Effectiveness of Electroencephalography Neurofeedback for Improving Working Memory and Episodic Memory in the Elderly: A Meta-Analysis.

: Existing evidence indicates the potential benefits of electroencephalography neurofeedback (NFB) training for cognitive function. This study aims to comprehensively review all available evidence investigating the effectiveness of NFB on working memory (WM) and episodic memory (EM) in the elderly population. : A systematic search was conducted across five databases to identify clinical trials examining the impact of NFB on memory function in healthy elderly individuals or those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

Effects of heart rate variability biofeedback (HRVBFB) on sleep quality and depression among methamphetamine users.

Methamphetamine is garnering concern due to its increasing use worldwide. Depression and sleep quality are major mental health issues in substance users. Heart rate variability biofeedback (HRVBFB) has shown promising results in terms of reducing depression and increasing sleep quality.

Using the alluvial plot to visualize the network characteristics of 100 top-cited articles on attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) since 2011: Bibliometric analysis.

Background: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neuro developmental disorder that affects children and adolescents. It is estimated that the prevalence of ADHD is 7.2% throughout the world.

A Pilot Randomized Control Study on Effect Brief Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback as a Complementary Treatment in Men with Methamphetamine Use Disorder.

The aims of this study were to investigate the efficacy of heart rate variability biofeedback (HRVBFB) intervention in terms of reducing craving, severity of dependence, and rate of positive methamphetamine urine testing in men taking part in a methamphetamine use disorder outpatient treatment program. Sixty-one adult men received either HRVBFB treatment plus treatment as usual (TAU) over four weeks or TAU only. Men receiving HRVBFB showed significantly greater reductions in craving, dependence severity, and the rate of positive methamphetamine urine testing at the end of the intervention and four weeks of follow-up.

Gender Differences in Depression and Quality of Life in Current and Abstinent Ketamine Users.

Ketamine use has become of increasing concern because it has spread in many parts of the world during the past few years. Substance users usually have depression and a lower quality of life (QoL). The aim of this study was to explore depression and QoL in ketamine users, and to further examine the role of gender in relation to differences in depression and QoL in ketamine users.

Craving for Ketamine and Its Relationship With Clinical Outcome Indicators in Males With Ketamine Use Disorder.

Craving is considered a hallmark of substance use disorder and is one of the criteria of substance use disorder. The Desires for Drug Questionnaire (DDQ) is a widely used questionnaire to assess craving for heroin. This study aimed to examine the psychometric properties of the ketamine version of the DDQ (DDQ-K) and the associations between craving for ketamine as measured using the DDQ-K and clinical outcome indicators in individuals with ketamine use disorder.

Craving and implicit attitude toward heroin use and their relationships with the levels of heroin dependence and methadone adherence in heroin users.

Craving is a core feature of heroin use disorder. Craving for heroin is a conscious cognitive process. Recently, implicit (i.

Sleep quality among individuals with ketamine use and the mediating role of craving.

Sleep problems are common in Taiwan. Poor sleep may be associated with many illnesses, including substance use disorders. Ketamine use disorder has significantly increased in Taiwan in recent years and may lead to physical and cognitive problems.

A longitudinal study of healthcare utilisation and expenditure in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus with and without major depressive disorder.

Objective: This study investigated the healthcare service utilisation and expenditure of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and major depressive disorder (MDD) and identified associated factors.

Methods: Healthcare service utilisation and expenditure of patients with T2DM with and without MDD during 2002-2013 were examined using Taiwan's population-based National Health Insurance claims database. Healthcare service utilisation included outpatient visits and inpatient admissions, and health expenditure included outpatient, inpatient, and total medical expenditure.

Altered mRNA expressions for N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor-related genes in WBC of patients with major depressive disorder.

Objective: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a complex mental disorder. The lack of well-established biomarkers hinders its diagnosis, treatment, and new-drug development. N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) dysfunction has been implicated in the pathogenesis of MDD.

Social adjustment and family function after drug switch from IR-methylphenidate to OROS-methylphenidate in patients with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

Purpose: This prospective, single-arm, open-label, 8-week, multicenter study investigated the effectiveness of switching from immediate-release methylphenidate (IR-MPH) to osmotic controlled-release methylphenidate (OROS-MPH) in patients with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Patients And Methods: Overall, 296 patients with ADHD (mean age: 9.5 years) already on IR-MPH treatment were enrolled.

Schizophrenia in type 2 diabetes mellitus: Prevalence and clinical characteristics.

Background: This study investigated the prevalence and characteristics of schizophrenia in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Taiwan.

Methods: National Health Insurance claims data for patients with principal diagnoses of schizophrenia and T2DM were analysed.

Results: Compared with patients with schizophrenia in the general population (GP), those with schizophrenia and T2DM were more likely to have higher Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) scores and multiple comorbidities, and were older.

Altered gray matter volume and disrupted functional connectivity of dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in men with heroin dependence.

Aim: Chronic heroin use can cause various neuropathological characteristics that may compromise brain function. The present study evaluated the alteration of gray matter volume (GMV) and its resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) among male heroin users.

