scholarly journals Update on Statin Treatment in Patients with Neuropsychiatric Disorders

Life ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 1365
Author(s):  
Razieh Avan ◽  
Adeleh Sahebnasagh ◽  
Javad Hashemi ◽  
Mahila Monajati ◽  
Fatemeh Faramarzi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neuropsychiatric Disorders ◽  
Statin Treatment ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Protective Effects ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
First Choice ◽  
Anti Oxidant ◽  
Positive Effect

Statins are widely accepted as first-choice agents for the prevention of lipid-related cardiovascular diseases. These drugs have both anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties, which may also make them effective as potential treatment marked by perturbations in these pathways, such as some neuropsychiatric disorders. In this narrative review, we have investigated the effects of statin therapy in individuals suffering from major depressive disorder (MDD), schizophrenia, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), bipolar disorder (BD), delirium, and autism spectrum disorders using a broad online search of electronic databases. We also explored the adverse effects of these drugs to obtain insights into the benefits and risks associated with their use in the treatment of these disorders. Lipophilic statins (including simvastatin) because of better brain penetrance may have greater protective effects against MDD and schizophrenia. The significant positive effects of statins in the treatment of anxiety disorders without any serious adverse side effects were shown in numerous studies. In OCD, BD, and delirium, limitations, and contradictions in the available data make it difficult to draw conclusions on any positive effect of statins. The positive effects of simvastatin in autism disorders have been evaluated in only a small number of clinical trials. Although some studies showed positive effect of statins in some neuropsychiatric disorders, further prospective studies are needed to confirm this and define the most effective doses and treatment durations.

scholarly journals The Microbiota/Microbiome and the Gut–Brain Axis: How Much Do They Matter in Psychiatry?

Life ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 760
Author(s):  
Donatella Marazziti ◽  
Beatrice Buccianelli ◽  
Stefania Palermo ◽  
Elisabetta Parra ◽  
Alessandro Arone ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Neuropsychiatric Disorders ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Brain Functions ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Gut Microbiota Composition

The functioning of the central nervous system (CNS) is the result of the constant integration of bidirectional messages between the brain and peripheral organs, together with their connections with the environment. Despite the anatomical separation, gut microbiota, i.e., the microorganisms colonising the gastrointestinal tract, is highly related to the CNS through the so-called “gut–brain axis”. The aim of this paper was to review and comment on the current literature on the role of the intestinal microbiota and the gut–brain axis in some common neuropsychiatric conditions. The recent literature indicates that the gut microbiota may affect brain functions through endocrine and metabolic pathways, antibody production and the enteric network while supporting its possible role in the onset and maintenance of several neuropsychiatric disorders, neurodevelopment and neurodegenerative disorders. Alterations in the gut microbiota composition were observed in mood disorders and autism spectrum disorders and, apparently to a lesser extent, even in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and related conditions, as well as in schizophrenia. Therefore, gut microbiota might represent an interesting field of research for a better understanding of the pathophysiology of common neuropsychiatric disorders and possibly as a target for the development of innovative treatments that some authors have already labelled “psychobiotics”.

scholarly journals The possible role of oxytocin in neuropsychiatric disorders

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
pp. 274-278
Author(s):  
Donatella Marazziti ◽  
Alessandra Della Vecchia
Keyword(s):  
Stress Responses ◽  
Peptide Hormone ◽  
Neuropsychiatric Disorders ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Social Signals ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Therapeutic Implications ◽  
Compulsive Disorder

Oxytocin (OT) is a peptide hormone unique to mammals, typically involved in activities characteristic of this vertebrate class, such as labour and lactation. Evidence suggests a role of OT even in most complex activities, including child attachment, maternal care, couple bonding, emotional and social behaviors. Furthermore, it seems to contribute to the modulation of stress responses, learning, and memory processes, as well as to the connection of social signals with cognition, behaviors and reward. For this reason, for years there has been a debate on the possible contribution of the OT system in the pathophysiology of different neuropsychiatric disorders, including autism spectrum disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, depression, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, eating disorders, addiction, and schizophrenia. In this article, we describe the most relevant findings on OT system abnormalities in the aforementioned disorders, with a focus on possible therapeutic implications.

