The Effectiveness of Short-Term Group Psychoeducation for Patients With Bipolar Disorder in Japan.

Introduction Psychoeducation is a form of psychosocial treatment with proven efficacy in preventing the relapse of bipolar disorder (BD). However, the effectiveness of psychoeducation has not been verified in Japan. We aimed to examine the effect of a brief group psychoeducation course (eight-session long) on relapse prevention in Japanese patients with BD and associated factors.

Association Between the Japanese Version of the Stanford Integrated Psychosocial Assessment for Transplantation and Adjustment Disorder in Japanese Patients Using Ventricular Assist Devices as a Bridge to Heart Transplantation.

Objective: Ventricular assist device (VAD) serves as either a bridge to transplantation (BTT) or destination therapy (DT) for end-stage heart failure. In Japan, the extended wait time for heart transplants can make VAD usage for BTT comparable in duration to DT in other countries. Previous studies suggest that while DT patients experience improved quality of life post-VAD implantation, BTT patients often see a decline after two years.

Effect of intermittent subchronic MK-801 administration on dopamine synthesis capacity and responsiveness in the prefrontal cortex.

Aim: The therapeutic potential of N-methyl-D-aspartate glutamate receptor (NMDAR) antagonists, particularly ketamine, in mood disorders, is linked to their modulation of dopamine dynamics in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). However, conflicting effects of distinct NMDAR antagonists, like ketamine and phencyclidine, on mPFC dopamine levels stem from variances in their receptor affinity profiles. This study investigates the impact of intermittent subchronic administration of an NMDAR antagonist on dopamine synthesis capacity and responsiveness within the mPFC, focusing on Dizocilpine (MK-801), a highly selective NMDAR antagonist.

Effects of chronic haloperidol treatment on the expression of fear memory and fear memory extinction in the cued fear-conditioned rats.

Aim: Impairments in emotional memory are frequently observed in several mental disorders, highlighting their significance as potential therapeutic targets. Recent research on the cued fear conditioning model has elucidated the neural circuits involved in fear memory processing. However, contradictory findings have been reported concerning the role of dopamine and the impact of dopamine D2 receptor (D2R) antagonists.

Association of the Stanford Integrated Psychosocial Assessment for Transplant and 1-Year Outcome of Living Kidney Transplantation in Japan.

Background: Because most kidney transplantations in Japan are performed on the basis of living donors, after-transplant outcomes should achieve optimum results, overcoming participants' possible reduced adherence.

Objective: To investigate the association between the Japanese version of the Stanford Integrated Psychosocial Assessment for Transplantation (SIPAT-J) and outcomes, 1 year after the patient's living kidney transplant (LKT).

Methods: The prospective cohort study was undertaken at Tokyo Women's Medical University Hospital from January 2020 to July 2021, with a 1-year follow-up period.