Genomics yields biological and phenotypic insights into bipolar disorder.

Bipolar disorder is a leading contributor to the global burden of disease. Despite high heritability (60-80%), the majority of the underlying genetic determinants remain unknown. We analysed data from participants of European, East Asian, African American and Latino ancestries (n = 158,036 cases with bipolar disorder, 2.

Mitochondrial Dysfunction as a Biomarker of Illness State in Bipolar Disorder: A Critical Review.

Mitochondria are organelles involved in different cellular functions, especially energy production. A relationship between mitochondrial dysfunction and mood disorders, especially bipolar disorder (BD), has been reported in the scientific literature, which suggests altered energy production and higher levels of oxidative stress compared to healthy controls. Specifically, in BD, the hypothesis of a biphasic pattern of energy availability has been postulated according to mood states.

Efficacy of Lurasidone in First-Episode Psychosis: Patient Phenotypes, Dosage, and Recommendations from an Expert Panel.

Introduction: For patients with psychosis, early, intensive therapeutic intervention is thought to improve long-term outcomes. Furthermore, patients with a first-episode psychosis (FEP) who experience a good early response to antipsychotic medication show a clinical and functional benefit over the longer term if they continue low-dose antipsychotic treatment. Lurasidone is an atypical antipsychotic agent which is approved in Europe for the treatment of schizophrenia in adults and adolescents (13-17 years).

A stratified treatment algorithm in psychiatry: a program on stratified pharmacogenomics in severe mental illness (Psych-STRATA): concept, objectives and methodologies of a multidisciplinary project funded by Horizon Europe.

Schizophrenia (SCZ), bipolar (BD) and major depression disorder (MDD) are severe psychiatric disorders that are challenging to treat, often leading to treatment resistance (TR). It is crucial to develop effective methods to identify and treat patients at risk of TR at an early stage in a personalized manner, considering their biological basis, their clinical and psychosocial characteristics. Effective translation of theoretical knowledge into clinical practice is essential for achieving this goal.

From Genetics to Psychosocial Functioning: Unraveling the Mediating Roles of Cognitive Reserve, Cognition, and Negative Symptoms in First-Episode Psychosis.

Background: Studies have shown associations between polygenic risk scores for educational attainment (PRS), cognitive reserve (CR), cognition, negative symptoms (NS), and psychosocial functioning in first-episode psychosis (FEP). However, their specific interactions remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the mediating roles of CR, cognition, and NS in the relationship between PRS and psychosocial functioning one year after a FEP.

Interrelationships between polygenic risk scores, cognition, symptoms, and functioning in first-episode psychosis: A network analysis approach.

Psychopathological manifestations and cognitive impairments are core features of psychotic disorders. Polygenic risk scores (PRS) offer insights into the relationships between genetic vulnerability, symptomatology, and cognitive impairments. This study used a network analysis to explore the connections between PRS, cognition, psychopathology, and overall functional outcomes in individuals experiencing a first episode of psychosis (FEP).

Retinal structure and its relationship with premorbid, clinical, and cognitive variables in young Spanish patients with early course schizophrenia spectrum disorders.

Emerging evidence suggests that retinal structural alterations are present in schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD), potentially reflecting broader neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative processes. This cross-sectional study investigates retinal thickness and its clinical correlations in a sample of early-course SSD patients compared to healthy controls (HCs). One hundred-two eyes from 26 SSD cases and 25 age- and sex-matched HCs were included.

Contrasting genetic burden for bipolar disorder: Early onset versus late onset in an older adult bipolar disorder sample.

Older Adults with Bipolar Disorder (OABD) represent a heterogeneous group, including those with early and late onset of the disorder. Recent evidence shows both groups have distinct clinical, cognitive, and medical features, tied to different neurobiological profiles. This study explored the link between polygenic risk scores (PRS) for bipolar disorder (PRS-BD), schizophrenia (PRS-SCZ), and major depressive disorder (PRS-MDD) with age of onset in OABD.

Mental health during the 2022 Russo-Ukrainian War: A scoping review and unmet needs.

Introduction: The Russo-Ukrainian War (RUW) poses a significant mental health burden, warranting a scoping review of the evidence to shed light on the unmet needs.

Methods: MEDLINE/PubMed and EMBASE databases were inquired from inception until September 1st, 2023, to address the following a-priori-formulated questions: i) "Which psychiatric population has been assessed? How did the conflict affect the functioning of people with established mental health conditions (e.g.

Effects of alcohol-related problems on the costs of frequent emergency department use: an economic analysis of a case-control study in Spain.

Introduction: Alcohol-related problems increase the probability of frequent emergency department (ED) use. In this study, we compared the direct healthcare expenses incurred during a single visit among frequent and non-frequent ED users and analyzed the impact of alcohol-related issues in healthcare costs arising from ED usage.

Methods: The study relied on secondary analyses of economic data from a 1:1 matched case-control study with the primary aim of identifying the clinical characteristics of hospital ED frequent users in a Mediterranean European environment with a public, universal, and tax-funded health system.

Effectiveness of a Novel Web-Based Intervention to Enhance Therapeutic Relationships and Treatment Outcomes in Adult Individual Psychotherapy: Randomized Controlled Trial and Analysis of Predictors of Dropouts.

Background: Routine process and outcome monitoring interventions added to psychotherapy are known to improve treatment outcomes, although they vary in format and effectiveness.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate whether a therapist-independent, internet-based routine process monitoring and feedback system could significantly reduce psychological distress and enhance the quality of the therapeutic relationship compared with a treatment-as-usual control group among individuals already engaged in individual psychotherapy.

Methods: We randomized 475 participants into either the intervention group, which received access to an internet-based routine process monitoring and feedback system in addition to psychotherapy, or the control group, which received only psychotherapy.

Collaborative Outcomes Study on Health and Functioning During Infection Times (COH-FIT): Global and Risk-Group Stratified Course of Well-Being and Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Adolescents.

Objective: To identify the COVID-19 pandemic impact on well-being/mental health, coping strategies, and risk factors in adolescents worldwide.

Method: This study was based on an anonymous online multi-national/multi-language survey in the general population (representative/weighted non-representative samples, 14-17 years of age), measuring change in well-being (World Health Organization-Five Well-Being Index [WHO-5]/range = 0-100) and psychopathology (validated composite P-score/range = 0-100), WHO-5 <50 and <29, pre- vs during COVID-19 pandemic (April 26, 2020-June 26, 2022). Coping strategies and 9 a priori- defined individual/cumulative risk factors were measured.