Association of Alcohol Use Disorder Risk With , and Genetic Polymorphisms.

Background/aim: Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a chronic, multifactorial psychiatric condition with an enormous impact on public health and social cost. Genetic studies suggest a heritability, and genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have revealed genetic polymorphisms influencing AUD development. Our study aimed to investigate known variants located in ADH1B, DRD2, FAAH, SLC39A8, GCKR, and PDYN genes (rs1229984, rs7121986, rs324420, rs13107325, rs1260326, rs2281285 respectively) in an AUD Greek cohort in order to shed more light on the genetic predisposition to AUD.

[Greek students' attitudes towards mental disorders].

Attitudes and beliefs of the population regarding the mentally ill have been universally subject of many researches. Research of different groups' opinion for mental disorders has given remarkable findings that assist in the right design of psychiatric services. Objective of this thesis is to study the attitude of students towards mental illness.

[Forensic psychiatry and Islamic law].

Islam is the second most popular monotheistic religion in the world. Its followers, the Muslims, are about 1.2 billion people and are the majority in 56 countries around the globe.

Mental health law in Greece.

Like all European countries, Greece has developed its national legislation based on the principles of equality and the right of representation, but there is no separate, specific mental health law in Greece. This paper describes the law for involuntary psychiatric admission. The law concerning criminal and civil responsibility and the law relating to individuals with addictions committing drug-related crimes are also outlined.

Can cognitive deficits differentiate between schizophrenia with and without obsessive-compulsive symptoms?

Background: The frequent occurrence of obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS) in the course of schizophrenia and their impact on the functional outcome of the illness underlie the suggestion that the presence of OCS represents a separate subtype of schizophrenia, with a distinct clinical presentation and prognosis and specific neurobiological characteristics. This study investigated whether the presence of OCS in schizophrenia is associated with worse cognitive functioning in the domains of processing speed, executive functions and visuospatial memory. We also explored whether the degree of impairment in any of these cognitive domains could predict group membership (i.

A case-control validation of Type D personality in Greek patients with stable coronary heart disease.

Background: Type D personality has been associated with a variety of emotional and social difficulties as well as with poor prognosis in patients with established coronary heart disease (CHD). We examined the psychometric properties and validity of the Type D Scale-14 (DS14) and the prevalence of Type D personality among Greek patients with CHD while taking into account demographic; clinical, such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia; as well as psychological variables such as depression, anxiety, and psychological stress.

Methods: Ninety-six patients with stable coronary heart disease and 80 healthy participants from the general population completed the Greek version of the DS14 and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS).

Differential diagnosis of obsessive-compulsive symptoms from delusions in schizophrenia: A phenomenological approach.

Several studies suggest increased prevalence-rates of obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS) and even of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in patients with schizophrenic disorders. Moreover, it has been recently proposed the existence of a distinct diagnostic sub-group of schizo-obsessive disorder. However, the further investigation of the OCS or OCD-schizophrenia diagnostic comorbidity presupposes the accurate clinical differential diagnosis of obsessions and compulsions from delusions and repetitive delusional behaviours, respectively.

Effects of cabergoline on hyperprolactinemia, psychopathology, and sexual functioning in schizophrenic patients.

Antipsychotic medications are associated to different degrees with sexual dysfunction mainly through their potential to induce hyperprolactinemia. Prolactin (PRL) secretion is mainly regulated by the hypothalamic dopaminergic systems. We conducted this 6-month, parallel-group study to prospectively investigate the effects of the dopamine agonist cabergoline on sexual dysfunction in clinically stable patients with schizophrenia (DSM-IV, AP 194) and hyperprolactinemia (PRL > 20 ng/ml for men and PRL > 25 ng/ml for women).

An open-label pilot study of a formulation containing the anti-inflammatory flavonoid luteolin and its effects on behavior in children with autism spectrum disorders.

