COVID-19-Associated Acute Psychotic Disorder-Longitudinal Case Report and Brief Review of Literature.

Even though since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the literature became more and more abundant on data and hypotheses about the various consequences on people's lives, more clarity needs to be added to the existing information. Besides the stressful experiences related to the COVID-19 pandemic, SARS-CoV-2 infection has been proven to impact brain functioning through direct and indirect pathogenic mechanisms. In this context, we report a case of a patient presenting with a first episode of psychosis following COVID-19. In our case, a 28-year-old male patient with no personal or family psychiatric history developed psychotic symptoms (delusions, hallucinations, and disorganized behaviour) that required antipsychotic treatment and inpatient hospitalization one week after he was discharged from the hospital after COVID-19. At the six-month and one-year follow-up, the patient was in remission without any psychotic signs or symptoms. A brief review of the literature is also provided. The case presented in this article outlines the possibility that the post-COVD-19 recovery period might be a crucial time for the onset of acute psychotic disorder, and therefore, routine psychiatric assessments should be carried out during all phases of the disease. A clearer picture of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health will most likely be revealed in the future as many consequences need long-term evaluation.

Psychosis Associated with Acquired Porencephaly-Cause or Incidental Finding? Case Report and Review of Literature.

Porencephaly, a rare disease affecting the central nervous system, is represented by a cerebrospinal fluid-filled cavity in the brain. There are two types of porencephalic cavities: congenital and acquired. Porencephaly is mainly associated with neurological and developmental consequences. Associated psychotic symptoms were reported in a few cases, and due to this fact, there is a knowledge gap regarding the diagnostic and therapeutic approach to such cases. We present the case of a 32-year-old male diagnosed with a psychotic disorder associated with acquired porencephaly. The porencephalic cystic lesions were most probably due to a traumatic brain injury at the age of 6 years old. The psychotic symptomatology consisted of interoceptive/visceral hallucinations, delusions with persecutory and religious/magic content and disorganised behaviour. The porencephalic cavity was confirmed by a computed tomography scan. The patient was treated over the course of time with risperidone, olanzapine and zuclopenthixol. The existing literature regarding other cases of psychosis associated with porencephaly is discussed. In conclusion, even though porencephaly was asymptomatic for a long period of time, we argue that there is a causal relationship between the chronic psychotic symptoms and the porencephalic cyst in our case.

Escitalopram Targets Oxidative Stress, Caspase-3, BDNF and MeCP2 in the Hippocampus and Frontal Cortex of a Rat Model of Depression Induced by Chronic Unpredictable Mild Stress.

In recent years, escitalopram (ESC) has been suggested to have different mechanisms of action beyond its well known selective serotonin reuptake inhibition. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of escitalopram on oxidative stress, apoptosis, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), Methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MeCP2), and oligodendrocytes number in the brain of chronic unpredictable mild stress-induced depressed rats. The animals were randomised in four groups (8 in each group): control, stress, stress + ESC 5 and stress + ESC 5/10. ESC was administered for 42 days in a fixed dose (5 mg/kg b.w.) or in an up-titration regimen (21 days ESC 5 mg/kg b.w. then 21 days ESC 10 mg/kg b.w.). Sucrose preference test (SPT) and elevated plus maze (EPM) were also performed. ESC improved the percentage of sucrose preference, locomotion and anxiety. ESC5/10 reduced the oxidative damage in the hippocampus and improved the antioxidant defence in the hippocampus and frontal lobe. ESC5/10 lowered caspase 3 activity in the hippocampus. Escitalopram had a modulatory effect on BDNF and the number of oligodendrocytes in the hippocampus and frontal lobe and also improved the MeCP2 expressions. The results confirm the multiple pathways implicated in the pathogenesis of depression and suggest that escitalopram exerts an antidepressant effect via different intricate mechanisms.

The anti-inflammatory role of SSRI and SNRI in the treatment of depression: a review of human and rodent research studies.

