Unhealthy lifestyle impacts on biological systems involved in stress response: hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, inflammation and autonomous nervous system.

An unhealthy lifestyle has a critical role in the pathogenesis and course of several chronic disorders. It has been hypothesized that lifestyle may also impact biological systems involved in stress response. A global index of unhealthy lifestyle was calculated based on the cumulative presence of five self-reported lifestyle habits (smoking, excessive alcohol use, drug use, low physical activity and short sleep) in 2783 participants (18-65 years) from the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety.

Sex-related effects in major depressive disorder: Results of the European Group for the Study of Resistant Depression.

Background: Sex-related effects on the evolution and phenotype of major depressive disorder (MDD) were reported previously.

Methods: This European multicenter cross-sectional study compared sociodemographic, clinical, and treatment patterns between males and females in a real-world sample of 1410 in- and outpatients with current MDD.

Results: Male MDD patients (33.

The Role of Relationship Status in Major Depressive Disorder - Results of the European Group for the Study of Resistant Depression.

Background: While the association between relationship status and the development of depressive symptoms in the general population were reported previously, its relation to the severity and the course of major depressive disorder (MDD) as well as the treatment patterns and response rates needs to be elucidated.

Methods: The present international multicenter cross-sectional study performed by the European Group for the Study of Resistant Depression (GSRD) investigated socio-demographic and clinical patterns of relationship status in a real-world sample of 1410 adult in- and outpatients with MDD as primary diagnosis.

Results: While 49.

Possible Modulatory Role of ARC Gene Variants in Mood Disorders.

Objective: The genetic background of mood disorders is gradually emerging through the use of large multicenter samples but a detailed phenotyping is complementary in elucidating the role of modulating variants.

Methods: In the present paper we focused on the possible modulatory effects of ARC gene variants on two independent mood disorder samples of European (n = 246 bipolar disorder) and Korean (n = 132 bipolar disorder; n = 242 major depressive disorder [MDD]) ancestry.

Results: No result survived Bonferroni correction, however we evidenced promising trend toward possible association between ARC gene variants and mood disorder phenotypes.

Rates of comorbid obsessive-compulsive disorder in eating disorders: A meta-analysis of the literature.

Background: The high comorbidity between Eating Disorders (EDs) and Obsessive-Compulsive disorder (OCD) is well known, as well as its implications in terms of worse outcome and need to adapt treatment. Estimates of OCD comorbidities in EDs are variable in different studies and poorly informative for clinical purposes. In this study, we sought to derive more consistent estimates, taking into account potential methodological and sampling confounding factors.

Correction to: Psychiatric disorders and SLC6A4 gene variants: possible effects on alcohol dependence and alzheimer's disease.

The following authors have double affiliations: Stefania Boccia, Marco Di Nicola and they should read.

Genetic variants associated with psychotic symptoms across psychiatric disorders.

Background: Recent evidence suggests that psychiatric symptoms share a common genetic liability across diagnostic categories. The present study investigated the effects of variants within previously identified relevant genes on specific symptom clusters, independently from the diagnosis.

Methods: 1550 subjects affected by Schizophrenia (SCZ), Major Depressive Disorder or Bipolar Disorder were included.

Psychiatric disorders and SLC6A4 gene variants: possible effects on alcohol dependence and alzheimer's disease.

Serotoninergic system is one of the most important neurotransmission systems investigated in the field of psychiatry. Extensive evidence reveals how alterations of this system, and especially of the SLC6A4 gene, may be associated with psychiatric disorders. In this study we aimed to evaluate the pleiotropic nature of SLC6A4 alterations and their association with the overall risk of brain diseases rather than disorder-specific.

Metabolic Syndrome, Mild Cognitive Impairment, and Dementia: A Meta-Analysis of Longitudinal Studies.

Objective: A systematic review and a meta-analysis of both clinical and population-based studies was undertaken according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement to clarify whether Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) is a risk or a protective factor for incident dementia, Alzheimer disease (AD), and vascular dementia (VaD), and whether it's involved in progression to dementia in patients affected by mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

Methods: Search terms included ("metabolic syndrome" OR "syndrome x" OR "plurimetabolic syndrome") AND ("dementia" OR "Alzheimer disease" OR "vascular dementia" OR "mild cognitive impairment" OR "MCI"). Research was restricted to articles published in English between January 1, 2000 and August 31, 2018.

High occupational level is associated with poor response to the treatment of depression: A replication study.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a leading cause of disability and inability to work. There is evidence that occupational factors may precipitate a MDD episode and interfere with the recovery process. In a previous investigation, we found that those employed in high occupational levels had a worse outcome after treatment for depression (Mandelli et al.

