scholarly journals Revealing the biological basis of mental illness: epigenetic research as a new direction in diagnosis and treatment

2021 ◽  
Vol 56 (3) ◽  
pp. 19-31
Author(s):  
S. E. Khalchitsky ◽  
M. V. Ivanov ◽  
M. V. Sogoyan ◽  
M. G. Yanushko ◽  
M. A. Tumova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Biological Significance ◽  
The Body ◽  
Response To Treatment ◽  
Treatment And Prevention ◽  
Complex Interactions ◽  
Epigenetic Programming ◽  
Epigenetic Research

Summary. Mental disorders are clinically heterogeneous chronic diseases resulting from complex interactions between genotype variants and environmental factors. Epigenetic processes, such as DNA methylation and post-translational histone modification, determine the interpretation by the body at the cellular and tissue levels of various environmental factors. Given that epigenetic modifications are environmentally sensitive, stable and reversible, epigenetic research in psychiatry may be a promising approach to better understanding and treating mental illness. This review discusses the clinical opportunities and challenges posed by epigenetic research in psychiatry. Using individual examples, the main conclusions are drawn that confirm the role of adverse life events, alone or in combination with genetic risk, in the epigenetic programming of neuropsychiatric systems. Further epigenetic studies show encouraging results in the use of methylation changes as diagnostic markers of disease manifestations and provide predictive tools for assessing progression and response to treatment. The potential for the use of targeted epigenetic pharmacotherapy, combined with psychosocial methods, in the context of the personalized medicine of the future in psychiatry is discussed next. It concludes with a discussion of methodological limitations that can make it difficult to interpret epigenetic data in psychiatry. They mainly arise due to the heterogeneity of individuals, both at the level of the whole organism and at the level of tissues, and require new strategies to better assess the biological significance of epigenetic data and their translational use in psychiatry. Overall, we believe that epigenetics can provide new insights and a more comprehensive understanding of the etiology and pathogenesis of mental illness, and should ultimately improve the nosology, treatment and prevention of mental disorders.

Mental disorders are not a homogeneous construct

2006 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 418-419 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph Polimeni
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Psychiatric Disorders ◽  
Genetic Component ◽  
Problematic Behaviors

The only commonality between the various psychiatric disorders is that they reflect contemporary problematic behaviors. Some psychiatric disorders have a substantial genetic component, whereas others are essentially shaped by prevailing environmental factors. Because psychiatric ailments are so heterogeneous, any universal explanation of mental illness is not likely to have any clinical or theoretical utility.

scholarly journals CREATIVE INCLUSIVE PRACTICES OF SUBJECTIVITY FORMATION: AN APPROACH TO CONCEPTUAL SUBSTANTIATION

2021 ◽  
pp. 376-385
Author(s):  
Natalia T. Popova ◽  
◽  
Alexey Yu. Shemanov ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Social Inclusion ◽  
Specific Activity ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Biological Significance ◽  
The Body ◽  
Inclusive Practices ◽  
Equal Rights ◽  
Expressive Movement ◽  
Symbolic World

The article is based on the experience of searching for «roundabout ways» of development for persons with mental disabilities to be able to enter the culture (L.S. Vygotsky). We substantiate the possibility of developing creative inclusive practices that contribute to the formation of the subjectivity of persons with mental disorders where subjectivity is considered as the ability for conscious purposeful intentional activity in conjunction with the supporting processes of mastering cultural ways of human activity (bodily-affective self-regulation, experiencing oneself and others, symbolic practices of mastering the body and emotions, etc.). Inclusion is seen as the development of a common language and cultural forms of interaction in an inclusive group, and not as a simple declaration of equal rights to social inclusion. The approach to the conceptual substantiation of the applied creative inclusive practices is based on rethinking of the biosemiotic concept of Umwelt (J. von Uexküll) in the light of the concept of human as a being that creates the symbolic world of culture as a sphere of his life and lays the foundations of his cultural subjectivity, developing his abilities for expressive movement (E. Cassirer). As a result, Umwelt appears as not just the surrounding world, whose biological significance is predetermined by the specific activity of a living being, but as a symbolic world of cultural meanings set by the symbolic activity of a person (based on the development of his/her expressive movement) within a group of people united for creative communication, with an integrated theater studio serving as a model of this symbolic world. The development of creative inclusive practices is based on N.A. Bernstein’s theory of construction of movements as the basis for ‘substitute ontogenesis’ and the formation of their own subjectivity and cultural symbolism in persons with mental disorders already at the pre-expressive (J. Grotowsky, E. Barba) stage of training.

