Sex difference in alexithymia and cognitive impairment in chronic schizophrenia: a large sample study based on Chinese Han population.

Sex differences in schizophrenia have been noted across domains such as alexithymia and cognitive function; however, how they interact remains unclear. This study aimed to explore sex differences in the relationship between alexithymia and cognitive function in patients with chronic schizophrenia. A total of 695 patients (464 males and 231 females) who met the DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia were recruited in this cross-sectional study.

Association between autistic features and empathy in Chinese patients with chronic schizophrenia.

Objectives: It is common for patients with schizophrenia to exhibit symptoms of autism. Both autism spectrum disorders and schizophrenia share similar patterns of empathy deficits. This study purposed to explore the association between autistic features and empathy in Chinese patients with chronic schizophrenia.

Duration of untreated psychosis and cognitive function in first-episode antipsychotic-naïve schizophrenia: Evidence from auditory P300.

Objective: The relationship between the duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) and cognitive function in schizophrenia (SZ) patients remains debated, with no empirical evidence from event-related potential (ERP) studies supporting their association. This study aims to investigate the relationship between DUP and cognitive functions, as well as psychiatric symptoms, in first-episode antipsychotic-naïve SZ (FEAN-SZ) patients using ERP.

Methods: The study included 321 Chinese FEAN-SZ patients and 146 healthy controls.

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Combined With Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Depression: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) are both recognized as effective treatments for depression when applied individually. However, it is unknown whether rTMS combined with tDCS has better efficacy in the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD).

Objective: To investigate the clinical effectiveness and safety of rTMS, tDCS, tDCS + rTMS, and sham tDCS + sham rTMS after 2 weeks of treatment in patients with MDD.

Relationship between thyroid-stimulating hormone and blood lipids in patients with first-episode depression.

Background: Previous studies demonstrated thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) plays an important role in regulating lipid metabolism, but the relationship between the two is controversial. Meanwhile, it has not been reported in a population with major depressive disorder (MDD).

Methods: We divided 1718 first-episode and drug naïve patients with MDD into a TSH abnormal group (TSH-AB) and a TSH normal group (TSH-NOR).

Application of life history theory to explain the association between childhood maltreatment and adulthood sleep problems in Chinese men with drug abuse: multiple mediating roles of emotion regulation, future-oriented coping, and anxiety.

Despite the practical importance of addressing the drug user's sleep problems to enhance the efficacy of treatment and rehabilitation, little is known about whether and how history of childhood maltreatment relates to this issue. This study takes an evolutionary perspective to investigate the associations between history of childhood maltreatment and sleep problems in adults with drug abuse via their emotion regulation difficulties, future-oriented coping, and anxiety. Participants were 604 male adults with drug abuse between the ages of 18-58 years ( = 36.

Psychosocial Factors and Psychological Adjustment Among Adolescents and Young Adults: A Comparative Analysis of Occasional Drug Craving and Non-Craving.

Objective: The rate of drug craving not only in Pakistan is escalating rapidly, but also from a wide range of cultures and geographically have been impacted by the drug problem. Recently, drug cravings among young Pakistani school and college students have significantly increased, particularly illegal substances like hashish, heroin, and ecstasy.

Methods: We recruited 338 students and gathered demographic and drug-craving data through a survey.

Neurophysiological markers of disease severity and cognitive dysfunction in major depressive disorder: A TMS-EEG study.

Background: Transcranial magnetic stimulation-electroencephalography (TMS-EEG) is a powerful technique to study the neuropathology and biomarkers of major depressive disorder (MDD). This study investigated cortical activity and its relationship with clinical symptoms and cognitive dysfunction in MDD patients by indexing TMS-EEG biomarkers in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC).

Methods: 133 patients with MDD and 76 healthy individuals participated in this study.

Exploring the impact of smartphone addiction on mental health among college students during the COVID-19 pandemic: The role of resilience and parental attachment.

Smartphone addiction is an increasingly severe issue in modern society, particularly impacting the mental health of college students during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to explore the relationship between smartphone addiction and mental health issues among college students, and the mediating and moderating roles of psychological resilience and parental attachment. We employed a cross-sectional study design with 100,097 college Chinese students to examine the relationships between smartphone addiction, mental health (anxiety and depression), and the mediating role of psychological resilience.

Association between angiotensin-converting enzyme gene insertion/deletion polymorphism and cognition impairment in patients with schizophrenia.

Rationale: Several lines of evidence indicate that an insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism in the angiotensin-converting enzyme gene (ACE) gene may be involved in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia and cognitive impairment. However, the relationship between ACE I/D polymorphism and cognitive impairment in patients with schizophrenia remains unclear.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine whether ACE gene I/D polymorphism contributed to cognitive impairment in Chinese patients with schizophrenia, and whether the association between clinical symptoms and cognitive impairment depended on different ACE genotypes.

for Tardive Dyskinesia and Plasma Activity: Association with Ala-9Val Variant: A Randomized, Double-blind Trial.

Background: Excessive free radicals are implicated in the pathophysiology of tardive dyskinesia (TD), and extract (EGb761) scavenges free radicals, thereby enhancing antioxidant enzymes such as mitochondrial manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD). This study examined whether EGb761 treatment would improve TD symptoms and increase MnSOD activity, particularly in TD patients with specific Val-9Ala genotype.

Methods: An EGb761 (240 mg/day) 12-week double-blind clinical trial with 157 TD patients was randomized.

Interaction of childhood trauma with BDNF and FKBP5 gene polymorphisms in predicting burnout in general occupational groups.

Both the BDNF gene rs6265 and the FKBP5 gene rs1360780 polymorphisms are independently associated with adult psychotic-like experiences, when exposed to high childhood abuse; however, it remains unclear whether the relationship between childhood abuse and burnout is moderated by these two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Furthermore, there is an interaction between glucocorticoid receptor transcriptional activity and BDNF signaling. Therefore, we investigated the interaction of these two SNPs with childhood trauma in predicting burnout.