Background: Accumulating evidence suggests an association between autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and inflammation in brain regions related to cognitive function. The natural flavonoid luteolin has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, mast cell-blocking, and neuroprotective effects. It was shown to improve cognitive performance in a mouse model of ASD, but its effect in humans has not been adequately studied.

A magnetic resonance imaging study of hippocampal, amygdala and subgenual prefrontal cortex volumes in major depression subtypes: melancholic versus psychotic depression.

Background: Volumetric studies examining brain structure in depression subtypes are limited and inconclusive. The aim of the current study was to compare the volumes of brain regions previously implicated in depression among patients with melancholic major depressive disorder (MDD), patients with psychotic MDD and normal controls.

Methods: Twenty two patients with melancholic MDD, 17 with psychotic MDD and 18 normal controls were included in the study.

Differences between elderly voluntary and involuntary admitted psychiatric patients in Greece.

Background: Involuntary psychiatric admission is a controversial issue with legislation varying from country to country. Research on elderly individuals being involuntary admitted has been limited. This study aims first at assessing whether elderly involuntary admitted patients (IAPs) differ with regard to demographic, psychopathological, and behavioral characteristics from voluntary admitted psychiatric patients (VAPs) and second to assess whether the former group should be treated in a different (special) way.

Factors affecting hospital stay in psychiatric patients: the role of active comorbidity.

Background: Research on length of stay (LOS) of psychiatric inpatients is an under-investigated issue. In this naturalistic study factors which affect LOS of two groups of patients were investigated, focusing on the impact on LOS of medical comorbidity severe enough to require referral.

Methods: Active medical comorbidity was quantified using referral as the criterion.

Hypogonadism due to hyperprolactinemia and subsequent first episode of psychosis.

Background: Hyperprolactinemia causes hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism. Hyperprolactinemia can be pre-existing in some patients with schizophrenia. Dopamine is the most important prolactin-inhibiting factor, and dopaminergic hyperactivity has been implicated in the pathophysiology of psychosis.

A case of autophagia: a man who was mutilating his fingers by biting them.

Self-mutilating behaviors could be minor and benign, but more severe cases are usually associated with psychiatric disorders or with acquired nervous system lesions and could be life-threatening. The patient was a 66-year-old man who had been mutilating his fingers for 6 years. This behavior started as serious nail biting and continued as severe finger mutilation (by biting), resulting in loss of the terminal phalanges of all fingers in both hands.

Fatigue in female patients with major depression: the effect of comorbid anxiety disorders.

Several studies have investigated fatigue in the general population, in primary care facilities as well as in patients with fatigue-related physical diseases, but only marginally in patients with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). Therefore, the investigation of correlates of depression-related fatigue is highly warranted and expected to facilitate the implementation of effective fatigue-specific treatment strategies. Depressed patients often suffer from comorbid anxiety disorders (CADs) or subthreshold anxiety symptoms.

Anxiety disorders and obesity.

Anxiety disorders are the most prevalent mental disorders in developed countries. On the other hand, obesity is recognized to be one of the greatest public health problems worldwide.The connection between body weight and mental disorders remains an open issue.

Hospital anxiety and depression scale. A quantitative analysis in medical outpatients, psychiatric outpatients and normal subjects.

Depressive and anxiety symptomatology represent the most common psychiatric manifestations that complicate the management and prognosis of patients with somatic disorders. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) is a reliable, valid andpractical screening tool for identifying and quantifying anxiety and/or depression in non-psychiatric out patients. The aim of the present study was to compare the psychometric properties of the HADS among internal medicine outpatients, psychiatric outpatients and the generalpopulation.

[Psychotherapeutic interventions in stereotypies].

Stereotypies belong to the psychomotor disorders and they are found in many different disorders. This article refers to the international literature about the psychotherapeutic interventions in stereotypies and reviews the psychotherapeutic techniques that are already being used for these disorders. This study refers to four kinds of psychotherapeutic treatment: (a) Behavioral therapy, (b) Milieu therapy which can be combined successfully with an occupational therapy, (c) Family therapy and (d) Supportive or cognitive or dynamic psychotherapy.