EMDR as therapy for conditions other than PTSD: a systematic review.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles Scelles ◽  
LUIS CARLO BULNES
Keyword(s):  
Mood Disorders ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Treatment As Usual ◽  
Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Adult Personality ◽  
Post Traumatic ◽  
Psychiatric Conditions ◽  
Research Criteria ◽  
Positive Effect

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a treatment for post-traumatic stressdisorder (PTSD). The technique is known to stimulate the capacity to reprocess maladaptive memoriesthat are thought to be central to this pathology. Here we investigate if EMDR therapy can be used in otherconditions than PTSD. We conducted a systematic literature search on PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and Web of Science. Wesearched for published empirical findings on EMDR, excluding those centred on trauma and PTSD,published up to 2020. The results were classified by psychiatric categories.   Ninety articles met our research criteria. A positive effect was reported in addictions, somatoformdisorders, sexual dysfunction, eating disorder, disorders of adult personality, mood disorders, reaction tosevere stress, anxiety disorders, performance anxiety, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), pain,neurodegenerative disorders, paedopsychiatry and sleep. The evidence was more consistent in pain, OCD,mood disorders, and reaction to severe stress.EMDR’s efficiency across numerous pathological situations, highlighted the central role of affectivememory in several psychiatric and non-psychiatric conditions. Furthermore, EMDR seems to besuccessful in usually uncooperative (e.g. Dementia) or unproductive cases (e.g. aphasia). Moreover, insome severe medical situations were psychologic distress was an obstacle, EMDR allowed thecontinuation of treatment-as-usual. Our review suggests that it is a safe and economical therapeuticoption, and its effect in non-pathological situations opens new avenues for translational research. Overallmore methodologically rigorous studies are needed.

scholarly journals Structural brain imaging studies offer clues about the effects of the shared genetic etiology among neuropsychiatric disorders

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nevena V. Radonjić ◽  
Jonathan L. Hess ◽  
Paula Rovira ◽  
Ole Andreassen ◽  
Jan K. Buitelaar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Association Studies ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Neuropsychiatric Disorders ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Genetic Etiology ◽  
Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Pairwise Correlations ◽  
Genomewide Association ◽  
Structural Brain

AbstractGenomewide association studies have found significant genetic correlations among many neuropsychiatric disorders. In contrast, we know much less about the degree to which structural brain alterations are similar among disorders and, if so, the degree to which such similarities have a genetic etiology. From the Enhancing Neuroimaging Genetics through Meta-Analysis (ENIGMA) consortium, we acquired standardized mean differences (SMDs) in regional brain volume and cortical thickness between cases and controls. We had data on 41 brain regions for: attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), bipolar disorder (BD), epilepsy, major depressive disorder (MDD), obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), and schizophrenia (SCZ). These data had been derived from 24,360 patients and 37,425 controls. The SMDs were significantly correlated between SCZ and BD, OCD, MDD, and ASD. MDD was positively correlated with BD and OCD. BD was positively correlated with OCD and negatively correlated with ADHD. These pairwise correlations among disorders were correlated with the corresponding pairwise correlations among disorders derived from genomewide association studies (r = 0.494). Our results show substantial similarities in sMRI phenotypes among neuropsychiatric disorders and suggest that these similarities are accounted for, in part, by corresponding similarities in common genetic variant architectures.

scholarly journals The patterns of family genetic risk scores for eleven major psychiatric and substance use disorders in a Swedish national sample

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth S. Kendler ◽  
Henrik Ohlsson ◽  
Jan Sundquist ◽  
Kristina Sundquist
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Risk ◽  
Molecular Genetic ◽  
National Sample ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Risk Scores ◽  
Pedigree Data ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Swedish Population ◽  
Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Genetic Risk Scores

AbstractTo clarify the structure of genetic risks for 11 major psychiatric disorders, we calculated, from morbidity risks for disorders in 1st–5th degree relatives controlling for cohabitation effects, in the Swedish population born between 1932 and 1995 (n = 5,830,014), the family genetic risk scores (FGRS) for major depression (MD), anxiety disorders (AD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), bipolar disorder (BD), schizophrenia (SZ), bulimia (BUL), anorexia nervosa (AN), alcohol use disorder (AUD), drug use disorder (DUD), ADHD, and autism-spectrum disorder (ASD). For all affected individuals, we calculated their mean standardized FGRS for each disorder. The patterns of FGRS were quite similar for MD and AD, and for AUD and DUD, but substantially less similar for BUL and AN, BD and SZ, and ADHD and ASD. While OCD had high levels of FGRS for MD and AD, the overall FGRS profile differed considerably from MD and AD. ADHD FGRS scores were substantially elevated in AUD and DUD. FGRS scores for BD, OCD, AN, ASD, ADHD, and especially SZ were relatively disorder-specific while genetic risk for MD and AD had more generalized effects. The levels of FGRS for BMI, coronary artery disease, and educational attainment across our disorders replicated prior associations found using molecular genetic methods. All diagnostic categories examined had elevated FGRS for many disorders producing, for each condition, an informative FGRS profile. Using a novel method which approximates, from pedigree data, aggregate genetic risk, we have replicated and extended prior insights into the structure of genetic risk factors for key psychiatric illnesses.

