Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy with Mentalization-Based Techniques in Major Depressive Disorder patients: Relationship among alexithymia, reflective functioning, and outcome variables - A Pilot study.

Objectives: In depressed patients, recent advances have highlighted impairment in mentalizing: identifying and interpreting one's own or other's mental states. Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) has proven to be effective in reducing symptoms and improving relational/functional abilities in these subjects. Therefore, the first aim of our study was to evaluate effectiveness of STPP with Mentalization-Based Techniques (STMBP) on their clinical outcomes and the second, to investigate Reflective Functioning and alexithymia concerning treatment outcomes in depressed subjects.

Is it possible to assess subjective well-being among bipolar inpatients? An 18-week follow-up study.

Objective: The study evaluates the association between subjective well-being and psychopathology in bipolar inpatients at the time of hospitalization and during a follow-up period.

Method: One hundred twenty consecutive inpatients with a diagnosis of bipolar affective disorder were studied on admission (T0), at discharge (T1) and every 6 weeks for 18 weeks after hospitalization. The Young's Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) and the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D) were used to determine affective symptoms, while subjective well-being was assessed by subjective well-being under neuroleptic (SWN).

Role of COMT, 5-HT(1A) , and SERT genetic polymorphisms on antidepressant response to Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation.

Background: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is an effective technique in the treatment of depression, specifically in drug-resistant patients. However, there is little data available on the influence of genetic variables on TMS response.

Methods: We analyzed the role of three genetic polymorphisms that affected the antidepressant response: serotonin transporter promoter region (SERTPR) polymorphism, 5-HT(1A) serotonergic receptor promoter region polymorphism (rs6295), and the coding region of COMT gene polymorphism (rs4680).

Expressed emotion in wives of myocardial infarction patients: an exploratory feasibility study.

Introduction: We assessed the emotional components expressed by the spouses of patients at the first episode of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and considered potential underlying links among these components and the course of the cardiac symptoms over time. This was an exploratory prospective cohort study.

Methods: A sample of 50 consecutive male inpatients with a diagnosis of AMI and their wives was studied.

New perspectives on techniques for the clinical psychiatrist: Brain stimulation, chronobiology and psychiatric brain imaging.

This review summarizes a scientific dialogue between representatives in non-pharmacological treatment options of affective disorders. Among the recently introduced somatic treatments for depression those with most evidenced efficacy will be discussed. The first part of this article presents current opinions about the clinical applications of transcranial magnetic stimulation in the treatment of depression.

Role of serotonergic gene polymorphisms on response to transcranial magnetic stimulation in depression.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) has been extensively studied as a treatment for Major Depression. However, no data are available about the role of genetic variables on the response to this treatment. We analysed the role of two polymorphisms that influence the response to antidepressants: the polymorphisms of the serotonin transporter promoter region (SERTPR) and of the 5-HT(1A) serotonergic receptor promoter region (-1019C/G).

Does rTMS hasten the response to escitalopram, sertraline, or venlafaxine in patients with major depressive disorder? A double-blind, randomized, sham-controlled trial.

Background/objective: Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has been mainly studied as adjunctive treatment for drug-resistant patients. We assessed the effectiveness of rTMS started concomitantly with antidepressant medications in non-drug-resistant major depressive disorder patients. We also evaluated if, among the 3 antidepressants administered, one had a better synergy with rTMS.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation in treatment-resistant depressed patients: a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

This 5-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial investigated the efficacy and tolerability of high frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) directed to the left prefrontal cortex in drug-resistant depressed patients. Fifty-four patients were randomly assigned to receive 10 daily applications of either real or sham rTMS. Subjects assigned to receive active stimulation were divided into two further subgroups according to the intensity of stimulation: 80% vs.