Intranasal Oxytocin Combined With Social Skills Training for Schizophrenia: An Add-on Randomized Controlled Trial.

Some but not other studies on oxytocin for schizophrenia, particularly those using a higher dose, indicate that oxytocin improves negative symptoms of schizophrenia. We performed an add-on randomized controlled trial to examine the effect of high-dose oxytocin, social skills training, and their combination in the treatment of negative symptoms and social dysfunction in schizophrenia. Fifty-one subjects with schizophrenia were randomized, employing a two-by-two design: intranasal oxytocin (24 IU X3/day) or placebo, and social skills training or supportive psychotherapy, for 3 weeks.

Individuals vary in their overt attention preference for positive images consistently across time and stimulus types.

What humans look at strongly determines what they see. We show that individual differences in the tendency to look at positive stimuli are stable across time and across contents, establishing gaze positivity preference as a perceptual trait that determines the amount of positively valence stimuli individuals select for visual processing. Furthermore, we show that patients with major depressive disorder exhibit consistently low positivity preference before treatment.

An evaluation of treatment response and remission definitions in adult obsessive-compulsive disorder: A systematic review and individual-patient data meta-analysis.

Introduction: Expert consensus operationalized treatment response and remission in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) as a Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) reduction ≥35% and score ≤12 with ≤2 on Clinical Global Impressions Improvement (CGI-I) and Severity (CGI-S) scales, respectively. However, there has been scant empirical evidence supporting these definitions.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review and an individual participant data meta-analysis of randomized-controlled trials (RCTs) in adults with OCD to determine optimal Y-BOCS thresholds for response and remission.

MDMA-Assisted Therapy for Severe PTSD: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Phase 3 Study.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) presents a major public health problem for which currently available treatments are modestly effective. We report the findings of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-site phase 3 clinical trial (NCT03537014) to test the efficacy and safety of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-assisted therapy for the treatment of patients with severe PTSD, including those with common comorbidities such as dissociation, depression, a history of alcohol and substance use disorders, and childhood trauma. After psychiatric medication washout, participants ( = 90) were randomized 1:1 to receive manualized therapy with MDMA or with placebo, combined with three preparatory and nine integrative therapy sessions.

Responses to balance challenges in persons with panic disorder: A pilot study of computerized static and dynamic balance measurements.

Introduction: Several studies have shown an association between panic disorder (PD) and reduced balance abilities, mainly based on functional balance scales. This pilot study aims to demonstrate the feasibility of studying balance abilities of persons with PD (PwPD) using computerized static and, for the first time, dynamic balance measurements in order to characterize balance control strategies employed by PwPD.

Methods: Twelve PwPD and 11 healthy controls were recruited.

Can Quetiapine Prolong the Antidepressant Effect of Ketamine?: A 5-Year Follow-up Study.

Purpose: Ketamine, a noncompetitive, high-affinity antagonist of the N-methyl-d-aspartate-type glutamate receptor, has a rapid effect in patients with treatment-resistant disorder, but many patients who respond to intravenous ketamine relapse within several days. The objective of this study was to examine the long-term outcome of patients' mood 5 years after ketamine treatment.

Methods: Sixteen electroconvulsive therapy referrals received at least 1 intravenous ketamine treatment in addition to their stable antidepressant medications.

MDMA-assisted therapy for severe PTSD: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 study.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) presents a major public health problem for which currently available treatments are modestly effective. We report the findings of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-site phase 3 clinical trial (NCT03537014) to test the efficacy and safety of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-assisted therapy for the treatment of patients with severe PTSD, including those with common comorbidities such as dissociation, depression, a history of alcohol and substance use disorders, and childhood trauma. After psychiatric medication washout, participants (n = 90) were randomized 1:1 to receive manualized therapy with MDMA or with placebo, combined with three preparatory and nine integrative therapy sessions.

Executive functioning of older adults with bipolar disorder.

Objectives: Despite their impact on daily functioning, we have limited understanding of the executive functioning of older adults with bipolar disorder (OABD). Even less is known about the possible differences in the executive functioning of OABD and older adults with unipolar depression (OADEP).

Methods: After excluding acutely ill patients, the executive functioning of OABD was compared to that of OADEP and healthy controls (n = 22, n = 20, n = 22; respectively).

Ropinirole Augmentation for Depression: A Randomized Controlled Trial Pilot Study.

Objective: Evidence both from animal and human studies suggests a role for dopaminergic pathways in the treatment of depression. Ropinirole, a selective agonist of dopamine D2/D3, is in use for the treatment of parkinsonism. Preliminary evidence suggests that such agonists might be useful as antidepressants.

Reduction in depressive symptoms in primary prevention ICD scheduled patients - One year prospective study.

Objective: Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (ICDs), have previously been associated with the onset of depression and anxiety. The aim of this one-year prospective study was to evaluate the rate of new onset psychopathological symptoms after elective ICD implantation.

Methods: A total of 158 consecutive outpatients who were scheduled for an elective ICD implantation were diagnosed and screened based on the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI).

Computerized assessment of body image in anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa: comparison with standardized body image assessment tool.

Unlabelled: Body image disturbances are a prominent feature of eating disorders (EDs). Our aim was to test and evaluate a computerized assessment of body image (CABI), to compare the body image disturbances in different ED types, and to assess the factors affecting body image. The body image of 22 individuals undergoing inpatient treatment with restricting anorexia nervosa (AN-R), 22 with binge/purge AN (AN-B/P), 20 with bulimia nervosa (BN), and 41 healthy controls was assessed using the Contour Drawing Rating Scale (CDRS), the CABI, which simulated the participants' self-image in different levels of weight changes, and the Eating Disorder Inventory-2-Body Dissatisfaction (EDI-2-BD) scale.