RATIONALE: Depression has the topmost prevalence of all psychiatric diseases. It is characterized by a high recurrence rate, disability, and numerous and mostly unclear pathogenic mechanisms. Besides the monoamine or the neurotrophic hypothesis of depression, the inflammatory mechanism has begun to be supported by more and more evidence. At the same time, the current knowledge about the standard treatment of choice, the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), is expanding rapidly, adding more features to the initial ones. OBJECTIVES: This review summarizes the in vivo anti-inflammatory effects of SSRIs and SNRIs in the treatment of depression and outlines the particular mechanisms of these effects for each drug separately. In addition, we provide an overview of the inflammation-related theory of depression and the underlying mechanisms. RESULTS: SSRIs and SNRIs decrease the neuroinflammation through multiple mechanisms including the reduction of blood or tissue cytokines or regulating complex inflammatory pathways: nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), inflammasomes, Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ). Also, SSRIs and SNRIs show these effects in association with an antidepressant action. CONCLUSIONS: SSRIs and SNRIs have an anti-neuroinflammatory role which might contribute the antidepressant effect.

Post-Finasteride Adverse Effects in Male Androgenic Alopecia: A Case Report of Vitiligo.

Finasteride has proved to be relatively safe and effective in the therapeutic management of male androgenic alopecia. However, literature data report several endocrine imbalances inducing various adverse effects, which often persist after treatment cessation in the form of post-finasteride syndrome. Here we present the case of a 52-year-old man receiving finasteride (1 mg/day) who developed an uncommon adverse effect represented by generalized vitiligo 2 months after finasteride discontinuation. Associated adverse effects encountered were represented by mild sexual dysfunction (as determined by the International Index of Erectile Function, IIEF) and moderate depressive symptoms (according to DSM-V criteria), all of these manifestations aggregating within/as a possible post-finasteride syndrome. Further studies should develop and compare several therapeutic approaches, taking into account not only compounds that decrease the circulating dihydrotestosterone level but also those that could block the dihydrotestosterone receptors (if possible, compounds with selective tropism towards the skin). In addition, the possibility of predicting adverse effects of finasteride (according to hand preference and sexual orientation) should be taken into account.

A Pilot Study on Tamoxifen Sexual Side Effects and Hand Preference in Male Breast Cancer.

Recent clinical and imaging studies suggest that sex hormones modulate sexuality according to a psychophysiologic process of lateralization of the brain, with androgens playing a greater role in sexual functioning of left hemibrain/right handedness and estrogens possibly for right hemibrain/left handedness. Based on this perspective, the current study attempted to specify the relationship between hand preference, estrogens, and sexual function in subjects with male breast cancer, taking into account the sexual side effects of tamoxifen as the agent for inhibiting estrogen action. Twenty-eight Romanian men-17 right-handed and 11 left-handed-undergoing treatment with tamoxifen for male breast cancer participated in this study. These men were assessed both prior to and during tamoxifen treatment using the International Index of Erectile Function, a standardized instrument used for the evaluation of various aspects of sexual functioning, including erectile function (EF), orgasmic function (OF), sexual desire (SD), and overall functioning (OF). A main effect for handedness was found on EF, OF, SD, and OS scales, with right-handed men showing higher functioning than left-handed men. Regarding interaction effects, the left-handed group of men showed greater decreased sexual functioning during tamoxifen (on three subscales: OF, SD, OS) compared to right-handed men. Further research should be conducted in order to support and refine this potential lateralized process of sexual neuromodulation within the brain.

Alien hand syndrome: Pathophysiology, semiology and differential diagnosis with psychiatric disorders (Review).

