Physical and cognitive correlates, inflammatory levels, and treatment response in post-COVID-19 first-onset vs. recurrent depressive episodes.

Psychiatric symptoms have been frequently reported in patients affected by COVID-19, both as new occurring and recurrences of pre-existing diseases. Depressive symptoms are estimated to affect at least 30% of patients following infection, with specific physical and cognitive features and relevant immune-inflammatory alterations. This study aimed to retrospectively characterize post-COVID-19 first-onset and recurrent major depressive episodes (MDE) and to evaluate the effects of antidepressants on physical and cognitive correlates of depression, in addition to mood, anxiety, and underlying inflammatory status. We evaluated 116 patients (44.8% males, 51.1 ± 17 years) with post-COVID-19 first-onset (38.8%) and recurrent (61.2%) MDE at baseline and after one- and three-month treatment with antidepressants (31% SSRIs, 25.9% SNRIs, 43.1% others). We assessed sociodemographic and clinical features and psychopathological dimensions through: Hamilton Depression and Anxiety Rating Scales; Short Form-36 Health Survey Questionnaire; Perceived Deficits Questionnaire-Depression 5-items. The systemic immune-inflammatory index was calculated to measure inflammation levels. Alongside the reduction of depression and anxiety (p < 0.001), physical and cognitive symptoms improved (p < 0.001) and inflammatory levels decreased (p < 0.001) throughout treatment in both groups. Post-COVID-19 recurrent MDE showed a significantly more severe course of physical and cognitive symptoms and persistently higher levels of inflammation than first-onset episodes. Antidepressants proved to be effective in both post-COVID-19 first-onset and recurrent MDE. However, a sustained inflammatory status might blunt treatment response in patients with recurrent depression in terms of physical correlates and cognition. Therefore, personalized approaches, possibly involving combinations with anti-inflammatory compounds, could promote better outcomes in this clinical population.

Substance use disorders in adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: The role of affective temperament.

OBJECTIVE: Substance Use Disorders (SUD) are common in adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Although predictors of SUD in this population are relevant for prevention and treatment, they need further clarification. Affective temperaments potentially associated with SUD in adult ADHD patients were explored. METHODS: ADHD patients with and without SUD were compared for sociodemographic, clinical, and psychological characteristics through: Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale; Wender Utah Rating Scale; Temperament Evaluation Memphis for Pisa, Paris, and San Diego-Autoquestionnaire. Logistic regression investigated factors associated with SUD. RESULTS: We included one-hundred and thirty-six ADHD patients with (n = 51, 37.5 %) and without SUD (n = 85, 62.5 %). The presence of SUD was associated with irritable temperament (p = 0.009), as well as more frequent school failure (p = 0.038), legal problems (p = 0.039), and lifetime suicide attempts (p = 0.014). LIMITATIONS: The cross-sectional design, the relatively small sample size, and the use of self-administered questionnaires. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms the greater overall severity of adult ADHD-SUD compared with ADHD-only patients and suggests the potential role of irritable temperament as a predictor of substance-related problems.

Current treatments of alcohol use disorder.

Emerging treatments for alcohol dependence reveal an intricate interplay of neurobiological, psychological, and circumstantial factors that contribute to Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). The approved strategies balancing these factors involve extensive manipulations of neurotransmitter systems such as GABA, Glutamate, Dopamine, Serotonin, and Acetylcholine. Innovative developments are engaging mechanisms such as GABA reuptake inhibition and allosteric modulation. Closer scrutiny is placed on the role of Glutamate in chronic alcohol consumption, with treatments like NMDA receptor antagonists and antiglutamatergic medications showing significant promise. Complementing these neurobiological approaches is the progressive shift towards Personalized Medicine. This strategy emphasizes unique genetic, epigenetic and physiological factors, employing pharmacogenomic principles to optimize treatment response. Concurrently, psychological therapies have become an integral part of the treatment landscape, tackling the cognitive-behavioral dimension of addiction. In instances of AUD comorbidity with other psychiatric disorders, Personalized Medicine becomes pivotal, ensuring treatment and prognosis are closely defined by individual characteristics, as exemplified by Lesch Typology models. Given the high global prevalence and wide distribution of AUD, a persistent necessity exists for development and improvement of treatments. Current research efforts are steadily paving paths towards more sophisticated, effective typology-based treatments: a testament to the recognized imperative for enhanced treatment strategies. The potential encapsulated within the ongoing research suggests a promising future where the clinical relevance of current strategies is not just maintained but significantly improved to effectively counter alcohol dependence.

Post-COVID-19 Psychiatric Symptoms in the Elderly: The Role of Gender and Resilience.

COVID-19 represents an overwhelming stressor to mental health. Elderly individuals are particularly at risk, but it is still unclear whether the risk is equally distributed among men and women. The aim of this study was to define gender differences in persistent psychiatric symptoms after COVID-19 illness and to test their association with resilience factors. Methods: We assessed 348 individuals aged >65 years at a multidisciplinary post-COVID-19 service. Mood and anxiety symptoms were investigated, as well as psychological distress and resilience, as assessed with the Kessler-10 (K10) Scale and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), respectively. Multivariate and linear regression analyses were used to test the distribution patterns of psychiatric symptoms and resilience factors. Results: In the total sample, 214 (61.5%) were men (a mean age of 73.25 years ±6.04) and 134 (38.5%) were women (a mean age of 72.69 years ±6.43; p = 0.407). Men and women significantly differed in marital status (χ2 = 25.17; p < 0.001, more men were married), living alone (χ2 = 11.62; p < 0.01, fewer men were living alone), hospitalization during COVID-19 illness (χ2 = 12.35; p < 0.001, more men were hospitalized during COVID-19), and subjective health status before COVID-19 infection (χ2 = 4.32; p < 0.001, men reporting better subjective health than women). Women reported more psychiatric symptoms and fewer resilience factors than men. Low resilience levels significantly predicted psychological distress in both men and women. Conclusions: The female elderly population affected by COVID-19 showed a greater vulnerability to psychiatric symptoms. Our data point to the need to strengthen resilience resources, especially in women.