Molecular and immunological origins of catatonia.

Catatonia occurs secondary to both primary psychiatric and neuromedical etiologies. Emerging evidence suggests possible linkages between causes of catatonia and neuroinflammation. These include obvious infectious and inflammatory etiologies, common neuromedical illnesses such as delirium, and psychiatric entities such as depression and autism-spectrum disorders.

A narrative review on yoga: a potential intervention for augmenting immunomodulation and mental health in COVID-19.

Background: The ongoing novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has a significant mortality rate of 3-5%. The principal causes of multiorgan failure and death are cytokine release syndrome and immune dysfunction. Stress, anxiety, and depression has been aggravated by the pandemic and its resultant restrictions in day-to-day life which may contribute to immune dysregulation.

Reporting on neurological burden in Hargeisa, Somaliland between 2019 and 2020: A cross-sectional study.

Background And Objectives: To characterize the disease burden of neurological cases in Hargeisa, Somaliland between January 2019 and June 2020 in order to shape clinical guidelines and develop policy interventions pertaining to brain health in the region.

Methods: In this retrospective, cross-sectional study, data was obtained from a case log of de-identified patients seen over an 18-month period. This case log was pulled from Hargeisa's three major city hospitals.

Meditative and Mindfulness-Focused Interventions in Neurology: Principles, Science, and Patient Selection.

A growing body of research suggests that meditative- and mindfulness-focused interventions may improve neuropsychiatric symptoms that commonly occur in a range of neurological disorders. In this article, the principles of meditation and mindfulness are first defined, as well as briefly describing the neurobiological mechanisms implicated in these interventions. Thereafter, a range of meditative- and mindfulness-focused interventions are detailed, along with their supporting evidence to treat neuropsychiatric symptoms in neurological conditions (e.

Mental health interventions following COVID-19 and other coronavirus infections: a systematic review of current recommendations and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Objective: To review the most common mental health strategies aimed at alleviating and/or preventing mental health problems in individuals during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and other coronavirus pandemics.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review of the literature assessing three databases (PubMed, SCOPUS, and PsycINFO). A meta-analysis was performed with data from randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

A Pilot Study of a Stress Management Program for Incarcerated Veterans.

Introduction: Veterans involved in the justice system are an understudied population warranting attention given their higher risk of mental health concerns and psychosocial challenges. Thus, there is a need for programs to support the psychological health of incarcerated veterans. The present study sought to determine the acceptability and effectiveness of a mind-body stress reduction program for incarcerated veterans.

A pilot study of a mind-body stress management program for student veterans.

Background: Student veterans are an at-risk population given the challenges of military experience, reintegration to civilian life, and attending college. Therefore, there is a need for innovative programs to support student veterans. The present study sought to determine the acceptability and effectiveness of a 10-week mind-body stress reduction intervention for student veterans, or Resilient Student Warrior.

Establishing reliability and validity for mental health screening instruments in resource-constrained settings: Systematic review of the PHQ-9 and key recommendations.

Mental illness is one of the largest contributors to the global disease burden. The importance of valid and reliable mental health measures is crucial in order to accurately measure said burden, to capture symptom improvement, and to ensure that symptoms are appropriately identified and quantified. This is of particular importance in low and middle-income countries (LMICs), where the burden of mental illness is relatively high, and there is heterogeneity in linguistic, racial, and ethnic groups.

Delirium in COVID-19: A case series and exploration of potential mechanisms for central nervous system involvement.

Introduction: Neuropsychiatric manifestations of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have been described, including anosmia, ageusia, headache, paresthesia, encephalitis and encephalopathy. Little is known about the mechanisms by which the virus causes central nervous system (CNS) symptoms, and therefore little guidance is available regarding potential workup or management options.

Cases: We present a series of four consecutive cases, seen by our psychiatry consultation service over a one-week period, each of which manifested delirium as a result of infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2).

Qigong for the Prevention, Treatment, and Rehabilitation of COVID-19 Infection in Older Adults.

The elderly are at high risk of contracting respiratory infectious diseases, including COVID-19 infection. The recent pandemic has the potential to cause significant physical and mental damage in older adults. Similarly to other mind-body exercises in Traditional Chinese medicine, Qigong features regulation of breath rhythm and pattern, body movement and posture, and meditation.

Early-life trauma endophenotypes and brain circuit-gene expression relationships in functional neurological (conversion) disorder.

Functional neurological (conversion) disorder (FND) is a neuropsychiatric condition whereby individuals present with sensorimotor symptoms incompatible with other neurological disorders. Early-life maltreatment (ELM) is a risk factor for developing FND, yet few studies have investigated brain network-trauma relationships in this population. In this neuroimaging-gene expression study, we used two graph theory approaches to elucidate ELM subtype effects on resting-state functional connectivity architecture in 30 patients with motor FND.

Systematic review of burnout among healthcare providers in sub-Saharan Africa.

Background: Burnout is characterized by physical and emotional exhaustion from long-term exposure to emotionally demanding work. Burnout affects interpersonal skills, job performance, career satisfaction, and psychological health. However, little is known about the burden of burnout among healthcare providers in sub-Saharan Africa.

Catatonia in patients with anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis.

Aim: There is a lack of studies related to the frequency, phenomenology, and associated features of catatonic syndrome in patients with anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis (ANMDARE). This study aimed to measure the frequency of catatonia in this condition and to delineate its particular symptoms.

Methods: A prospective study was done with all inpatients who fulfilled the criteria of definite ANMDARE admitted to the National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery of Mexico from January 2014 to September 2018.

Fearful Attachment Linked to Childhood Abuse, Alexithymia, and Depression in Motor Functional Neurological Disorders.

Insecure attachment is a predisposing risk factor for the development of functional neurological disorder (FND). There is limited research investigating connections between attachment styles, other predisposing vulnerabilities, and symptom severity in patients with motor FND. By using a within-group design with prospective data collection, the authors performed univariate tests followed by multivariate linear regressions to investigate neuropsychiatric factors associated with four attachment styles (secure, fearful, preoccupied, and dismissing) among 56 patients with motor FND (mean age=40.

Secure Attachment and Depression Predict 6-Month Outcome in Motor Functional Neurological Disorders: A Prospective Pilot Study.

Background: The relationships between baseline neuropsychiatric factors and clinical outcome in patients with functional neurological disorder (FND)/conversion disorder remain poorly understood.

Objective: This prospective, naturalistic pilot study investigated links between predisposing vulnerabilities (risk factors) and clinical outcome in patients with motor FND engaged in usual care within a subspecialty FND clinic.

Methods: Thirty-four patients with motor FND were enrolled and completed baseline and 6-month follow-up psychometric questionnaires.

Evolving a new neuropsychiatry.

Clinical neuroscience struggles with poor scientific validity of neuropsychiatric diagnosis and its negative impact on management. Sydenham's ancient conformity of type approach to nosology with its assumption that the symptom cluster and course of a disorder are due to a common etiology, has proven no match for the complicated comorbidities faced in neuropsychiatry. In the absence of accurate pathological biomarkers there is a challenge in finding a solid foundation for modern neuropsychiatry.

Military and Veteran Caregivers' Perspectives of Stressors and a Mind-Body Program.

There are over one million post-9/11 military caregivers in the United States who face a variety of stressors inherent to caring for an incapacitated loved one. Mind-body interventions, such as the Stress Management and Resilience Training Relaxation Response Resiliency Program (SMART-3RP), have been shown to reduce stress and improve overall health and functioning. The present qualitative study aims to explore stressors experienced by military caregivers in their caregiving role and to assess attitudes towards the virtual delivery of the SMART-3RP.