Alien hand syndrome (AHS) is an uncommon neurological condition characterized by involuntary, yet seemingly purposeful, movements of a limb, typically an upper extremity, with variable awareness and control by the affected individual. It is associated with a range of peculiar sensations, such as the feeling of limb estrangement, alien control and involuntary mirroring or restraining of movements. AHS indicates a profound disruption in volitional motor control and personal agency. The aetiology of AHS is the dysfunction of critical brain regions secondary to diverse neurological insults, such as tumours, vascular disorders, infarction or neurodegenerative diseases. It is clinically categorized into the parietal and callosal types, depending on the affected region, with manifestations often linked to the specific brain region affected. The callosal type is particularly challenging to diagnose due to its rarity and potential for nonspecific or concealed symptoms amid concurrent brain injuries. Distinguishing AHS from psychiatric disorders is crucial for accurate diagnosis and improved patient outcomes. Further research is imperative for a deeper understanding of the pathophysiology of AHS and the development of effective treatments. AHS predominantly affects adults and is frequently associated with multiple comorbidities. The syndrome is also exemplified by three distinct motor behaviours: Involuntary grasping, inter-manual conflict and limb levitation accompanied by the sensation of an alien limb or the perception of external control over one's movements. It has a generally good prognosis with partial or total recovery following appropriate rehabilitation techniques, including pharmacological and psychological measures.

Understanding the Patient Landscape: A Ten-Year Retrospective Examination of Electroconvulsive Therapy in Romania's Largest Psychiatric Hospital.

The aim of this analysis was to investigate the socio-demographic and clinical profile, the effectiveness, and the association of pharmacological treatment in patients who underwent electroconvulsive therapy during the last 10 years in the largest psychiatric hospital in Romania. This study includes 249 patients aged between 18 and 73 years old. Recurrent depression was the most frequent diagnosis for which ECT was performed (T = 96, 38.55%), followed by schizophrenia (T = 72, 28.91%). The most frequent indication for ECT was treatment resistance (T = 154, 61.84%), followed by persistent suicidal ideation (T = 54, 21.68%) and catatonia (T = 42, 16.86%). In 111 (44.60%) cases included in this study, re-hospitalization was required after performing ECT, while 138 (55.40%) participants did not require any further hospital readmissions. Significant differences were found between these groups in terms of socio-demographic data, diagnosis, number of ECT sessions performed, and association of psychotropic medication during and after the procedure, therefore two separate patient profiles were found based on these characteristics. Patients necessitating re-hospitalization post-ECT were mainly males aged 25-44 diagnosed with schizophrenia and underwent a greater number of ECT sessions (7-12), whereas those not requiring re-hospitalization were predominantly females aged 45-64 with recurrent depressive disorder for which 4-6 ECT sessions were performed.

Predictive factors and symptom severity spectrum in adult schizophrenia: Potential insights for improved management and adequate care.

Schizophrenia is one of the most disabling psychiatric disorders characterized by positive (hallucinations, delusions, formal thinking disorder) and negative symptoms (anhedonia, lack of speech and motivation). The present study aimed to identify the predictive factors of schizophrenia in adults, and potential differences in the environment of origin, sex, levels of occupational stress, intellectual level, marital status and age of onset of the disease depending on the severity of symptoms using analysis of data collected from 120 patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. The study was conducted at the 'Prof. Dr. Alexandru Obregia' Clinical Psychiatric Hospital in Bucharest and included adult patients hospitalized between March 2018 and January 2021 diagnosed with schizophrenia and evaluated by general clinical examination, psychiatric, neurological and psychological evaluation. Results revealed that robust predictors of mild and moderate symptoms were affective symptoms, heredo-collateral history of schizophrenia, late onset, the presence of positive and negative symptoms, substance abuse, stress and marital status, unmarried, lower IQ and mental deficiency. For moderate-severe and severe symptoms, predictors were affective symptoms, heredo-collateral history of schizophrenia and affective disorders, substance abuse, stress, borderline IQ and mild mental deficiency. The present results can be used for further development of psychopharmacological management of schizophrenia.

