The genetics of severe depression.

Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) of major depressive disorder (MDD) have recently achieved extremely large sample sizes and yielded substantial numbers of genome-wide significant loci. Because of the approach to ascertainment and assessment in many of these studies, some of these loci appear to be associated with dysphoria rather than with MDD, potentially decreasing the clinical relevance of the findings. An alternative approach to MDD GWAS is to focus on the most severe forms of MDD, with the hope that this will enrich for loci of larger effect, rendering their identification plausible, and providing potentially more clinically actionable findings.

Large Language Models for Social Determinants of Health Information Extraction from Clinical Notes - A Generalizable Approach across Institutions.

The consistent and persuasive evidence illustrating the influence of social determinants on health has prompted a growing realization throughout the health care sector that enhancing health and health equity will likely depend, at least to some extent, on addressing detrimental social determinants. However, detailed social determinants of health (SDoH) information is often buried within clinical narrative text in electronic health records (EHRs), necessitating natural language processing (NLP) methods to automatically extract these details. Most current NLP efforts for SDoH extraction have been limited, investigating on limited types of SDoH elements, deriving data from a single institution, focusing on specific patient cohorts or note types, with reduced focus on generalizability.

Patient and Provider Perspectives on Medication Non-adherence Among Patients with Depression and/or Diabetes in Diverse Community Settings - A Qualitative Analysis.

Background: Diabetes and depression affect a significant percentage of the world's total population, and the management of these conditions is critical for reducing the global burden of disease. Medication adherence is crucial for improving diabetes and depression outcomes, and research is needed to elucidate barriers to medication adherence, including the intentionality of non-adherence, to intervene effectively. The purpose of this study was to explore the perspectives of patients and health care providers on intentional and unintentional medication adherence among patients with depression and diabetes through a series of focus groups conducted across clinical settings in a large urban area.

National Network of Depression Centers' Recommendations on Harmonizing Clinical Documentation of Electroconvulsive Therapy.

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a highly therapeutic and cost-effective treatment for severe and/or treatment-resistant major depression. However, because of the varied clinical practices, there is a great deal of heterogeneity in how ECT is delivered and documented. This represents both an opportunity to study how differences in implementation influence clinical outcomes and a challenge for carrying out coordinated quality improvement and research efforts across multiple ECT centers.

Artificial Intelligence and Chatbots in Psychiatry.

The utilization of artificial intelligence (AI) in psychiatry has risen over the past several years to meet the growing need for improved access to mental health solutions. Additionally, shortages of mental health providers during the COVID-19 pandemic have continued to exacerbate the burden of mental illness worldwide. AI applications already in existence include those enabled to assist with psychiatric diagnoses, symptom tracking, disease course prediction, and psychoeducation.

Current knowledge and attitudes of psychiatric nurses toward electroconvulsive therapy.

Purpose: This study assessed the current knowledge and attitudes of psychiatric nurses toward electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).

Design And Methods: A quantitative, nonexperimental study was conducted at a large psychiatric hospital in the United States. The Questionnaire on Attitudes and Knowledge (QuAKE) Scale was used to conduct the assessment among a convenient sample of 158 psychiatric nurses.

A Novel Refractory Mood Disorders and Electroconvulsive Therapy Elective for Medical Students: Fighting Stigma through Experience.

Treatment resistant mood disorders (TRMD) have a significant impact on patients and society. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) has been shown to be effective for treatment resistant depression (TRD). Despite the effectiveness and safety of ECT, there remains significant stigma surrounding its use.

Cross-cultural Comparison of Perceptions and Knowledge About Electroconvulsive Therapy Among Adults Who Screened Positive for Depression in the United States, India, and China.

Objective: Despite the established efficacy of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), negative perceptions and inaccurate knowledge about ECT in the United States and other countries persist. This study examined ECT perceptions and knowledge in the 3 most populous countries in the world.

Methods: We recruited participants who screened positive for depression on the Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9) in the United States (n = 1643), India (n = 1469), and China (n = 328) and compared responses on the ECT-Perception and Knowledge Scale.

Birth Seasonality of Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder? A Review of Inpatient Records.

Background: Numerous studies on seasonality of birth for mood disorders and schizophrenia have been published but findings are inconsistent . We aim to test the hypothesis of lack of seasonal birth differences in hospitalized Bipolar Disorder and Schizophrenia patients.

Methods: 15969 inpatient records in UTHealth Harris County Psychiatric Center between 2012-2014 were enrolled (HSC-MS-14-0274).

Melatonin Receptor Gene Polymorphism in Bipolar-I Disorder.

Background And Aim: In patients with Bipolar-I Disorder (BD-I), circadian rhythm and sleep disorders are frequently observed. Melatonin is a main regulatory hormone for the circadian rhythm. Certain studies have shown the relationship of melatonin receptor gene polymorphism with psychiatric diseases.

