.

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Introduction: Stimulants, including methylphenidate and amphetamines, are the first-line pharmacological treatment of ADHD in adults. However, in patients who do not respond or poorly tolerate stimulants, non-stimulant medications are usually recommended.

Areas Covered: The authors provide a narrative review of the literature on non-stimulant treatments for adult ADHD, including controlled and observational clinical studies conducted on adult samples.

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Even though pseudodementia has been historically linked to depression, other psychiatric conditions may cause reversible cognitive alterations. The purpose of this study is to improve our understanding of pseudodementia occurring throughout the entire bipolar spectrum. A systematic review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines.

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Depressive symptoms are a customary finding in hospitalized patients, particularly those who are undergoing long hospitalizations, underwent major surgical procedures or suffer from high levels of multimorbidity and frailty. The patients included in this case series shared high degrees of frailty-complexity and were evaluated within the ordinary consultation and liaison psychiatry service of the University Hospital in Pisa, Italy, from September 2021 to June 2023. Patients were administered at least one follow-up evaluation after a week and before discharge.

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The association between mood disorders, especially bipolar disorder (BD), and metabolic disorders, is long known. However, to which extent metabolic disorders affect the course of mood disorders in late life is still open to inquiring. To assess the impact of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) on late-life mood disorders a retrospective chart review was performed.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study aims to understand how psychiatric disorders, ADHD symptoms, and emotional dysregulation affect weight loss after bariatric surgery in obese patients.
  • Conducted at the Obesity Center of Pisa University Hospital, the research involved 99 participants, with follow-up evaluations focusing on psychiatric diagnoses, ADHD symptoms, and emotional regulation.
  • Results indicate that individuals with insufficient weight loss post-surgery had higher rates of binge eating disorder and emotional dysregulation, while factors like older age and higher pre-surgery BMI were linked to poorer weight loss outcomes.
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Objectives: Glutamatergic transmission and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) have been implicated in the pathophysiology schizophrenic spectrum and major depressive disorders. Less is known about the role of NMDARs in bipolar disorder (BD). The present systematic review aimed to investigate the role of NMDARs in BD, along with its possible neurobiological and clinical implications.

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Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Bipolar Disorder (BD) and Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) are common medical conditions often coexisting and exerting mutual influence on disease course and pharmacological treatment response. Each disorder, when considered separately, relies on different therapeutic approaches, making it crucial to detect the plausible association between them. Treating solely the emerging condition (e.

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Purpose: The co-occurrence of obesity, eating and mood disorders has been frequently reported in clinical and epidemiological settings. This study aimed to explore the prevalence of night-eating obese patients referred for bariatric surgery and to identify associated psychopathology and psychiatric comorbidity.

Methods: The sample was composed of 121 obese patients consecutively enrolled between November 2010 and May 2012 during psychiatric evaluations for bariatric intervention.

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Purpose: We aimed at investigating the lifetime prevalence of mood, eating and panic disorders in a large sample of obese patients referred to bariatric surgery. We also explored the patterns of psychiatric comorbidity and their relationship with Body Mass Index (BMI).

Methods: The sample was composed of patients consecutively referred for pre-surgical evaluation to the Obesity Center of Pisa University Hospital between January 2004 and November 2016.

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The amygdaloid body is a limbic nuclear complex characterized by connections with the thalamus, the brainstem and the neocortex. The recent advances in functional neurosurgery regarding the treatment of refractory epilepsy and several neuropsychiatric disorders renewed the interest in the study of its functional Neuroanatomy. In this scenario, we felt that a morphological study focused on the amygdaloid body and its connections could improve the understanding of the possible  implications in functional neurosurgery.

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Background: Obese patients seeking bariatric surgery are known to show high rates of mental disorders, mainly mood and eating disorders. The aim of the present study is to evaluate psychiatric comorbidities, affective temperamental dimensions, emotional dysregulation and impulsivity in a sample of obese bariatric patients, exploring the differences between obese patients with and without mood disorders (MD).

Methods: A total of 69 obese patients were consecutively enrolled between March and November 2019 during the presurgical evaluation routinely performed before the bariatric intervention.

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In the last decades, obesity has become a major concern for clinical and public health. Despite the variety of available treatments, the outcomes remain-by and large-still unsatisfactory, owing to high rates of nonresponse and relapse. Interestingly, obesity is being associated with a growing surge of neuropsychiatric problems, certainly related to the pathogenesis of this condition, and likely to be of great consequence as for its treatment and prognosis.

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