A Pharmacogenomic-based Antidepressant Treatment for Patients with Major Depressive Disorder: Results from an 8-week, Randomized, Single-blinded Clinical Trial.

Objective: Pharmacogenomic-based antidepressant treatment (PGATx) may result in more precise pharmacotherapy of major depressive disorder (MDD) with better drug therapy guidance.

Methods: An 8-week, randomized, single-blind clinical trial was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness and tolerability of PGATx in 100 patients with MDD. All recruited patients were randomly allocated either to PGATx (n=52) or treatment as usual (TAU, n=48) groups.

Opinion paper: poor response to treatment of depression in people in high occupational levels.

The working environment may have a significant effect on response to treatment of depression and this issue has not yet been sufficiently addressed in the scientific literature. There is evidence showing that being engaged in high-level positions can be an obstacle to the success of treatment. This article discusses the few evidence in the literature and some of the possible mechanisms involved.

Neuroplasticity, Neurotransmission and Brain-Related Genes in Major Depression and Bipolar Disorder: Focus on Treatment Outcomes in an Asiatic Sample.

Introduction: Mood disorders are common and disabling disorders. Despite the availability of over 100 psychotropic compounds, only one-third of patients benefit from first-line treatments. Over the past 20 years, many studies have focused on the biological factors modulating disease risk and response to treatments, but with still inconclusive data.

Psychopathological Features of Bipolar Depression: Italian Validation of the Bipolar Depression Rating Scale (I-BDRS).

Aim of the study was the validation of the Bipolar Disorder Rating Scale (BDRS) in an Italian population. Secondary aim was the evaluation of differences between unipolar and bipolar depression and between bipolar I and II depressed patients. 125 Bipolar Disorder and 60 Major Depressive Disorder patients were administered an Italian translation of the BDRS (I-BDRS), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) and Temperament and Character Inventory-Revised (TCI-R).

Genes Involved in Neurodevelopment, Neuroplasticity, and Bipolar Disorder: CACNA1C, CHRNA1, and MAPK1.

Background: Bipolar disorder (BPD) is a common and severe mental disorder. The involvement of genetic factors in the pathophysiology of BPD is well known. In the present study, we tested the association of several single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within 3 strong candidate genes (CACNA1C, CHRNA7, and MAPK1) with BPD.

The Impact of a Single Nucleotide Polymorphism in SIGMAR1 on Depressive Symptoms in Major Depressive Disorder and Bipolar Disorder.

Introduction: Ample evidence suggested a role of sigma-1 receptor in affective disorders since the interaction of numerous antidepressants with sigma receptors was discovered. A recent study on Japanese subjects found a genetic variant within the encoding gene SIGMAR1 (rs1800866A>C) associated with major depressive disorder (MDD). We aimed to evaluate the same polymorphism in both MDD and bipolar disorder (BD) as well as its relationship to response to treatment with antidepressants and mood stabilizers.

Consensus paper of the WFSBP Task Force on Genetics: Genetics, epigenetics and gene expression markers of major depressive disorder and antidepressant response.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a heritable disease with a heavy personal and socio-economic burden. Antidepressants of different classes are prescribed to treat MDD, but reliable and reproducible markers of efficacy are not available for clinical use. Further complicating treatment, the diagnosis of MDD is not guided by objective criteria, resulting in the risk of under- or overtreatment.

Bipolar II disorder as a risk factor for postpartum depression.

Objectives: There is evidence for a bipolar diathesis in postpartum depression (PPD) and women presenting with a first PPD frequently receive a diagnosis of bipolar type II disorder (BD-II). However formal evidence for an association between BD-II and PPD has not yet been reported. In the present study we tested a potential association between BD-II and PPD.

High occupational level is associated with poor response to treatment of depression.

Depression may be complicated by work-related stress and, in turn, depression is a leading cause of disability in workplaces. Though available effective treatments, only one third of patients reach full remission after a first treatment trial and nearly half of the patients are non-responders. Occupational level has been found to be a reliable predictor of health outcome in the general population.

Age of Onset in Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders: Complex Interactions between Genetic and Environmental Factors.

In this study we evaluated the role of a candidate gene for major psychosis, Sialyltransferase (ST8SIA2), in the risk to develop a schizophrenia spectrum disorders, taking into account exposure to stressful life events (SLEs). Eight polymorphisms (SNPs) were tested in 94 Schizophreniainpatients and 176 healthy controls. Schizophrenia patients were also evaluated for SLEs in different life periods.