Vascular endothelial growth factor and pigment epithelial-derived factor in the peripheral response to ketamine.

Background: Ketamine is a rapid-acting antidepressant but its mechanism remains unclear. Vascular endothelial growth factor growth factor (VEGF) has been reported in the antidepressant action of ketamine in rodents. VEGF and pigment epithelial-derived factor (PEDF) signalling are closely linked and both are dysregulated in depression.

Trends in Mental Health Presentations to a Paediatric Emergency Department.

Aims This study aimed to analyse trends in mental health presentations to the Emergency Department (ED), which anecdotally had increased over the past decade. Methods The ED's electronic 'Symphony' system was used to identify the annual number of presentations categorised as having a mental health complaint from 2006-2017. A detailed analysis was performed on presentations over a one-year period.

Blood plasma B vitamins in depression and the therapeutic response to electroconvulsive therapy.

A growing body of research has indicated a role for B vitamins in depression, with some previous studies suggesting that B vitamin status in patients with depression can impact on antidepressant response. Here we aimed to investigate B vitamin plasma concentrations in medicated patients with depression ( ​= ​94) compared to age- and sex-matched healthy controls ( ​= ​57), and in patients with depression after electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in a real-world clinical setting. Our results show that nicotinamide (vitamin B3), N1-methylnicotinamide (vitamin B3 metabolite), and pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP; vitamin B6) concentrations were significantly reduced in patients with depression compared to controls.

Over the Cuckoo's Nest: Does Experiencing Electroconvulsive Therapy Change Your Mind? A Mixed Methods Study of Attitudes and Impact of Electroconvulsive Therapy on Patients and Their Relatives.

Objective: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is an effective treatment for major depressive disorder, but some aspects remain controversial. Few studies have taken an in-depth mixed methods approach toward the study of attitudes, and there are no significant studies that explore the change of attitudes before and after treatment. The aim was to compare attitudes of patients and their relatives before and after ECT using quantitative and qualitative methods.

Physician, heal thyself: a cross-sectional survey of doctors' personal prescribing habits.

Background: Self-prescribing and prescribing to personal contacts is explicitly discouraged by General Medical Council guidelines.

Aims: This study examines how widespread the practice of self-prescribing and prescribing to personal contacts is.

Methods: A 16-item questionnaire was distributed via an online forum comprising 4445 young medical doctors (representing 20% of all Irish registered doctors), which asked respondents about previous prescribing to themselves, their families, friends and colleagues, including the class of medication prescribed.

Tryptophan metabolite concentrations in depressed patients before and after electroconvulsive therapy.

Tryptophan and kynurenine pathway (KP) metabolites are implicated in the pathophysiology of depression. We aimed to investigate their plasma concentrations in medicated patients with depression (n = 94) compared to age- and sex-matched healthy controls (n = 57), and in patients with depression after electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in a real-world clinical setting, taking account of co-variables including ECT modality and heterogenous psychopathology. Depression severity was assessed using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D24).

No relationship between fornix and cingulum degradation and within-network decreases in functional connectivity in prodromal Alzheimer's disease.

Introduction: The earliest changes in the brain due to Alzheimer's disease are associated with the neural networks related to memory function. We investigated changes in functional and structural connectivity among regions that support memory function in prodromal Alzheimer's disease, i.e.

Where next for youth mental health services in Ireland?

To date, Ireland has been a leading light in the provision of youth mental health services. However, cognisant of the efforts of governmental and non-governmental agencies working in youth mental health, there is much to be done. Barriers into care as well as discontinuity of care across the spectrum of services remain key challenges.

Telomere length in depression and association with therapeutic response to electroconvulsive therapy and cognitive side-effects.

Background: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is the most acutely effective treatment for severe treatment-resistant depression. However, there are concerns about its cognitive side-effects and we cannot yet confidently predict who will experience these. Telomeres are DNA-protein complexes that maintain genomic integrity.

Establishing and evaluating a Balint group for fourth-year medical students at an Irish University.

Objective: The study was designed to establish and evaluate the impact of a 6-week Balint group on empathy and resilience in fourth-year medical students during their psychiatry rotation.

Methodology: This prospective study used the Jefferson Scale of Empathy - Student Version and the Brief Resilience Scale before and after 6-week Balint groups. Participating students also completed a qualitative assessment of their experience.

Alcohol Use Disorder and Comorbid Depression: A Randomized Controlled Trial Investigating the Effectiveness of Supportive Text Messages in Aiding Recovery.

