Clinical Features of Japanese Males with Anorexia Nervosa.

Background: Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a mental disease with a high mortality rate, and progresses to a serious state, even in males; however the characteristics of male AN patients, including the sex ratio in Japan and the consultation behavior, have not yet been clarified. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to investigate the clinical characteristics of Japanese male AN patients, with the aim of achieving early interventions.

Methods: A total of 2015 AN patients, 60 males and 1955 females, were extracted from 4606 eating disorder patients who consulted Osaka City University Hospital for 34.

Current viewpoints on DSM-5 in Japan.

The fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) was published in 2013, and its official Japanese version was published in 2014. The Japanese Government uses classifications from the 10th revision of the I nternational C lassification of D iseases (ICD-10) to categorize disorders and determine treatment fees. However, since the publication of the DSM-III, the use of the DSM system has become prevalent in research and educational settings in Japan.

Association of the c.385C>A (p.Pro129Thr) polymorphism of the fatty acid amide hydrolase gene with anorexia nervosa in the Japanese population.

The functional c.385C>A single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) gene, one of the major degrading enzymes of endocannabinoids, is reportedly associated with anorexia nervosa (AN). We genotyped the c.

Relationships between occupational stress and depressive symptoms among prison officers in Japan.

Background: The relationships between occupational stress and depressive symptoms in prison officers have rarely been studied in Japan. Thus, we analyzed the associations between occupational stress factors and depressive symptoms among Japanese prison officers.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving 426 male prison officers (20-60-year-old).

Anxiety in children with high-functioning pervasive developmental disorder.

Background: Anxiety symptoms in children with pervasive developmental disorder (PDD) often appear to be not as severe as those in children with anxiety disorders or often appear to be the core features of PDD, and therefore, they do not meet the diagnostic criteria for anxiety disorders. In this study, we assessed anxiety broadly in line with dimensions of anxiety and not with an operational categorical diagnosis. The objective of this study was to reveal that children with high-functioning PDD have more anxiety than children in the general population.

No association of brain-derived neurotrophic factor Val66Met polymorphism with anorexia nervosa in Japanese.

The Met66 allele of the Val66Met polymorphism in the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene has been reported to be associated with anorexia nervosa (AN), and also lower minimum body mass index (BMI) and higher harm avoidance in AN. We genotyped the Val66Met polymorphism (rs6265) in 689 AN cases and 573 control subjects. There were no significant differences in the genotype or allele frequencies of the Val66Met between AN and control subjects (allele wise, odds ratio = 0.

A case series of aripiprazole augmentation of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in treatment-refractory obsessive compulsive disorder.

Objective: For the obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) patients refractory to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), atypical antipsychotics, such as risperidone, or olanzapine have been found effective in the augmentation of SSRIs. However these atypical antipsychotics may cause a number of safety concerns associated with body weight or metabolic changes. We sought to investigate the efficacy and safety of a novel atypical neuroleptic aripiprazole as an augmenting agent for the treatment-resistant OCD.

Evaluation of therapeutic response to donepezil by positron emission tomography.

Background: Donepezil hydrochloride (Donepezil) is an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor (AChEI) that is used for the symptomatic treatment of Dementia of the Alzheimer's Type (DAT). Recently, the effects of AChEI in patients with DAT have been investigated using positron emission tomography (PET) or single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). This study is to evaluate the usefulness of fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-PET in assessing the therapeutic response of Donepezil to DAT using Regions of Interest (ROI) analysis.

Correlations between the offensive subtype of social anxiety disorder and personality disorders.

Aims: Recent studies have revealed the possibility that the offensive subtype of social anxiety disorder (SAD) may no longer be a culture-bound syndrome; however, detailed clinical pictures have never been reported. This study investigated the differences between the offensive and non-offensive subtypes of SAD in terms of the background and axis I and II comorbidity.

Methods: A total of 139 patients with SAD based on DSM-IV criteria were studied by conducting a semi-structured interview including the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV axis I and II disorders, and the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale.

[Eating disorders in the workplace].

The prevalence of eating disorders (ED) has increased and these are intractable disorders that require prolonged treatment. The workplace is an important life scene for the patients, but there are few reports available about the current status and correspondence to ED in workplace. Based on a survey of 1248 enterprises, we discuss the cognition of each form of ED.

[Current situation of drug dependence and task against it].

According to several kind of nationwide surveys and censuses, the 3rd epidemic methamphetamine abuse/dependence still continues since 1995. Methamphetamine is still most popular drug among people with drug abuse/dependence despite strict legal restriction. The majority of these are repeat offenders.

Frontal hypoperfusion in depressed patients with dementia of Alzheimer type demonstrated on 3DSRT.

Aims: Depressive symptoms are common in patients with dementia of Alzheimer type (DAT) and contribute to clinical morbidity. Previous studies have suggested that hypoperfusion in the prefrontal cortex and anterior cingulate gyrus are involved in the pathophysiology of depression in DAT. Using 3-D stereotactic region of interest (ROI) template (3DSRT), fully automated ROI analysis software, the purpose of the present study was to investigate the relationship between depressive symptoms and regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in DAT.

