Outcome in patients with religious delusions.

We read with interest the recent report on the definition, diagnosis, and clinical implications of religious delusions (RD).1 In our sample of 929 delusional schizophrenia patients who had been admitted to two psychiatric hospitals in Germany between 2010 and 2014, 138 patients (15%) reported RD. In 569 cases, information on religious affiliation was available.

Clouded Issues for PHACTR1.

I have read with interest the recent paper by Han and coworkers on the putative effects of a PHACTR1 variant in the context of coronary artery disease. The authors conclude to a significant risk-enhancing role of rs12526453 on the grounds of 19 earlier case-control studies.

Changes in motor cortex excitability associated with temporal repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in tinnitus: hints for cross-modal plasticity?

Background: Motor cortex excitability was found to be changed after repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) of the temporal cortex highlighting the occurrence of cross-modal plasticity in non-invasive brain stimulation. Here, we investigated the effects of temporal low-frequency rTMS on motor cortex plasticity in a large sample of tinnitus patients. In 116 patients with chronic tinnitus different parameters of cortical excitability were assessed before and after ten rTMS treatment sessions.

State- and trait-related alterations of motor cortex excitability in tinnitus patients.

Chronic tinnitus is a brain network disorder with involvement of auditory and non-auditory areas. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) over the temporal cortex has been investigated for the treatment of tinnitus. Several small studies suggest that motor cortex excitability is altered in people with tinnitus.

The influence of psychological factors on tinnitus severity.

Objective: Subjective tinnitus is a frequent symptom characterized by perception of sound in the absence of a corresponding external stimulus. Although many people learn to live with tinnitus, some find it severely debilitating. Why tinnitus is debilitating in some patients, but not in others, is still incompletely understood.

Risk attitudes and birth order.

Risk attitudes play important roles in health behavior and everyday decision making. It is unclear, however, whether these attitudes can be predicted from birth order. We investigated 200 mostly male volunteers from two distinct settings.

Sexually dimorphic effects of oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR ) variants on Harm Avoidance.

Background: Recent research has suggested that oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) variants may account for individual differences in social behavior, the effects of stress and parenting styles. Little is known, however, on a putative role of the gene in heritable temperamental traits.

Methods: We addressed effects of two common OXTR variants, rs237900 and rs237902, on personality dimensions in 99 healthy subjects using the Temperament and Character Inventory.

Is motor cortex excitability associated with personality factors? A replication study.

In a previous study an association has been reported between motor cortex excitability, as measured by paired-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and neuroticism of the NEO personality inventory; this correlation was carried by the men. The aim of the present study was to replicate these findings in a larger sample and with additional measures of motor cortex excitability. Eighty-nine healthy volunteers filled in the NEO-FFI and underwent several measures of motor cortex excitability (resting and active motor thresholds, double-pulse TMS with interstimulus intervals of 1-20ms, and cortical silent period).