Old wine in new bottles: neurasthenia and ‘ME’

1990 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Wessely
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Chronic Fatigue ◽  
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis ◽  
Social Setting ◽  
Current Interest ◽  
Treatment And Prevention ◽  
Neurological Illness ◽  
History Of

SYNOPSISThe history of neurasthenia is discussed in the light of current interest in chronic fatigue, and in particular the illness called myalgic encephalomyelitis (‘ ME ’). A comparison is made of the symptoms, presumed aetiologies and treatment of both illnesses, as well as their social setting. It is shown that neurasthenia remained popular as long as it was viewed as a non-psychiatric, neurological illness caused by environmental factors which affected successful people and for which the cure was rest. The decline in neurasthenia was related to the changes which occurred in each of these views. It is argued that similar factors are associated with the current interest in myalgic encephalomyelitis. It is further argued that neither neurasthenia nor ‘ ME ’ can be fully understood within a single medical or psychiatric model. Instead both have arisen in the context of contemporary explanations and attitudes involving mental illness. Future understanding, treatment and prevention of these and related illnesses will depend upon both psychosocial and neurobiological explanations of physical and mental fatigability.

scholarly journals GAMBARAN STIGMA MASYARAKAT TERHADAP KLIEN GANGGUAN JIWA DI RW 09 DESA CILELES SUMEDANG

2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 29
Author(s):  
Gilang Purnama ◽  
Desy Indra Yani ◽  
Titin Sutini
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Mentally Ill ◽  
Random Sampling ◽  
Descriptive Analysis ◽  
The Body ◽  
Stratified Random Sampling ◽  
Community Attitudes ◽  
Health Community ◽  
Heads Of Household

ABSTRAKStigma merupakan label negatif yang melekat pada tubuh seseorang yang diberikan oleh masyarakat dan dipengaruhi oleh lingkungan. Stigma salah satu faktor penghambat dalam penyembuhan klien gangguan jiwa.Cileles adalah suatu Desa dengan jumlah klien gangguan jiwa yang meningkat setiap tahunnya.Tujuan dari penelitian ini untuk mengetahui gambaran stigma masyarakat terhadap klien gangguan jiwa di RW 09 Desa Cileles.Desain penelitian menggunakan deskriptif kuantitatif. Populasi penelitian 253 Kepala Keluarga dan Sampel 155 responden dengan menggunakan teknik stratified random sampling. Instrumen penelitian menggunakan kuisoner Community Attitudes toward the Mentally Ill dan instrumentnya valid dan reliabel.Analisis data yang digunakan adalah distribusi frekuensi dan skor median.Stigma terdiri dari 4 domain, masing-masing domain skornya 10 – 50. Hasil penelitian menunjukan domain otoriterisme mediannya 34 dengan IQR2, selanjutnya adalah komponen berdasarkan domain kebajikan dengan nilai skor 33 dengan IQR 2, kemudian domain ideologi komunitas kesehatan mental dengan skor 33 dengan IQR 4 dan yang paling rendah domain pembatasan sosial dengan nilai 27 dengan IQR 7. Hal tersebut dapat berarti bahwa lebih banyak responden yang menganggap bahwa klien gangguan jiwa harus diperlakukan dengan kasar.Penelitian ini bisa disimpulkan bahwa domain otoriterisme adalah domain stigma yang paling tinggi dan pembatasan sosial adalah domain yang paling rendah. Hasil penelitian ini perlu di tindak lanjuti dengan memberikan intervensi yang tepat sesuai dengan domain-domain yang ada Kata kunci : Gangguan Jiwa, Masyarakat, Stigma.  ABSTRACTStigma is a negative label attached to the body of someone who is paid by the public and influenced by the environment. Stigma one of the inhibiting factor in the healing of clients with mental disorders. Cileles is a village with a number of clients with mental disorders is increasing every year.  This research aims to describe the stigma against mental illness clients in RW 09 Cileles.This research used descriptive quantitative design. Population consisted of 253 heads of household and involved 155 respondents were taken with stratified random sampling. This research used Community Attitudes toward the Mentally Ill Questionnaire and the instrument was valid and reliable. Data Analyzed with descriptive analysis and used median score.Stigma is composed of four domains, each domain likelihood score is 10-50. Research results from obtained that the median score on the domain of authoritarianism is 34 with IQR 2, next is a component based on the domain of virtue with a score of 33 with IQR 2, then based on the ideological aspect mental health community with a score of 33 with IQR 4 and the lowest is based on aspects of social restrictions with value 27 with IQR 7. This result indicated that majority of respondent considered that patient with mental ill should be treated rudely.To concluded, authoritarianism domain is the highest domain stigma and social restrictions are the domain of the lowest. The results of this study need to be followed up with appropriate interventions in accordance with existing domains. Keyword : Mental Illness, Society, Stigma 

Medical and ecological rehabilitation of children with chronic diseases

2001 ◽  
Vol 82 (2) ◽  
pp. 127-130
Author(s):  
S. V. Maltsev ◽  
R. A. Faizyllina
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Toxic Effect ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Chronic Exposure ◽  
The Body ◽  
Toxic Substances ◽  
Technogenic Pollution ◽  
Treatment And Prevention ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Negative Factors

