scholarly journals Mental Health in Childhood and Adolescence: The Role of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids

Biomedicines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 850
Author(s):  
Paola Bozzatello ◽  
Cecilia Blua ◽  
Paola Rocca ◽  
Silvio Bellino
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acids ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids ◽  
Brain Development ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Psychiatric Disorders ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
The Impact

There is increasing awareness of the importance of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) for optimal brain development and function. In recent decades, researchers have confirmed the central role of PUFAs in a variety of patho-physiological processes. These agents modulate the mechanisms of brain cell signalling including the dopaminergic and serotonergic pathways. Therefore, nutritional insufficiencies of PUFAs may have adverse effects on brain development and developmental outcomes. The role of n-3 PUFAs has been studied in several psychiatric disorders in adulthood: schizophrenia, major depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorders, eating disorders, substance use disorder, and borderline personality disorder. In contrast to the great number of studies conducted in adults, there are only limited data on the effects of n-3 PUFA supplementation in children and adolescents who suffer from mental disorders or show a high risk of developing psychiatric disorders. The aim of this review is to provide a complete and updated account of the available evidence of the impact of polyunsaturated fatty acids on developmental psychopathology in children and adolescents and the effect of fatty acid supplementation during developmental milestones, particularly in high-risk populations of children with minimal but detectable signs or symptoms of mental disorders.

scholarly journals White matter integrity in individuals at ultra-high risk for psychosis: a systematic review and discussion of the role of polyunsaturated fatty acids

2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nandita Vijayakumar ◽  
Cali Bartholomeusz ◽  
Thomas Whitford ◽  
Daniel F. Hermens ◽  
Barnaby Nelson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Fatty Acids ◽  
White Matter ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids ◽  
White Matter Integrity ◽  
Ultra High Risk

scholarly journals The current state of research on psychiatric genetics in Poland and the world: A report covering recent years

2018 ◽  
Vol 72 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Anna Grzywacz ◽  
Małgorzata Ryder ◽  
Iwona Małecka ◽  
Jolanta Chmielowiec
Keyword(s):  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Psychiatric Disorders ◽  
Unipolar Depression ◽  
Psychiatric Genetics ◽  
Genetic Studies ◽  
Current State ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
State Of Research ◽  
The Impact

The aim of this article was to review the results of research carried out in recent years in relation to genetic studies in psychiatry. The authors’ focus is on the selected disorders, with particular emphasis on the reports from Poland. For this purpose, the most often mentioned studies describing genes and biomarkers involved in psychiatry were selected. Genetic polymorphisms were described in relation to schizophrenia, alcoholism, addiction to psychoactive substances, autistic spectrum, unipolar depression and bipolar disorder, eating disorders and other psychiatric disorders. Characterizing the impact of inheritance factors on the processes in the central nervous system, it can be observed that some biological mechanisms forms associations with tested genetic variants and this combination is linked with the risk of mental disorders. To understand the role of psychiatric genetics, surveys which join genotype and phenotype associations (endophenotype) are essential. It seems important to study and search for associations of genes polymorphisms and biomarkers with mental and psychiatric disorders in order to better understanding the biological basis of the disease and more effective treatment of patients. In many cases, the variability analysis of selected genes sheds new light on understanding the etiology of diseases and mental disorders. Genetics is a powerful technique which allows us to study the impact of the inherited variance on changes in mental state, even without having prior knowledge about biological changes.

scholarly journals Prevalence and Correlates of Psychiatric Disorders in a National Survey of Iranian Children and Adolescents

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Reza Mohammadi ◽  
Nastaran Ahmadi ◽  
Ali Khaleghi ◽  
Seyed Ali Mostafavi ◽  
Koorosh Kamali ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Psychiatric Disorder ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Psychiatric Disorders ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Psychotic Symptoms ◽  
Iranian Children ◽  
The Impact

