Background: The core features of borderline personality disorder (BPD) are affective instability, unstable relationships and identity disturbance. Axis I comorbidities are frequent, in particular affective disorders. The concept of atypical depression is complex and often underestimated. The purpose of the study was to investigate the comorbidity of atypical depression in borderline patients regarding anxiety-related psychopathology and interpersonal problems.
Methods: Sixty patients with BPD were assessed with the Structured Clinical Interviews for DSM-IV Axis I and II Disorders (SCID I, SCID II) as well as the Atypical Depression Diagnostic Scale (ADDS). Additionally, patients completed a questionnaire (SCL-90-R, BDI, STAI, STAXI, IIP-C).
Results: Forty-five BPD patients (81.8%) had a comorbid affective disorder of which 15 (27.3%) were diagnosed with an atypical depression. In comparison to patients with major depressive disorder or no comorbid depression, patients with atypical depression showed significant higher scores in psychopathological symptoms regarding anxiety and global severity as well as interpersonal problems.
Conclusions: The presence of atypical depression in borderline patients is correlated with psychopathology, anxiety, and interpersonal problems and seems to be of clinical importance for personalized treatment decisions.
Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) typically presents with a spectrum of symptoms, including neuropsychiatric manifestations such as anxiety, depression, confusion, and, in severe cases, coma. While psychiatric symptoms are not uncommon in PHPT, acute psychosis is a rare presentation. In such cases, immediate control of serum calcium levels is crucial, and emergency parathyroidectomy may be required if medical management alone fails to control hypercalcemia.
Psychotic manifestations of iatrogenic origin are common in clinical practice, and it is essential to rule out organic and iatrogenic causes before attributing symptoms to psychiatric disorders. Bupropion, an atypical antidepressant used for treating depression and aiding smoking cessation, has been linked to rare instances of psychosis, especially in patients with risk factors like substance use, older age, or history of head trauma. This report describes the case of a 52-year-old man with recurrent depression who developed a bupropion-induced psychotic episode following an increase in dose to 300 mg/day.
In the mammalian brain, new neurons continue to be generated throughout life in a process known as adult neurogenesis. The role of adult-generated neurons has been broadly studied across laboratories, and mounting evidence suggests a strong link to the HPA axis and concomitant dysregulations in patients diagnosed with mood disorders. Psychedelic compounds, such as phenethylamines, tryptamines, cannabinoids, and a variety of ever-growing chemical categories, have emerged as therapeutic options for neuropsychiatric disorders, while numerous reports link their effects to increased adult neurogenesis.
The differential diagnosis of neurocognitive and psychiatric disorders, particularly when symptoms overlap significantly, poses a substantial challenge in clinical practice. Parkinson's disease (PD), Lewy body dementia, and catatonia are distinct conditions that can present with similar motor and cognitive symptoms, complicating accurate diagnosis and effective treatment. We report the case of a 45-year-old male patient who presented for electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) evaluation.
Objective: Early change in eating disorder psychopathology is the most robust predictor of treatment outcomes in eating disorders. However, little is known about what predicts early change. Using mixed-methodology, this study explored predictors of early change in the first four sessions of 10-session cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT-T) for nonunderweight eating disorders.
