Positron Emission Tomography Assessments of Phosphodiesterase 10A in Patients With Schizophrenia.

Background And Hypothesis: Phosphodiesterase 10A (PDE10A) is a highly expressed enzyme in the basal ganglia, where cortical glutamatergic and midbrain dopaminergic inputs are integrated. Therapeutic PDE10A inhibition effects on schizophrenia have been reported previously, but the status of this molecule in the living patients with schizophrenia remains elusive. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the central PDE10A status in patients with schizophrenia and examine its relationship with psychopathology, cognition, and corticostriatal glutamate levels.

Formulation of a Mapping Formula to Estimate Well-Being Utility from Clinical Subjective Well-Being Scales.

Purpose: Cost-effective analysis is one of the most useful analyses for political decision-making in medicine under a limited budget. Although the data of the ICEpop CAPability measure for Adults (ICECAP-A) is sometimes essential for the measurement of cost effectiveness, such data are often lacking in most clinical trials. Therefore, a conversion formula (ie mapping) derived from the values of clinical assessment scales into utility is required.

Coping in Mid- to Late Life and Risk of Mild Cognitive Impairment Subtypes and Dementia: A JPHC Saku Mental Health Study.

Background: The relationship between coping in mid- to late life and cognitive functions remains unclear.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between habitual coping behaviors of a large Japanese population in their mid- to late-lives and their risk of cognitive decline 15 years later.

Methods: Overall 1,299 participants were assessed for coping behaviors (in 2000) and cognition (2014-2015).

Functional cognitive disorder affects reaction time, subjective mental effort and global metacognition.

We previously hypothesized that functional cognitive disorder is characterized by heightened subjective mental effort, exhausted attentional reserve and metacognitive failure. To test this hypothesis, we administered a Stroop colour-word task in which attentional demand was varied by task difficulty (congruent versus incongruent cues) and the presence of a secondary auditory stimulus (passive or active listening to an oddball-type paradigm). We measured subjective mental effort, objective performance (reaction times and accuracy), metacognition and EEG-based biomarkers of mental workload.

Association between vegetable, fruit, and flavonoid-rich fruit consumption in midlife and major depressive disorder in later life: the JPHC Saku Mental Health Study.

We evaluated the association between vegetable and fruit consumption - particularly flavonoid-rich fruits - in mid-life and major depressive disorder (MDD) in later life. We also evaluated the association of nutrients in fruits and vegetables with MDD. Vegetable and fruit consumption and nutrient intake for 1204 individuals were averaged from data obtained in 1995 and 2000.

Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Spike Antibody Titers and Neutralizing Antibodies in Vaccinated Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). A serological test is used to assess the efficacy of vaccination. It has been reported that anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) and neutralizing antibody (Ab) levels are lower following vaccination in patients with rheumatic disease.

The relationship between interoception and agency and its modulation by heartbeats: an exploratory study.

Interoception, the sense of the internal physiological state of the body, theoretically underpins aspects of self-representation. Experimental studies link feelings of body ownership to interoceptive perception, yet few studies have tested for association between the sense of agency and interoceptive processing. Here, we combined an intentional binding paradigm with cardiac measures of interoceptive processing (behavioural performance on a heartbeat discrimination task, and effects of timing within the cardiac cycle) in twenty-six non-clinical participants as an exploratory study.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients with mental health problems and the differences among diagnostic categories.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in a total upending of our daily lives. While anxiety and depression were frequently reported among the general population, the pandemic's impact on patients with mental health problems remains unknown.

Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey involving 1,166 patients was conducted at one psychiatric hospital and one mental health clinic.

Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid, Spike, and Neutralizing Antibodies in Vaccinated Japanese.

Serological detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) nucleocapsid (N), spike (S), and neutralizing antibodies (Abs) is commonly undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of vaccination. However, the relative efficiency of different SARS-CoV-2 Ab detection systems has not been extensively investigated. Here, we evaluated serological test systems in vaccinated Japanese.

Differentiating autoimmune encephalitis from schizophrenia spectrum disorders among patients with first-episode psychosis.

Background: Although differential diagnosis between autoimmune encephalitis and schizophrenia spectrum disorders is crucial for a good outcome, the psychiatric symptoms that distinguish these two conditions have not been identified even though psychiatric symptoms are often the main manifestation of autoimmune encephalitis. Also, there are many situations in clinical psychiatry in which laboratory testing and imaging studies are not available. Because no comparative study of the psychiatric symptoms between these two conditions has been carried out, we explored diagnostically useful psychiatric symptoms in a retrospective case-control study.

Hypermobility in patients with functional seizures: Toward a pathobiological understanding of complex conditions.

Background: Functional seizures (FS), otherwise known as psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES), are a common symptom presenting to neurology and epilepsy clinics. There is a pressing need for further research to understand the neurobiology of FS to develop mechanistically targeted treatments. Joint hypermobility is an expression of variation in connective tissue structure along a spectrum, and it has received increasing attention in functional neurological disorders, but there is lack of evidence of its relevance in FS.