The clinical utility of symptom dimensions in obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Factor analyses in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) have consistently identified several different symptom dimensions. Nevertheless the clinical utility of identifying such symptom dimensions remains somewhat unclear. On the basis of their principal symptoms, 343 OCD patients were divided into four symptom dimension subgroups; 1) contamination/washing, 2) hoarding, 3) symmetry/repeating and ordering, and 4) forbidden thoughts/checking.

A ghrelin gene variant may predict crossover rate from restricting-type anorexia nervosa to other phenotypes of eating disorders: a retrospective survival analysis.

Background: Patients with anorexia nervosa restricting type (AN-R) often develop bulimic symptoms and crossover to AN-binge eating/purging type (AN-BP), or to bulimia nervosa (BN). We have reported earlier that genetic variants of an orexigenic peptide ghrelin are associated with BN. Here, the relationship between a ghrelin gene variant and the rate of change from AN-R to other phenotypes of eating disorders (EDs) was investigated.

Clinical features and treatment characteristics of compulsive hoarding in Japanese patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Introduction: Compulsive hoarding has been studied primarily in Western countries. Here we sought to examine compulsive hoarding in Japanese patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The heterogeneous nature of hoarding was also investigated.

A two-year follow-up study of chronic fatigue syndrome comorbid with psychiatric disorders.

Aims: Chronic fatigue syndrome patients often have comorbid psychiatric disorders such as major depressive disorders and anxiety disorders. However, the outcomes of chronic fatigue syndrome and the comorbid psychiatric disorders and the interactions between them are unknown. Therefore, a two-year prospective follow-up study was carried out on chronic fatigue syndrome patients with comorbid psychiatric disorders.

A long-term trial of the effectiveness and safety of atypical antipsychotic agents in augmenting SSRI-refractory obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Objective: Although atypical antipsychotic agents have been found effective in the augmentation of serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRIs) for treatment-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in short-term trials, there are few data on the effectiveness and safety of these agents in clinical settings over the long term.

Method: Subjects (N = 46) who responded to selective SRIs (SSRIs) in an initial 12-week trial were continued on SSRI monotherapy plus cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for 1 year. Subjects (N = 44) who failed to respond to SSRIs were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 atypical antipsychotics -- olanzapine, quetiapine, or risperidone -- and were consecutively treated using SSRI + atypical antipsychotics combined with CBT for 1 year.

Relationship of hypersensitivity to anxiety and depression in children with high-functioning pervasive developmental disorders.

Aims: Sensory-perceptual abnormalities, which include hyper- and hyposensitivity, have been identified by numerous researchers as prevalent in individuals with pervasive developmental disorders (PDD). Hypersensitivity has a greater impact on PDD patients' daily lives than hyposensitivity. The purpose of the present study was to clarify the relationship of hypersensitivity to anxiety, depression and other psychopathology in children with PDD.

Evaluation of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms in male children with high-functioning pervasive developmental disorders.

Background: Although there are many reports of high rates of hyperactivity and attention deficits in children with Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD), controversy remains about the applicability of the diagnosis of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) to PDD children. The present study elucidates the similarities and differences of ADHD symptoms in PDD children compared to ADHD children.

Methods: Twenty-seven male children with PDD+ADHD Combined type (ADHD-C), 17 males with ADHD-C, and 9 males with PDD without ADHD-C, were compared on measures of ADHD symptoms and related behaviors using parent ratings and teacher ratings on the ADHD Rating Scale (ADHDRS), the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and the Teacher Report Form (TRF).

Perfectionism underlying psychological background correlated with the symptoms of functional dyspepsia.

Background: Early satiety, bloating, and postprandial distress are common symptoms in patients with functional dyspepsia (FD) and anorexia nervosa (AN). Perfectionism is known to be associated with AN, accompanied by abnormal eating behavior. We analyzed perfectionism in FD as compared with that in AN, and investigated the correlation of perfectionism with abdominal symptoms.

The relationship between depressive symptoms and prefrontal hypoperfusion demonstrated by eZIS in patients with DAT.

Depressive symptoms are common in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and contribute to clinical morbidity. Previous studies have suggested that hypoperfusion in the prefrontal cortex and anterior cingulate gyrus are involved in the pathophysiology of depression. Using the easy Z-score imaging system (eZIS), we investigated the relationship between depressive symptoms and prefrontal hypoperfusion in AD.

[A review of the researches focusing on the heterogeneity of obsessive-compulsive disorder and its potential subtypes].

Recently, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is often conceptualized as a heterogeneous disorder. To verify and more fully understand this OCD heterogeneity, more homogeneous and potentially valid phenotypic methods are needed. If OCD subtypes can be characterized using distinct features of psychobiology, then this would account for the variance in clinical and neurobiological studies on biological markers, and would potentially impact on treatment strategies for each patient.