Surgery and Radiosurgery in Autism: A Retrospective Study in 10 Patients

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Cristina V. Torres ◽  
Nuria Martínez ◽  
Marcos Ríos-Lago ◽  
Monica Lara ◽  
Juan Alvarez-Linera ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Behavioural Treatment ◽  
Term Outcome ◽  
Long Term Outcome ◽  
Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Radiofrequency Lesions

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> A subgroup of patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) show self or heteroaggression, dyscontrol episodes, and others are of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) profile; some of them are resistant to medical and behavioural treatment. We describe the long-term outcome in a group of these patients, treated with radiofrequency brain lesions or combined stereotactic surgery and Gamma Knife (GK) radiosurgery. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> We reviewed the medical records of 10 ASD patients with pathological aggressiveness and OCD, who had undergone radiofrequency lesions and/or radiosurgery with GK in our institution. <b><i>Results:</i></b> The 10 patients had a significant reduction of their symptoms (PCQ 39.9 and 33, OAS 11.8 and 5, CYBOCS-ASD 30.4 and 20), preoperatively and in the last follow-up, respectively; <i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.005 (in all cases), although all but 2 needed more than 1 treatment to maintain this improvement. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> We observed a marked improvement in behaviour, quality of life, and relationship with the environment in all our 10 patients after the lesioning treatments, without long-lasting side effects.

Out–patient, multimodal behaviour therapy for obsessive–compulsive disorder

1998 ◽  
Vol 173 (S35) ◽  
pp. 45-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iver Hand
Keyword(s):  
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
Behaviour Therapy ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Term Outcome ◽  
Long Term Outcome ◽  
Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Predictive Variables ◽  
First Choice ◽  
Ssri Medication

BackgroundWith regard to long-term outcome, behaviour therapy is the first choice treatment for obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD), with or without concomitant selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) medication. Yet, results from research trials, usually restricted to exposure with response-preventions and other symptom-directed techniques, may not be generalisable to people with OCD in community health care services.MethodFor more than 20 years we have delivered out-patient behaviour therapy to unselected people with OCD from the community, including those with motivational and compliance problems. Prospective–retrospective follow-ups were carried out from 1–13 years after treatment.ResultsThis paper describes the applied multimodal, strategic-systemic behaviour therapy, and our partially new model of OCD. Compliant patients achieved the usual success rate of 65–70%, but this drops to 50% if all patients treated are included in the analysis.ConclusionsFor major subgroups of OCD, behaviour therapy is a very effective treatment modality. Exposure is essential, but additional (‘causal’) interventions are equally important in about half of the patients from unselected samples. Both behaviour therapy and drug-treatments need to be improved and predictive variables for outcome of either of them are urgently needed.

scholarly journals Neural Substrates of the Drift-Diffusion Model in Brain Disorders

2022 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ankur Gupta ◽  
Rohini Bansal ◽  
Hany Alashwal ◽  
Anil Safak Kacar ◽  
Fuat Balci ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Diffusion Model ◽  
Response Times ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Brain Disorders ◽  
Functional Impairments ◽  
Drift Diffusion Model ◽  
Drift Diffusion ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Theoretical Understanding ◽  
Compulsive Disorder

Many studies on the drift-diffusion model (DDM) explain decision-making based on a unified analysis of both accuracy and response times. This review provides an in-depth account of the recent advances in DDM research which ground different DDM parameters on several brain areas, including the cortex and basal ganglia. Furthermore, we discuss the changes in DDM parameters due to structural and functional impairments in several clinical disorders, including Parkinson's disease, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Autism Spectrum Disorders, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), and schizophrenia. This review thus uses DDM to provide a theoretical understanding of different brain disorders.

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