Aim: The aim of this randomized controlled trial was to examine the impact of daily supportive text messages over a 6-month treatment period on mood and alcohol consumption in individuals with a dual diagnosis of alcohol use disorder (AUD) and depression following completion of an inpatient treatment programme.

Method: Ninety-five adult participants with AUD and comorbid depression were recruited into this randomized control trial, which took place after completing a 30-day rehabilitation programme. The intervention group (n = 47) received twice-daily supportive text messages over 6-months while control participants (n = 48) had treatment as usual for a 6-month period, with an added 6-month post-treatment follow-up for both groups.

Peripheral blood GILZ mRNA levels in depression and following electroconvulsive therapy.

Dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA)-axis is commonly observed in patients with depression. The delayed feedback system that mediates inhibition of HPA-axis activation is regulated by glucocorticoid receptors (GRs) found in stress-responsive areas of the brain. Glucocorticoid-induced leucine zipper (GILZ) is a key molecule in glucocorticoid biology and is thought to mediate the downstream anti-inflammatory effects of GRs.

Prospective study of provided smoking cessation care in an inpatient psychiatric setting.

Objective: People with mental health difficulties (MHD) are more likely to smoke and to have smoking-related diseases, yet little research has investigated the provision of smoking cessation care in psychiatric inpatient settings. This study aimed to evaluate current levels of cessation care provided, and 3-month quit-rates, in one such setting in Ireland.

Methods: From January to October 2016, inpatients across all 8 adult wards of St Patrick's University Hospital were recruited to participate in a baseline face-to-face survey (N = 246), assessing demographic information, smoking history and quit attempts, motivation to quit, nicotine dependence, attitudes towards cessation advice and actual care received.

Peripheral blood E2F1 mRNA in depression and following electroconvulsive therapy.

The E2F transcription factors are a group of proteins that bind to the promotor region of the adenovirus E2 gene. E2F1, the first family member to be cloned, is linked to functions including cell proliferation and apoptosis, DNA repair, cell senescence and metabolism. We recently performed a deep sequencing study of micro-RNA changes in whole blood following ECT.

Peripheral blood SIRT1 mRNA levels in depression and treatment with electroconvulsive therapy.

Sirtuins are a family of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) dependent enzymes that regulate cellular functions through deacetylation of protein targets. They have roles in both the periphery and central nervous system and have been implicated in depression biology. A recent genome-wide association study has identified a locus for major depression in the Sirtuin1 gene (SIRT1) and lower blood levels of SIRT1 mRNA in patients with depression have also been observed in two studies.

Does Involuntary Admission With Bipolar Disorder Differ From Involuntary Admission With Schizophrenia and Related Disorders? A Report From the Dublin Involuntary Admission Study (DIAS).

Background: While involuntary psychiatric admission and treatment are common, little is known about what impact different diagnoses have on specific features of involuntary admission and on how involuntary status is terminated (eg, by psychiatrists or tribunals, which are independent, court-like bodies reviewing involuntary admissions).

Methods: We studied 2940 admissions, 423 (14.4%) of which were involuntary, at 3 psychiatry units covering a population of 552,019 individuals in Dublin, Ireland.

Vascular endothelial growth factor plasma levels in depression and following electroconvulsive therapy.

Both animal and human studies have implicated the neurotrophic and angiogenic mediator vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in depression, with meta-analyses, indicating that protein levels are raised in patients with depression. In line with this, we have previously shown that VEGFA mRNA levels are higher in whole blood from patients with depression compared to controls, in particular in patients with psychotic unipolar depression, and that treatment with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) alters VEGFA mRNA levels. The aim of the present study was, therefore, to extend this previous work by assessing plasma VEGF protein levels in patients with depression compared to healthy controls, and in patients following treatment with ECT.

BDNF plasma levels and genotype in depression and the response to electroconvulsive therapy.

Background: Brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been implicated in the pathophysiology of depression and the antidepressant response. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is reported to increase BDNF levels in blood, though only a small number of studies have been conducted to date.

Objective: Our objectives were to: 1) compare plasma BDNF levels in medicated patients with depression and controls; 2) assess the effect of ECT on plasma BDNF levels in medicated patients with depression; 3) explore the relationship between plasma BDNF levels and the Val66Met (rs6265) BDNF polymorphism; and 4) examine the relationship between plasma BDNF levels and clinical symptoms and outcomes with ECT.