Objective: Considering the impact of rapid sociocultural, political, and economical changes on societies and families, population-based surveys of mental disorders in different communities are needed to describe the magnitude of mental health problems and their disabling effects at the individual, familial, and societal levels. Method: A population-based cross sectional survey (IRCAP project) of 30 532 children and adolescents between 6 and 18 years was conducted in all provinces of Iran using a multistage cluster sampling method. Data were collected by 250 clinical psychologists trained to use the validated Persian version of the semi-structured diagnostic interview Kiddie-Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia-PL (K-SADS-PL). Results: In this national epidemiological survey, 6209 out of 30 532 (22.31%) were diagnosed with at least one psychiatric disorder. The anxiety disorders (14.13%) and behavioral disorders (8.3%) had the highest prevalence, while eating disorders (0.13%) and psychotic symptoms (0.26%) had the lowest. The prevalence of psychiatric disorders was significantly lower in girls (OR = 0.85; 95% CI: 0.80-0.90), in those living in the rural area (OR = 0.80; 95% CI: 0.73-0.87), in those aged 15-18 years (OR = 0.92; 95% CI: 0.86-0.99), as well as that was significantly higher in those who had a parent suffering from mental disorders (OR = 1.96; 95% CI: 1.63-2.36 for mother and OR = 1.33; 95% CI: 1.07-1.66 for father) or physical illness (OR = 1.26; 95% CI: 1.17-1.35 for mother and OR = 1.19; 95% CI: 1.10-1.28 for father). Conclusion: About one fifth of Iranian children and adolescents suffer from at least one psychiatric disorder. Therefore, we should give a greater priority to promoting mental health and public health, provide more accessible services and trainings, and reduce barriers to accessing existing services.

scholarly journals Perinatal Dietary Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Brain Development, Role in Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 1185
Author(s):  
Maud Martinat ◽  
Moïra Rossitto ◽  
Mathieu Di Miceli ◽  
Sophie Layé
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acids ◽  
Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids ◽  
Brain Development ◽  
Essential Fatty Acids ◽  
Developing Brain ◽  
Hyperactivity Disorder ◽  
Brain Functions ◽  
Dietary Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids ◽  
Long Chain

n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are essential fatty acids that are provided by dietary intake. Growing evidence suggests that n-3 and n-6 PUFAs are paramount for brain functions. They constitute crucial elements of cellular membranes, especially in the brain. They are the precursors of several metabolites with different effects on inflammation and neuron outgrowth. Overall, long-chain PUFAs accumulate in the offspring brain during the embryonic and post-natal periods. In this review, we discuss how they accumulate in the developing brain, considering the maternal dietary supply, the polymorphisms of genes involved in their metabolism, and the differences linked to gender. We also report the mechanisms linking their bioavailability in the developing brain, their transfer from the mother to the embryo through the placenta, and their role in brain development. In addition, data on the potential role of altered bioavailability of long-chain n-3 PUFAs in the etiologies of neurodevelopmental diseases, such as autism, attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder, and schizophrenia, are reviewed.

Brain imaging findings in children and adolescents with mental disorders: A cross-sectional review

2010 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 345-354 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Mana ◽  
M.-L. Paillère Martinot ◽  
J.-L. Martinot
Keyword(s):  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Psychiatric Disorders ◽  
Brain Imaging ◽  
Research Effort ◽  
Descriptive Analysis ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Imaging Findings ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Brain

AbstractBackgroundWhile brain imaging studies of juvenile patients has expanded in recent years to investigate the cerebral neurophysiologic correlates of psychiatric disorders, this research field remains scarce. The aim of the present review was to cluster the main mental disorders according to the differential brain location of the imaging findings recently reported in children and adolescents reports. A second objective was to describe the worldwide distribution and the main directions of the recent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron tomography (PET) studies in these patients.MethodsA survey of 423 MRI and PET articles published between 2005 and 2008 was performed. A principal component analysis (PCA), then an activation likelihood estimate (ALE) meta-analysis, were applied on brain regional information retrieved from articles in order to cluster the various disorders with respect to the cerebral structures where alterations were reported. Furthermore, descriptive analysis characterized the literature production.ResultsTwo hundred and seventy-four articles involving children and adolescent patients were analyzed. Both the PCA and ALE methods clustered, three groups of diagnosed psychiatric disorders, according to the brain structural and functional locations: one group of affective disorders characterized by abnormalities of the frontal-limbic regions; a group of mental disorders with “cognition deficits” mainly related to cortex abnormalities; and one psychomotor condition associated with abnormalities in the basal ganglia. The descriptive analysis indicates a focus on attention deficit hyperactivity disorders and autism spectrum disorders, a general steady rise in the number of annual reports, and lead of US research.ConclusionThis cross-sectional review of child and adolescent mental disorders based on neuroimaging findings suggests overlaps of brain locations that allow to cluster the diagnosed disorders into three sets with respectively marked affective, cognitive, and psychomotor phenomenology. Furthermore, the brain imaging research effort was unequally distributed across disorders, and did not reflect their prevalence.

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