Clinical experience with parenteral trazodone in mood disorders: A literature review.

Trazodone is a serotonin antagonist/reuptake inhibitor, approved for treating major depressive disorder (MDD). Oral formulations are widely studied and marketed in several countries worldwide while there is little evidence to support use of parenteral formulation. Our narrative review summarizes pharmacological properties and clinical data concerning use of parenteral trazodone in mood disorders.

Prescription Patterns of Intramuscular Medication for Psychomotor Agitation: A Survey of Italian Psychiatrists.

Objective: : Intramuscular medications are widely used to treat psychomotor agitation (PMA) in uncooperative patients. We evaluated knowledge and attitude towards guidelines and the prescribing patterns in a sample of Italian psychiatrists.

Methods: : A structured 28-item questionnaire was submitted to psychiatrists of Italian Departments of Mental Health.

Quetiapine Treatment for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder: A Systematic Review of the Literature.

Paroxetine and Sertraline are the only medications approved in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, about 60% of traumatized patients fail to show an adequate clinical response. Second generation antipsychotics are recommended as second-line monotherapy or third-line augmentation strategies and quetiapine appears as one of the most used and promising agents.

Efficacy of Olanzapine in Anxiety Dimension of Schizophrenia: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Anxiety symptoms and anxiety disorders are frequent in patients with schizophrenia and are associated with greater severity of both positive and negative symptoms, cognitive impairment, poorer functioning and quality of life. Accumulating evidence suggests that atypical antipsychotics may have a role in treating comorbid anxiety symptoms. A systematic review was conducted following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) and Cochrane guidelines, selecting randomized control trials (RCTs) that evaluated efficacy of olanzapine on anxiety symptoms in patients diagnosed with schizophrenia and included anxiety evaluation scales.

Lithium and Valproate in Bipolar Disorder: From International Evidence-based Guidelines to Clinical Predictors.

Since decades, lithium and valproate remain the pharmacological cornerstone to treat bipolar disorder. Different response patterns occur according to the phases of illness. At same time, individual pretreatment variables may concur to determine a specific drug-response.

Mid-term psychiatric consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic: a 4 months observational study on emergency room admissions for psychiatric evaluation after the (first) lockdown period in Italy.

Purpose: The aim of our study is to evaluate the number and the features of admissions to the emergency room (ER) requiring psychiatric consultation, in the period between May 4th and August 31st 2020.

Methods: We carried out a retrospective longitudinal observational study examining the 4 months following the initial lockdown imposed during the COVID-19 outbreak (May 4th and August 31st 2020). More specifically, the ER admissions leading to psychiatric referral were reviewed at all seven public hospitals of AUSL Romagna (Emilia Romagna region, Italy).

Effects of lockdown on emergency room admissions for psychiatric evaluation: an observational study from 4 centres in Italy.

An observation of the Emergency Room (ER) admissions during the lockdown. We monitored admissions to the ER requiring psychiatric evaluation during the 2020 lockdown (March 9-May 3, 2020) compared to the same period of 2019, in four sites of Northern Italy (ASST Lariana, AUSL Modena, ASU Friuli Centrale and AUSL Romagna). Number of admissions, baseline demographic and clinical variables were extracted from the clinical databases.

Effects of lockdown on emergency room admissions for psychiatric evaluation: an observational study from the AUSL Romagna, Italy.

Objectives: An observation of the admissions to the emergency room (ER) requiring psychiatric evaluation during the lockdown and investigation of the demographic and clinical variables.

Methods: Retrospective longitudinal observational study of ER accesses for psychiatric evaluation was performed, comparing two periods (9 March-3 May 2020 vs. 9 March-3 May 2019).

Antibacterial Properties of Silver Nanoparticles Embedded on Polyelectrolyte Hydrogels Based on α-Amino Acid Residues.

Polyelectrolyte hydrogels bearing l-phenylalanine (PHE), l-valine (AVA), and l-histidine (Hist) residues were used as scaffolds for the formation of silver nanoparticles by reduction of Ag⁺ ions with NaBH₄. The interaction with the metal ion allowed a prompt collapse of the swollen hydrogel, due to the neutralization reaction of basic groups present on the polymer. The imidazole nitrogen of the hydrogel with Hist demonstrated greater complexing capacity with the Ag⁺ ion compared to the hydrogels with carboxyl groups.

Morphovolumetric changes after EMDR treatment in drug-naïve PTSD patients.