Do implantable cardioverter defibrillators contribute to new depression or anxiety symptoms? A retrospective study.

Objective: In this retrospective cross-sectional study, we evaluated the existence of psychiatric symptoms which appeared after implantation of an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD).

Methods: Patients with ICDs were diagnosed using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) and were excluded if they had any psychiatric diagnosis prior to ICD implantation. Depression and anxiety were evaluated using the HAM-D and HAM-A rating scales and their attitude towards the ICD using a visual analog scale (VAS).

A Novel Treatment of Fear of Flying Using a Large Virtual Reality System.

Background: Fear of flying (FoF), a common phobia in the developed world, is usually treated with cognitive behavioral therapy, most efficiently when combined with exposure methods, e.g., virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET).

Applying Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) Over the Dorsal Visual Pathway Induces Schizophrenia-like Disruption of Perceptual Closure.

Perceptual closure ability is postulated to depend upon rapid transmission of magnocellular information to prefrontal cortex via the dorsal stream. In contrast, illusory contour processing requires only local interactions within primary and ventral stream visual regions, such as lateral occipital complex. Schizophrenia is associated with deficits in perceptual closure versus illusory contours processing that is hypothesized to reflect impaired magnocellular/dorsal stream.

Varenicline Effects on Smoking, Cognition, and Psychiatric Symptoms in Schizophrenia: A Double-Blind Randomized Trial.

Unlabelled: Schizophrenic patients have a high rate of smoking and cognitive deficits which may be related to a decreased number or responsiveness of nicotinic receptors in their brains. Varenicline is a partial nicotinic agonist which is effective as an antismoking drug in cigarette smokers, although concerns have been raised about potential psychiatric side-effects. We conducted a double-blind placebo controlled study in 87 schizophrenic smokers to evaluate the effects of varenicline (2 mg/day) on measures of smoking, cognition, psychiatric symptoms, and side-effects in schizophrenic patients who were cigarette smokers.

Repetitive deep transcranial magnetic stimulation for motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease: A feasibility study.

Objectives: Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), using standard coils, provided modest symptomatic benefits in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). In our previous exploratory studies, using the newly developed Hesed coil (providing deeper rTMS; rDTMS) high frequency (HF), excitatory rDTMS over the primary motor cortex (M1), did not achieve sufficient beneficial effect for PD symptoms, while low frequency (LF) inhibitory stimulation, was mildly beneficial. To further investigate the optimal rDTMS stimulation parameters for PD patients, and to assess whether there is an added value for dual stimulation, consisting of HF rDTMS over the prefrontal cortex (PFC) along with LF M1 rDTMS.

Effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on cognition, symptoms, and smoking in schizophrenia: A randomized controlled study.

Schizophrenia is characterized by cognitive deficits which persist after acute symptoms have been treated or resolved. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been reported to improve cognition and reduce smoking craving in healthy subjects but has not been as carefully evaluated in a randomized controlled study for these effects in schizophrenia. We conducted a randomized double-blind, sham-controlled study of the effects of 5 sessions of tDCS (2 milliamps for 20minutes) on cognition, psychiatric symptoms, and smoking and cigarette craving in 37 outpatients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder who were current smokers.

Safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of open label sarcosine added on to anti-psychotic treatment in schizophrenia - preliminary study.

Background: Hypofunction of NMDA receptor-mediated neurotransmission might play a critical role in schizophrenia. Sarcosine, N- methylglycine and inhibitor of the glycine transporter-1 (Gly-T1), has been suggested as a novel treatment for schizophrenia.

Methods: Open label sarcosine was added to 22 stabilized patients: 5 patients received 2 gm/d, and 17 received 4gm/d.

Meaning in life, insight and self-stigma among people with severe mental illness.

Recapturing meaning in life has been described as an essential element in the process of recovery from severe mental illness (SMI), but limited quantitative research still restricts our understanding of this phenomenon. The purpose of the current study was to explore the meaning in life among people with SMI and variables that may influence it such as internalized stigma and insight into the mental illness. We expected a significant negative correlation between internalized stigma and meaning in life, and that internalized stigma would moderate the relationship between insight and meaning in life.

Insight into mental illness and self-stigma: the mediating role of shame proneness.

Insight into mental illness and self-stigma among persons with serious mental illness (SMI) have been found to be related, but the process behind this relation is still unclear. The current study examined whether shame and guilt proneness mediates or moderates the relation between insight into mental illness and self-stigma among persons with SMI. Sixty persons with SMI completed questionnaires that assessed their insight, shame, guilt proneness, and self-stigma.

Excitatory repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex does not affect perceptual filling-in in healthy volunteers.

Collinear flankers increase the reports of the target present, an effect attributed to excitatory activation induced by the flankers on the target location, which consequently induces the filling-in effect (Polat & Sagi, 2007). Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a powerful tool for non-invasive investigation of neural processing in the human brain. We explored how rTMS over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (LDLPFC) affects filling-in perception in normal controls.

Testosterone gel replacement improves sexual function in depressed men taking serotonergic antidepressants: a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Testosterone replacement is the most effective treatment for sexual dysfunction in hypogonadal men. Comorbid depression and antidepressant side effects may reduce its influence. The authors conducted a 6-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial of testosterone gel versus placebo gel in men with major depressive disorder who were currently taking a serotonergic antidepressant and exhibited low or low-normal testosterone level.