In recent years, there has been a significant increase in morbidity among children and adolescents for the main classes of diseases, which may be associated with both improved diagnostics and the impact of a complex of negative factors, among which the environmental factor is of no small importance [1, 5]. To increase the effectiveness of treatment and prevention of children with various diseases living (or have lived) in areas of technogenic pollution, measures are being developed to prevent the accumulation of xenobiotics in the body, with the widespread use of drugs that reduce the degree of their toxic effect. All this is included in the system of measures aimed at reducing the intake of toxic substances into the body, compensating and restoring the functions of organs and systems impaired as a result of diseases, optimizing metabolic processes, preventing relapses, increasing the adaptation of children living under conditions of chronic exposure to ecologically unfavorable environmental factors [18].

scholarly journals Ancient philosophers on mental illness

2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marke Ahonen
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Late Antiquity ◽  
The Body ◽  
Philosophical Texts

This article explores how the ancient philosophers from Plato to late antiquity understood mental illness. It outlines when, how and in what kind of contexts the phenomenon of mental illness was recognized in the ancient philosophical texts, how mental illness was understood in terms of the body–mind interaction, and how mental disorders of the medical kind were distinguished from non-medical psychic disturbances. It establishes that, while the philosophers mostly understood mental illness along the lines of ancient medical thinking, their ideas, for example on the nature and location of the soul, informed their theories of mental illness.

January 26 — International Day «Let's Talk»

2022 ◽  
pp. 70-73
Author(s):  
Oksana Aleksandrovna Rybachok ◽  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
21St Century ◽  
The United States ◽  
The Body ◽  
Healthy People ◽  
Ordinary People ◽  
Active Lifestyle ◽  
Ice Water

January marks the beginning of the new year and the middle of winter, therefore, the holidays this month are celebrated accordingly, for example, in Canada and the United States, Walrus Day is celebrated on January 1 with the organization of traditional swims in ice water, but on January 5, it was proposed to celebrate Fasting Day, obviously, with the purpose of saving the body tired from the festive feasts. On January 14, in some countries, it is customary to celebrate an unusual day — the Day of Combating Procrastination, which in psychology means «constantly putting things off for later», some experts have already dubbed this fairly common feature «the disease of the 21st century». January 16 isWorld SnowDay and January 21 is International Hug Day. Besides, on the last Wednesday of January, concerned people proposed to establish Let's Talk Day, dedicated to the problem of difficult relationships between healthy people and patients with mental disorders. Canada was the initiator of the celebration of this day. Experts suggest that ordinary people protect themselves from mental illness by leading an active lifestyle, but does it always help? Let's try to figure it out in this article.

The mental health of older prisoners

2010 ◽  
Vol 22 (5) ◽  
pp. 693-701 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Kakoullis ◽  
Nick Le Mesurier ◽  
Paul Kingston
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Prison Population ◽  
Contributing Factors ◽  
Complex Interactions ◽  
Older Prisoners ◽  
Older Offenders ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Older Inmates

ABSTRACTBackground: Older prisoners are a minority within the prison population but their numbers are increasing at a greater rate than any other age group. The mental health of younger prisoners has been well researched but this is not the case for older inmates. The aim of this paper is to provide a review of the existing literature on the mental health of older prisoners.Methods: Relevant papers were identified through database searches and an examination of cited references in the selected papers. The literature was divided into different sections in order to examine the contributing factors and rates of mental illness in older prisoners.Results: The first section looks at demographic factors relevant to older prisoners. Subsequent sections examine psychosocial factors, environmental factors and physical health factors that may have a detrimental effect on mental health. The final sections look at the prevalence of mental illness in older offenders before and after sentencing.Conclusions: Mental illness in older prisoners is a result of complex interactions between numerous individual and environmental factors. It currently remains poorly researched and service provision for older prisoners with mental illness is poorly developed. Further research is needed, with a particular focus on the different groups of older prisoners and the most beneficial service models, because the number of older prisoners, including those with mental illness, is likely to increase in the future.

Reductionist thinking and animal models in neuropsychiatric research

2019 ◽  
Vol 42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole M. Baran
Keyword(s):  
Animal Models ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Neuropsychiatric Disorders ◽  
Model Organisms ◽  
Developmental Genetic ◽  
Term Study ◽  
Genetic And Environmental Factors ◽  
Mechanisms Of Plasticity

AbstractReductionist thinking in neuroscience is manifest in the widespread use of animal models of neuropsychiatric disorders. Broader investigations of diverse behaviors in non-model organisms and longer-term study of the mechanisms of plasticity will yield fundamental insights into the neurobiological, developmental, genetic, and environmental factors contributing to the “massively multifactorial system networks” which go awry in mental disorders.

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