Child abuse, depression, and methylation in genes involved with stress, neural plasticity, and brain circuitry.

Objectives: To determine whether epigenetic markers predict dimensional ratings of depression in maltreated children.

Method: A genome-wide methylation study was completed using the Illumina 450K BeadChip array in 94 maltreated and 96 healthy nontraumatized children with saliva-derived DNA. The 450K BeadChip does not include any methylation sites in the exact location as sites in candidate genes previously examined in the literature, so a test for replication of prior research findings was not feasible.

Child abuse and epigenetic mechanisms of disease risk.

Background: Child abuse is highly prevalent and associated with increased risk for a range of health problems, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, psychiatric disorders, and other health problems. Little is currently known about the mechanism by which early adversity confers risk for health problems later in life.

Purpose: To determine if there are epigenetic differences associated with child maltreatment that may help explain association between adverse childhood experiences and later health problems.

Safe return to homeland of an illegal immigrant with psychosis.

The disposition of illegal immigrants who lack social support and wish to return to their homeland is a frequent and difficult challenge for many mental health facilities in the United States. This case involved an undocumented Mexican patient with severe psychosis who was safely transferred to his hometown according to his and his family's wishes through the use of specific services provided by the Mexican Consulate. We hope that publication of this case will make the medical community more aware of the availability of these underused services, which can make a major difference in the prognosis of some undocumented patients who would otherwise be left without resources or appropriate care.

MAOA genotype, maltreatment, and aggressive behavior: the changing impact of genotype at varying levels of trauma.

Background: Childhood adversity has been shown to interact with monoamine oxidase-A (MAOA) genotype to confer risk for antisocial behavior. Studies examining this gene-by-environment (G x E) association, however, have produced mixed results.

Methods: Relevant research is reviewed, and results of a study with 114 children (73 maltreated and 41 control subjects) are presented.

Catatonia: a review.

Background: To write an up-to-date review paper on catatonia using published literature.

Methods: This review involved a search using the terms "catatonia," "stupor," "catatonic schizophrenia" and "catalepsy" in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, the Medline database and EMBASE and PsychINFO. Additional use was made of these databases in searching for randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, cohort studies, case-control studies, case series, case reports and reviews.

Frontotemporal dementias: a review.

Dementia is a clinical state characterized by loss of function in multiple cognitive domains. It is a costly disease in terms of both personal suffering and economic loss. Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is the term now preferred over Picks disease to describe the spectrum of non-Alzheimers dementias characterized by focal atrophy of the frontal and anterior temporal regions of the brain.

The catatonic dilemma expanded.

Catatonia is a common syndrome that was first described in the literature by Karl Kahlbaum in 1874. The literature is still developing and remains unclear on many issues, especially classification, diagnosis, and pathophysiology. Clinicians caring for psychiatric patients with catatonic syndromes continue to face many dilemmas in diagnosis and treatment.