Predictors of Changes in Quality of Life of Patients with Major Depressive Disorder-A Prospective Naturalistic 3-Month Follow-Up Study.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is one of the leading causes of disease burden worldwide and affected patients frequently report impairments in quality of life (QoL). Therefore, the present research aimed to identify predictors of domain-specific QoL changes in MDD patients following the acute phase of pharmacological treatment (3-month). This study is a prospective, naturalistic, and observational analysis on 150 patients. Depressive symptoms, QoL, overall pain intensity, and functionality were assessed using Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, World Health Organization Quality of Life scale-abbreviated version, Visual Analog Scale, and Sheehan Disability Scale, respectively. Reductions in symptom severity and disability were predictors of improvement across all domains of QoL. Pain intensity reduction was a predictor of increases in the physical aspect of QoL. A reduced number of psychiatric hospitalizations and being in a relationship predicted an improvement of QoL in the psychological domain whereas a positive history of suicidal attempts was associated with better social relationships QoL. The predictive models explained 41.2% and 54.7% of the variance in psychological and physical health domains of QoL, respectively. Awareness of sociodemographic and changes in clinical factors that impact the change in domain-specific QoL might help in shaping personalized treatment.

Patient-centered health care planning in acute inpatient mental health settings: a best practice implementation project.

OBJECTIVES: The current project aimed to improve the quality of health care by promoting evidence-based practice (EBP) regarding mental health care planning (MHCP) for adult inpatients. INTRODUCTION: The implementation of the best evidence in the process of developing and documenting nursing care plans is currently an important legal requirement that contributes to increasing the quality of care. METHODS: This implementation project was based on the JBI evidence implementation approach and included a baseline audit of seven criteria, implementation of strategies, and a follow-up audit. The project was conducted in an acute psychiatric setting at a university hospital in Bucharest, Romania. The sample included 17 nurses and 30 ward patients. RESULTS: The baseline audit revealed low compliance (33%-37%) for criterion 3 (a comprehensive care plan) and criterion 4 (patient involvement); moderate compliance (55%) for criterion 1 (care plan for all patients); and increased compliance (97%-100%) for criterion 2 (assessment of patient's needs), criterion 5 (education of patients/caregivers), criterion 6 (providing a copy at discharge), and criterion 7 (education of professionals). As a result of implementing the most appropriate strategies, the maximum improvement (100%) was observed across all five audit criteria that were found to be deficient in the baseline audit. CONCLUSION: The development and implementation of strategies adapted to specific care need to play a key role in the implementation of EBP. In this case, educating nurses, facilitating nurses' access to EBP for care planning, and improving procedures proved effective in achieving maximum compliance with all the audit criteria.

Current Perspectives on Pharmacological and Non-Pharmacological Interventions for the Inflammatory Mechanism of Unipolar Depression.

Since depression remains a major public health issue there is a constant need for new and more efficient therapeutic strategies based on the mechanisms involved in the aetiology of depression. Thus, the pathogenic link between depression and inflammation is considered to play a potential key role in the development of such therapies. This review summarizes the results of various pharmacological (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, aspirin, cyclooxygenase inhibitors, cytokine inhibitors, corticosteroids, statins, minocycline, N-acetyl cysteine, omega-3 fatty acids and probiotics) and non-pharmacological interventions (electroconvulsive therapy, physical exercise and psychological therapy) and outlines their efficacy and discusses potential challenges. Both conventional and non-conventional anti-inflammatory drugs showed promising results according to the specific group of patients. The pre-existing pro-inflammatory status was, in most cases, a predictor for clinical efficacy and, in some cases, a correlation between clinical improvement and changes in various biomarkers was found. Some of the non-pharmacological interventions (physical exercise and electroconvulsive therapy) have also showed beneficial effects for depressive patients with elevated inflammatory markers. Treatments with anti-inflammatory action may improve clinical outcomes in depression, at least for some categories of patients, thus opening the way for a future personalised approach to patients with unipolar depression regarding the inflammation-related mechanism.