Introduction: Few studies have investigated the effects of efficacious psychotherapy on structural alterations of discrete brain regions associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We therefore proposed to evaluate the neurobiological effects of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) on 19 patients with drug-naïve PTSD without comorbidity, matched with 19 untreated healthy controls.

Methods: We administered the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS) and conducted brain MRI measurements (with Optimized Voxel-Based Morphometry).

PTSD in victims of terroristic attacks - a comparison with the impact of other traumatic events on patients' lives.

Objectives: To identify possible differences, in terms of duration and severity of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, between victims of terrorist attacks and subjects who underwent other types of traumatic events.

Methods: A sample of subjects suffering from PTSD was selected. After a clinical interview aimed at the collection of anamnestic data, CAPS to confirm the diagnosis of PTSD and DTS to assess frequency and severity of post-traumatic symptoms were administered.

Polyelectrolyte Hydrogel Platforms for the Delivery of Antidepressant Drugs.

Some vinyl hydrogels containing α-amino acid residues (l-phenylalanine, l-valine) were used as polyelectrolyte platforms for the evaluation of the controlled release of two antidepressants (paroxetine and duloxetine). The closer acidity constant (pKa) values of the two drugs show a closer release profile in physiological phosphate buffered saline (PBS) buffer (pH 7.40) and for long periods of time.

Off-Label Trazodone Prescription: Evidence, Benefits and Risks.

Although trazodone is approved and marketed in most countries worldwide for the sole treatment of Major Depressive Disorder, the use for this medication is very common for many other conditions, such as primary or secondary insomnia, Generalised Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Obsessive- Compulsive Disorder. Other, not officially approved, uses of trazodone include: the treatment of bulimia, benzodiazepine and/or alcohol dependence or abuse, fibromyalgia, degenerative diseases of the central nervous system such as dementia and other organic disorders, schizophrenia, chronic pain, and diabetic neuropathy. In addition, due to its 5HT2A receptor antagonistic action, trazodone may be used to prevent the occurrence of initial and long-term side effects of SSRI, such as anxiety, insomnia and sexual dysfunction.

[Sexual dysfunctions, psychiatric diseases and quality of life: a review].

Sexual dysfunctions may have a significant effect on the quality of life, but are unreported and under-diagnosed. A review of recent literature highlights the correlation between dysfunction and a decreased quality of life in people with psychiatric comorbidity, and explores several aspects impacting care, from following the patient to pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments. Sexual dysfunctions (SD) have been shown to be prevalent, but under-diagnosed and un-dertreated because of communication barriers between patients and physicians.

[Light therapy as a treatment for sexual dysfunctions--beyond a pilot study].

Objectives: Seasonal trends were demonstrated in reproduction and sexual activity. Through the secretion ofmelatonin the pineal gland plays an important role in the neuroendocrine control of sexual function and reproductive physiology. We hypothesized that inhibition of the pineal gland activity through a light treatment may favorably affect sexual function.

[Diagnostic mistakes in post-traumatic stress disorder. The problem of symptom overlap with depression].

Objectives: The overlap between symptoms of PTSD and MDD is substantial. PTSD symptoms arise after a traumatic experience and the trauma is present in all of the diagnostic clusters. In individuals who have experienced a trauma a long time before, it is difficult to establish the exact moment of onset of their symptoms in relation to the trauma suffered.

Long-term doxorubicin release from multiple stimuli-responsive hydrogels based on α-amino-acid residues.

We have developed a series of pH- and temperature-stimuli-sensitive vinyl hydrogels, bearing α-amino acid residues (L-phenylalanine, L-valine) and incorporating magnetic nanoparticles of different chemical compositions (CoFe2O4 and Fe3O4). The goal was to study the potential applications of these nanocomposites in the controlled release of doxorubicin (DOXO), a potent anticancer drug. The strength of the electrostatic interaction between the protonated nitrogen of the DOXO molecule and the ionized carboxylic groups of the hydrogel allowed effective control of the drug release rate in saline solutions.

Off-label uses of trazodone: a review.

Introduction: Trazodone is an antidepressant belonging to the class of serotonin receptor antagonists and reuptake inhibitors. It is approved by the FDA for the treatment of depression. Insomnia is the most frequent reason for prescription of trazodone.

[Evaluation study of clinical and neurobiological efficacy of EMDR in patients suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder].

Unlabelled: Strong evidences support use of EMDR in patients suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Aim: To evaluate clinical and neurobiological-structural efficacy of EMDR on drug-naïve PTSD without comorbidity.

Materials And Methods: We made clinical evaluation and hippocampal volume measurement by MRI on 29 subjects suffering from PTSD and on 30 healthy control-subjects.