Social processes as the missing link: cross-sectionally testing a conceptual model on social mediators of early psychopathological development.

Background: Research suggests that most mental health conditions have their onset in the critically social period of adolescence. Yet, we lack understanding of the potential social processes underlying early psychopathological development. We propose a conceptual model where daily-life social interactions and social skills form an intermediate link between known risk and protective factors (adverse childhood experiences, bullying, social support, maladaptive parenting) and psychopathology in adolescents - that is explored using cross-sectional data.

A phase 1/2 trial to assess safety and efficacy of a vaporized 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine formulation (GH001) in patients with treatment-resistant depression.

Background: Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) is a substantial public health burden, but current treatments have limited effectiveness. The aim was to investigate the safety and potential antidepressant effects of the serotonergic psychedelic drug 5-MeO-DMT in a vaporized formulation (GH001) in adult patients with TRD.

Methods: The Phase 1 part ( = 8) of the trial investigated two single dose levels of GH001 (12 mg, 18 mg) with a primary endpoint of safety, and the Phase 2 part ( = 8) investigated an individualized dosing regimen (IDR) with up to three increasing doses of GH001 (6 mg, 12 mg, and 18 mg) within a single day, with a primary endpoint of efficacy, as assessed by the proportion of patients in remission (MADRS ≤ 10) on day 7.

A replication study of JTC bias, genetic liability for psychosis and delusional ideation.

Background: This study attempted to replicate whether a bias in probabilistic reasoning, or 'jumping to conclusions'(JTC) bias is associated with being a sibling of a patient with schizophrenia spectrum disorder; and if so, whether this association is contingent on subthreshold delusional ideation.

Methods: Data were derived from the EUGEI project, a 25-centre, 15-country effort to study psychosis spectrum disorder. The current analyses included 1261 patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorder, 1282 siblings of patients and 1525 healthy comparison subjects, recruited in Spain (five centres), Turkey (three centres) and Serbia (one centre).

The jumping to conclusions reasoning bias as a cognitive factor contributing to psychosis progression and persistence: findings from NEMESIS-2.

Background: Contemporary models of psychosis implicate the importance of affective dysregulation and cognitive factors (e.g. biases and schemas) in the development and maintenance of psychotic symptoms, but studies testing proposed mechanisms remain limited.

[A man with strange genital warts].

A 36-year-old man came to the outpatient dermatology department with asymptomatic, skin-coloured to white/yellow, firm papules on his prepuce. Over the last 10 years he had received different treatments for condylomata accuminata, with no effect. After shave excision, the diagnosis of idiopathic calcinosis cutis was made.

Multidrug-resistant Mycoplasma genitalium infections in Europe.

In Japan and Australia, multidrug-resistant Mycoplasma genitalium infections are reported with increasing frequency. Although macrolide-resistant M. genitalium strains are common in Europe and North America, fluoroquinolone-resistant strains are still exceptional.

Topical rapamycin as a treatment for fibrofolliculomas in Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome: a double-blind placebo-controlled randomized split-face trial.

Background: Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome (BHD) is a rare autosomal dominant disorder characterised by the occurrence of benign, mostly facial, skin tumours called fibrofolliculomas, multiple lung cysts, spontaneous pneumothorax and an increased renal cancer risk. Current treatments for fibrofolliculomas have high rates of recurrence and carry a risk of complications. It would be desirable to have a treatment that could prevent fibrofolliculomas from growing.

Does assessment type matter? A measurement invariance analysis of online and paper and pencil assessment of the Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences (CAPE).

Background: The psychometric properties of an online test are not necessarily identical to its paper and pencil original. The aim of this study is to test whether the factor structure of the Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences (CAPE) is measurement invariant with respect to online vs. paper and pencil assessment.

[18F]MK-9470 PET measurement of cannabinoid CB1 receptor availability in chronic cannabis users.

Δ(9) -Tetrahydrocannabinol, the main psychoactive component of cannabis, exerts its central effects through activation of the cerebral type 1 cannabinoid (CB1 ) receptor. Pre-clinical studies have provided evidence that chronic cannabis exposure is linked to decreased CB1 receptor expression and this is thought to be a component underlying drug tolerance and dependence. In this study, we make first use of the selective high-affinity positron emission tomography (PET) ligand [(18) F]MK-9470 to obtain in vivo measurements of cerebral CB1 receptor availability in 10 chronic cannabis users (age = 26.

[Cannabis use and the risk of psychotic disorders. An update].

Background: The use of cannabis has been linked to an increased risk for psychosis, irrespective of confounding factors such as age, gender, use of other drugs and reverse causality. Over the last few years a great deal of research has been done to broaden our understanding of the underlying mechanisms of this link.

Aim: To update studies that have examined the link between cannabis use and psychosis and that have investigated the possible mechanisms underlying this link.

Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol-induced dopamine release as a function of psychosis risk: 18F-fallypride positron emission tomography study.

Cannabis use is associated with psychosis, particularly in those with expression of, or vulnerability for, psychotic illness. The biological underpinnings of these differential associations, however, remain largely unknown. We used Positron Emission Tomography and (18)F-fallypride to test the hypothesis that genetic risk for psychosis is expressed by differential induction of dopamine release by Δ(9)-THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, the main psychoactive ingredient of cannabis).

Is psychotic disorder associated with increased levels of craving for cannabis? An Experience Sampling study.

Objective: Although cannabis use among individuals with psychotic disorder is considerable, little is known about patterns of use and factors contributing to continuation of use. Therefore, we investigated craving in relation to cannabis use in patients with psychotic disorder and healthy controls.

Method: The study included 58 patients with non-affective psychotic disorder and 63 healthy controls; all were frequent cannabis users.

To cut a short test even shorter: reliability and validity of a brief assessment of intellectual ability in schizophrenia--a control-case family study.

Background: The potential inclusion of cognitive assessments in the DSM-V and large time-consuming assessments drive a need for short tests of cognitive impairments. We examined the reliability and validity of a brief, 15-minute, version of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-III (WAIS-III).

Methods: The sample consisted of patients diagnosed with schizophrenia (n=75), their siblings without schizophrenia (n=74) and unrelated healthy controls (n=84).

Replication in two independent population-based samples that childhood maltreatment and cannabis use synergistically impact on psychosis risk.

Background: There may be biological plausibility to the notion that cannabis use and childhood trauma or maltreatment synergistically increase the risk for later development of psychotic symptoms. To replicate and further investigate this issue, prospective data from two independent population-based studies, the Greek National Perinatal Study (n=1636) and The Netherlands Mental Health Survey and Incidence Study (NEMESIS) (n=4842), were analyzed.

Method: Two different data sets on cannabis use and childhood maltreatment were used.

Do cannabis and urbanicity co-participate in causing psychosis? Evidence from a 10-year follow-up cohort study.

Background: Cannabis use is considered a component cause of psychotic illness, interacting with genetic and other environmental risk factors. Little is known, however, about these putative interactions. The present study investigated whether an urban environment plays a role in moderating the effects of adolescent cannabis use on psychosis risk.

Continued cannabis use and risk of incidence and persistence of psychotic symptoms: 10 year follow-up cohort study.

Objective: To determine whether use of cannabis in adolescence increases the risk for psychotic outcomes by affecting the incidence and persistence of subclinical expression of psychosis in the general population (that is, expression of psychosis below the level required for a clinical diagnosis).

Design: Analysis of data from a prospective population based cohort study in Germany (early developmental stages of psychopathology study).

Setting: Population based cohort study in Germany.

Age at onset of psychotic disorder: cannabis, BDNF Val66Met, and sex-specific models of gene-environment interaction.

Discovering modifiable predictors for age at onset may help to identify predictors of transition to psychotic disorder in the "at-risk mental state." Inconsistent effects of sex, BDNF Val66Met (rs6265), and cannabis use on age of onset were previously reported. BDNF Val66Met and cannabis use before illness onset were retrospectively assessed in a sample of 585 patients with schizophrenia and their association with age at onset was evaluated.

Anogenital malignancies and pre-malignancies.

Anogenital pre-malignancies and malignancies are frequently encountered. Aetiopathogenetically, human papillomavirus (HPV) infection plays a critical role. However, there is a variable degree of association of HPV infection with the development of anogenital malignancies.

Does cannabidiol protect against the negative effects of THC?

A recent study by Morgan and colleagues found that cannabidiol attenuates the acute cognitive effects of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). This is of interest as THC has been associated with the detrimental effects of cannabis on mental health in at-risk users, and the potency of cannabis is increasing across Europe.

Does dopamine mediate the psychosis-inducing effects of cannabis? A review and integration of findings across disciplines.

General population epidemiological studies have consistently found that cannabis use increases the risk of developing psychotic disorders in a dose-dependent manner. While the epidemiological signal between cannabis and psychosis has gained considerable attention, the biological mechanism whereby cannabis increases risk for psychosis remains poorly understood. Animal research suggests that delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC, the main psychoactive component of cannabis) increases dopamine levels in several regions of the brain, including striatal and prefrontal areas.

Psychosis reactivity to cannabis use in daily life: an experience sampling study.

Background: Little is known about the experiential dynamics of the interaction between cannabis and vulnerability to psychosis.

Aims: To examine the effects of cannabis on psychotic symptoms and mood in patients with psychosis and healthy controls.

Method: Patients with a psychotic disorder (n = 42) and healthy controls (n = 38) were followed in their daily lives using a structured time-sampling technique.