A case of mirror image agnosia and mirrored self-misidentification syndrome in schizophrenia without dementia or structural abnormalities.

Delusional misidentification syndrome (DMS) is an umbrella term encompassing a variety of disorders. One rare form of DMS is the delusional misidentification of one's own reflection, known as "mirrored self-misidentification syndrome". In "mirror image agnosia", the ability to identify the image of self and/or others in the mirror is lost, while the ability to identify the mirror itself is preserved.

Image of Electroconvulsive Therapy in YouTube Videos.

Objectives: Image of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in TV shows and movies have been studied before. However, there is no study about image of ECT on YouTube as one of the most commonly used social media platforms for disseminating health information. Our study aims to study the image of ECT in YouTube videos.

Cannabis use: A co-existing condition in first-episode bipolar mania patients.

Background: An association between first-episode presentation of bipolar mania and concurrent cannabis use disorder has been well established in the current literature (Bally et al., 2014, Baethge et al., 2008).

Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor and Oxidative Stress in Cannabis Dependence.

Introduction: Neurotrophin levels and oxidative stress markers such as ceruloplasmin and free thiols have been shown to contribute to pathophysiology in several psychiatric disorders.

Objective: Our aim is to evaluate whether those markers are altered in cannabis dependence.

Methods: Forty-five cannabis-dependent patients diagnosed according to the DSM-IV criteria and 45 healthy controls matched according to sex, age, BMI, and smoking status were enrolled.

MicroRNA dysregulation in manic and euthymic patients with bipolar disorder.

Background: Bipolar disorder (BPD) is a major psychiatric disorder with an unclear pathophysiology. Peripheral blood samples are easily drawn, making them are good candidates for diagnosing diseases. MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNA transcripts that regulate gene expression by binding to the 3'- UTR of mRNAs and directing their degradation.

Ontological representation-oriented term normalization and standardization of the Research Domain Criteria.

The Research Domain Criteria, launched by the National Institute of Mental Health, is a new dimensional and interdisciplinary research framework for mental disorders. The Research Domain Criteria matrix is its core part. Since an ontology has the strengths of supporting semantic inferencing and automatic data processing, we would like to transform the Research Domain Criteria matrix into an ontological structure.

Geographical access to electroconvulsive therapy services in Texas.

Aims: Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) is a well-established and effective treatment in mood disorders but the use of ECT in Texas is much lower than the general average among the United States. Our goal is to explore the geographical accessibility of Electroconvulsive Services in Texas.

Methods: 22 ECT Centers in Texas listed in State's 2016 annual ECT report were enrolled and georeferenced.

Evaluation of Oxidant/Antioxidant Status and Cytokine Levels in Patients with Cannabis Use Disorder.

Objective: Cannabis is the most commonly used illegal drug in the world and it has several adverse effects such as anxiety, panic reactions and psychotic symptoms. In this study, we aimed to evaluate oxidant, anti-oxidant status and cytokine levels in individuals with cannabis use disorder.

Methods: Thirty-four patients with cannabis use disorder and 34 healthy controls were enrolled to the study.

The Link between Refractoriness and Neuroprogression in Treatment-Resistant Bipolar Disorder.

Treatment refractoriness remains one of the biggest challenges in the field of bipolar disorder (BD) as treatments are often suboptimal or unsatisfactory. Recent evidence points towards a potential link between the progressively evolving nature of BD, increased inflammation, and reduced treatment response. There are several medications and other somatic treatments available, but remission rates are low, and medication compliance is still problematic.

The Association Between NIMH Funding and h-index in Psychiatry.

Objective: Academic productivity is measured under many domains: number of high impact publications, objective bibliometrics, securing extra-mural funding, etc. Citation impact is measured by an objective bibliometric called h-index. Securing funding from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is considered prestigious in the field of psychiatry.

Investigation of Dysregulation of Several MicroRNAs in Peripheral Blood of Schizophrenia Patients.

Objective: The prevalence of schizophrenia is 1%, and it is a debilitating disorder that often results in a shortened lifespan. Peripheral blood samples are good candidates to investigate because they can be easily drawn, and they are widely studied in psychiatric disorders. MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNA transcripts.

Increased S100B Levels in Cannabis Use Disorder.

Background: It has been determined that cannabis has adverse effects on brain tissue, and that increased S100 calcium binding protein B (S100B) blood levels are markers of neuronal damage. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the S100B levels in cannabis use disorder.

Method: Thirty-two patients with cannabis use disorder and 31 matched healthy controls were enrolled in this study.

Tracking down the footprints of bad paternal relationships in dissociative disorders: A diffusion tensor imaging study.

Preclinical studies indicate that stress early in life can cause long-term alterations in brain development. Studies have shown alterations in the brain functions of patients after experiencing trauma. Our aim is to examine whether the integrity of white matter tracts might be affected in dissociative disorder (DD) patients.