Restrictive type and infectious complications might predict nadir hematological values among individuals with anorexia nervosa during the refeeding period: a retrospective study.

Background: Although hematological abnormalities in patients with anorexia nervosa have been documented, the mechanisms involved have not been fully clarified, especially during the refeeding period when hematological values further decrease after admission prior to improving. Here we address potential mechanisms underlying the hematological abnormalities of inpatients with anorexia nervosa during the refeeding period.

Methods: We recruited patients from 101 admissions corresponding to 55 individual patients with anorexia nervosa with severe malnutrition (body mass index, 13.

Dopaminergic dysfunction and excitatory/inhibitory imbalance in treatment-resistant schizophrenia and novel neuromodulatory treatment.

Antipsychotic drugs are the mainstay in the treatment of schizophrenia. However, one-third of patients do not show adequate improvement in positive symptoms with non-clozapine antipsychotics. Additionally, approximately half of them show poor response to clozapine, electroconvulsive therapy, or other augmentation strategies.

Effectiveness and Cost-effectiveness of Online Brief Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy for the Improvement of Productivity in the Workplace: Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Numerous studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of mindfulness-based programs (MBPs) among both clinical and nonclinical populations. These data document positive impacts in the workplace, including reducing perceived stress and burnout and increasing well-being. However, the effectiveness for productivity, which is of most interest to managers and administrators, is still unclear.

AMPA receptors in schizophrenia: A systematic review of postmortem studies on receptor subunit expression and binding.

Background: While altered expression of α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) type receptor has been reported in postmortem studies of schizophrenia, these findings are inconsistent. Therefore, we aimed to systematically review postmortem studies that investigated AMPA receptor expressions in schizophrenia.

Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted for postmortem studies that measured AMPA receptor subunit expressions or receptor bindings in schizophrenia compared to healthy individuals on February 3, 2021, using Medline and Embase.

Comparison of White Matter Structure of Drug-Naïve Patients With Bipolar Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder Using Diffusion Tensor Tractography.

Background: The presence of microstructural white matter (WM) abnormalities in individuals with bipolar disorder (BD) has previously been reported. However, the interpretation of data is challenging because pharmacological treatment has a potential effect on WM integrity. To date, no study has compared the differences in WM structure among drug-naïve BD patients, drug-naïve major depression disorder (MDD) patients, and healthy controls (HC) using the visual evaluation method of diffusion tensor tractography (DTT).

Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy With Follow-Up Sessions for Pharmacotherapy-Refractory Anxiety Disorders: Protocol for a Feasibility Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Augmented mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) with treatment as usual (mainly pharmacotherapy) is reported to be effective after treatment for anxiety disorders. However, whether its effectiveness persists in the long term is unclear.

Objective: This study aims to examine the feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of a follow-up program by conducting a feasibility randomized controlled trial (RCT) that compares augmented MBCT with follow-up sessions and that without follow-up sessions in preparation for a definitive RCT.

Clinical features of catatonic non-convulsive status epilepticus: A systematic review of cases.

Objective: Non-convulsive status epilepticus (NCSE) can manifest as catatonia, although it is unclear how frequently such cases have been reported. The common clinical features of these two conditions are also unclear.

Methods: Using the MEDLINE and Embase databases, we performed a systematic literature search to identify cases diagnosed with both catatonia, according to the Bush-Francis Catatonia Rating Scale, and NCSE, according to the Salzburg Consensus Criteria (last search: March 29, 2021).

Are Analogue or Digital Clocks Friendlier for People Living with Dementia?

Background: In ageing population, it is desirable to reduce the impact of cognitive decline on daily life. While various types of dementia-friendly environments have been proposed, the question still remains regarding whether analogue or digital clocks are friendlier for people with dementia.

Methods: In clinical practice, we normally use our original clock reading test (10 analogue and 10 digital clocks) to assess patients' ability to read a clock.

An autopsied FTDP-17 case with MAPT IVS 10 + 14C > T mutation presenting with frontotemporal dementia.

•We report the immunohistochemical and biochemical features of an FTDP-17 case with MAPT IVS 10 + 14C > T mutation.•Postmortem examination of the patient with bvFTD revealed diffuse neuronal and glial 4-repeat tau pathology similar to CBD.•The structure of tau filaments associated with MAPT IVS 10 + 14C > T mutation was characterized by electron microscopy.

Cost-effectiveness analyses of augmented cognitive behavioral therapy for pharmacotherapy-resistant depression at secondary mental health care settings.

Aim: Pharmacotherapy is the primary treatment strategy in major depression. However, two-thirds of patients remain depressed after the initial antidepressant treatment. Augmented cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for pharmacotherapy-resistant depression in primary mental health care settings proved effective and cost-effective.

Case Report: Culture-Dependent Postures in Japanese Patients With Schizophrenia.

Cross-cultural understanding of psychiatric symptoms is important in the current globalised society. Lack of knowledge regarding culture-dependent manifestations of psychiatric illnesses may lead to misjudgement by clinicians, resulting in inappropriate treatment. We present the cases of two patients with schizophrenia who showed Japanese-culture-dependent postures ( and ).