Methods: Thirty heroin-dependent men undergoing methadone maintenance therapy and 30 educational-level- and age-matched male controls were recruited for this study.

Gender and Age Effects on the Trajectory of Depression in Opioid Users during Methadone Maintenance Treatment.

Introduction: Both heroin use and depression are significant health problems. Methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) can be of great benefit to heroin users. However, changes in the level of depression in heroin users during MMT are not clear.

Test-Retest Reliability and Minimal Detectable Change of the D2 Test of Attention in Patients with Schizophrenia.

Objective: The d2 Test of Attention (D2) is a commonly used measure of selective attention for patients with schizophrenia. However, its test-retest reliability and minimal detectable change (MDC) are unknown in patients with schizophrenia, limiting its utility in both clinical and research settings. The aim of the present study was to examine the test-retest reliability and MDC of the D2 in patients with schizophrenia.

Relative and Absolute Reliabilities of the Conners' Continuous Performance Test II in Schizophrenia.

Objective: The Conners' Continuous Performance Test II (CCPT-II) is one of the most commonly used tests of sustained attention in schizophrenia. To manage and monitor sustained attention deficits in schizophrenia, clinicians have to reliably assess the degree of attention impairment. The purpose of our study was to determine the relative and absolute reliability of the CCPT-II in schizophrenia.

Prevalence of anxiety disorder in patients with type 2 diabetes: a nationwide population-based study in Taiwan 2000-2010.

This study investigates the prevalence of anxiety disorder (AD) in Taiwanese patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Study participants were identified based on at least one service claim for ambulatory or inpatient care with a principal diagnosis of AD and at least 2 service claims for ambulatory care or one service claim for inpatient care with a principal diagnosis of T2D, as listed in the National Health Insurance database of Taiwan. The prevalence of AD decreased from 13.

Heroin craving and its correlations with clinical outcome indicators in people with heroin dependence receiving methadone maintenance treatment.

Background: Craving for substance use has been added as one of the diagnostic criteria of substance use disorders in DSM-5. However, further research is necessary to examine and expand the clinical potential of craving in the assessment and treatment for heroin users. This study aimed to examine the psychometrics of the Desire for Drug Questionnaire-Chinese Mandarin version (DDQ-CM) and its clinical utility of assessing craving for heroin measured among heroin users with methadone maintenance treatment (MMT).

Decreased mRNA expression for the two subunits of system xc(-), SLC3A2 and SLC7A11, in WBC in patients with schizophrenia: Evidence in support of the hypo-glutamatergic hypothesis of schizophrenia.

Background: The cystine/glutamate antiporter system xc(-), playing a critical role in the regulation of glutamate release, might be implicated in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. This study examined whether peripheral expressions of the system xc(-) subunits are characteristic of schizophrenia.

Methods: Expression of system xc(-) genes including SLC3A2 and SLC7A11 in peripheral WBCs of patients with schizophrenia and healthy individuals were measured using quantitative PCR.

Application of Barcoding to Reduce Error of Patient Identification and to Increase Patient's Information Confidentiality of Test Tube Labelling in a Psychiatric Teaching Hospital.

Learning from the experience of another medical center in Taiwan, Kaohsiung Municipal Kai-Suan Psychiatric Hospital has changed the nursing informatics system step by step in the past year and a half . We considered ethics in the original idea of implementing barcodes on the test tube labels to process the identification of the psychiatric patients. The main aims of this project are to maintain the confidential information and to transport the sample effectively.

Explicit and implicit heroin-related cognitions and heroin use among patients receiving methadone maintenance treatment.

Background: Craving is an important issue in substance use disorder. To achieve a better understanding of the cognitive processing systems of craving, the cognitive processes of craving have been considered as two distinct processes. One system, based on rule-based inferences and named explicit cognition, is more conscious and effortful.

Effects of antidepressants on IP-10 production in LPS-activated THP-1 human monocytes.

Major depressive disorder and cardiovascular disease are common serious illnesses worldwide. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitors may reduce the mortality of cardiovascular disease patients with comorbid depression. Interferon-γ-inducible protein 10 (IP-10), a type 1 T helper cell (Th1)-related chemokine, contributes to manifestations of atherosclerosis during cardiovascular inflammations; however, the pathophysiological mechanisms linking cardiovascular disease and effective antidepressants have remained elusive.

Acupressure improves sleep quality of psychogeriatric inpatients.

Background: Acupressure, a noninvasive form of acupuncture, may be used as a low-cost and noninvasive means of improving sleep quality. Although it has been evaluated to improve self-reported sleep quality, it has not been assessed with regard to effectiveness in improving perceived and objective measures of sleep quality outcomes.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of acupressure in improving sleep quality of psychogeriatric inpatients.

Quality of life and its associated factors among patients with two common types of chronic mental illness living in Kaohsiung City.

Aim: This study explored the associations of personal, disease, family, and social factors with quality of life (QoL) in patients with two common types of chronic mental illness (CMI) living in Kaohsiung City, Taiwan.

Methods: Using a convenience sample and a cross-sectional design, 714 patients (50.1% male, 49.