[A role of neurosteroids in the pathogenesis of psychiatric disorders]. / Rol' neirosteroidov v patogeneze psikhicheskikh rasstroistv.

Despite the proven importance of neurosteroids in many physiological processes, their role in the pathogenesis of the most of psychiatric disorders remains relatively understudied. This article reviews the current clinical evidence on the effects of neurosteroids on the formation and treatment of anxiety disorder, depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. In particular, the article points out the ambivalent nature of the effects of neurosteroids on GABAA- and other receptors. We are especially interested in the anxiolytic and anxiogenic effects of some neurosteroids, the antidepressant effect of allopregnanolone in treating postpartum and other forms of depression, and the nature of short- and long-term mechanisms of antidepressant effects of neurosteroids of different types. The currently unproven hypothesis about the effect of changes in the level of neurosteroids on the course of bipolar disorder is also discussed, with an analysis of the scientific evidence on the development of schizophrenic symptomatology in relation to changing neurosteroid levels in the context of positive and cognitive symptoms.

[Neurotic depression: approaches to treatment]. / Nevroticheskaia depressiia: podkhody k terapii.

This paper presents a case report of a patient with neurotic depression. The features of personal predisposition and clinical characteristics of the disease are considered. The authors note the advantages of an integrated approach to the treatment of neurotic depression with antidepressants and psychotherapy (cognitive behavioral therapy).

[Personality disorders and schizophrenic defect (problem of comorbidity)]. / Rasstroistva lichnosti i shizofrenicheskii defekt (problema komorbidnosti).

AIM: To test the main hypothesis that the deficit phenomena in schizophrenia act not in the 'pure' form, but in the form of aggravating personality characteristics, forming so-called 'common' syndromes with personality disorders (PD). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The results of the psychopathological study (with the use of psychometric methods) of deficit disorders in a sample of 170 patients with schizophrenia and schizophrenia spectrum disorders (63 men, 107 women) are presented in relation to the abnormal structure of premorbid personality (PD of clusters A, B, C). An analysis of negative symptoms according to the comparability of defect to the profile of premorbid personality made it possible to distinguish three groups of deficit states associated with PD - 'common syndromes': defensive schizoidy by the type of deficit schizoid and expansive schizoidy by the type of 'verschroben' (cluster A); pathological hysterical infantilism, malignant hysteria and defective erotomania (cluster B); pseudo-psychasthenia and pathological rationalism (cluster C). RESULTS: It has been found that the symptomatology of 'common syndromes' is subject to patterns reflecting the dichotomy of the basic defect. This pattern is valid not only for one single cluster of PD, but extends to all psychopathy-like disorders, regardless of their affiliation with a particular cluster. The pathocharacterological component of the 'common syndromes' coexisting with the deficit symptom complexes is subject to the basic deficit component of the defect and is separated into polar dimensions (defensive-expansive) within specific clusters of PD, and then unified in accordance with the dichotomy of schizophrenic defect in categories with the predominance of emotional or apathoabulic disorders. CONCLUSION: Psychopathy-like symptom complexes in the space of 'common syndromes' can be qualified as a psychopathological construct secondary to basic deficit disorders, and their isolation as an independent entity of negative disorders appears to be unjustified.

[Evolution of the schizophrenic deficit concept]. / Évoliutsiia ucheniia o shizofrenicheskom defekte.

The relevance of this study is the high prevalence and clinical heterogeneity of deficit states in chronic schizophrenia and schizophrenia spectrum disorders. The study aimed at analyzing negative symptoms in schizophrenia and schizophrenia spectrum disorders from historical and modern perspectives. An analysis of available literature, along with own observations, has been performed. It was found that negative symptoms comprise 3 clinical types: 1) 'pseudopsychopathic' type (overlapping personality dimensions and premorbid/initial negative symptoms), 2) pseudoorganic/asthenic/pseudobradiphrenic type (pseudoorganic states), developing at different stages of schizophrenia), 3) 'new'-life pseudopsychopathic type (not associated with premorbid personality traits), developing at late stages in schizophrenia. The trajectory heterogeneity of negative symptoms in their relation to positive symptoms has been defined: simultaneous-continuous course (synchronous course of positive and negative symptoms), polar course (alternative development of predominantly positive or negative symptoms), simultaneous-phasic course (pseudopsychopathic negative symptoms, attracting depressive symptoms, or depression that exacerbates latent deficit). The authors discuss some aspects of psychopharmacological treatment of negative symptoms. Negative symptoms in schizophrenia and schizophrenia spectrum disorders differ clinically, have heterogeneous trajectory course, and require differentiated approach with regard to psychopathological qualification, prognosis and treatment.