Computer-Based Assessment and Self-Report Measures of Executive Functions in High-Functioning Adults with Autism.

This study analyzes the profile of executive functions (EF) in high-functioning adults with autism (HFA), both in terms of performance on four computer-based tasks, as well as how these functions are perceived by the individuals through self-reporting measures. The study included 64 participants: 32 individuals with HFA, and 32 typically developing controls. Four CANTAB tasks were used (assessing spatial working memory, planning, visual memory, and inhibition), as well as a self-reported measure of executive functions (BDEFS) and a scale for the severity of autism symptoms (RAADS-R). The participants in the ASD group performed significantly lower than the control group on all four computer-based tasks, as measured by the total number of errors made (for the spatial working memory, visual memory, and inhibition tasks) and the number of problems solved at the first choice (for the planning task). No correlation was found in the ASD group between the severity of autism symptoms and the computer-based measures. These findings provide evidence that HFA adults may have various executive functioning impairments, and subsequent daily life problems, but these deficits do not necessarily correlate with the severity of core ASD symptoms.

Magnetic resonance imaging in schizophrenia: Luxury or necessity? (Review).

Schizophrenia, one of the most common psychiatric disorders, with a worldwide annual incidence rate of approximately 0.3-0.7%, known to affect the population below 25 years of age, is persistent throughout lifetime and includes people from all layers of society. With recent technological progress that allows better imaging techniques, such as the ones provided by computed tomography and particularly magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), research on schizophrenia imaging has grown considerably. The purpose of this review is to establish the importance of using imaging techniques in the early detection of brain abnormalities in patients diagnosed with schizophrenia. We reviewed all articles which reported on MRI imaging in schizophrenia. In order to do this, we used the PubMed database, using as search words 'MRI' and 'schizophrenia'. MRI studies of first episode patients and chronic patients, suggest reduction of the whole brain volume. Enlargement of lateral ventricles was described as positive in 15 studies out of 19 and was similar to findings in chronic patients. Moreover, for the first episode patients, all data collected point to important changes in medial temporal lobe structures, diminished hippocampal volume, the whole frontal lobe, asymmetry in prefrontal cortex, diminished volume in cingulate, corpus callosum, and cavum septum pellucidum reported abnormalities. MRI is recommended as an important tool in the follow-up process of patients with schizophrenia. Yet, it is still under debate whether the abnormalities described in this condition are able to be used as diagnostic biomarkers.

Impact of Alzheimer's Dementia on Caregivers and Quality Improvement through Art and Music Therapy.

Dementia is a general term for a series of medical conditions that affect the brain and evolve progressively. According to the literature, there are over 200 subtypes and causes of dementia, with Alzheimer's disease (AD) being the most common in elderly people. AD is an irreversible progressive neurodegenerative condition that leads to a decline in mental function, enough to disrupt daily life. Thinking skills slowly deteriorate, which, in advanced stages, makes it impossible to perform simple tasks. Besides the change in the quality of life of AD patients and their families, there is a considerable alteration in the quality of life of their caregivers, whose health can be negatively affected by the development of mental and somatic disorders. This article reviews the literature in order to reveal the benefits of applying non-pharmacological interventions such as music and art therapy to improve quality of life. This article also aims to shed light on the impact of this disease on the caregiver's life. Music and art therapy have produced reliable results in the treatment of patients with AD, and the best effects are related to increased socialization and the maintenance of social status.

Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio, a Novel Inflammatory Marker, as a Predictor of Bipolar Type in Depressed Patients: A Quest for Biological Markers.

(1) Background: Recent research suggests inflammation as a factor involved in the pathophysiology of mood disorders. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte (NLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte (MLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte (PLR), and systemic immune-inflammatory (SII) index ratios have been studied as peripheral markers of inflammation in bipolar and major depressive disorders. The purpose of this study is to comparatively analyze these inflammatory ratios among manic episodes of bipolar disorder, bipolar depression and unipolar depression. (2) Methods: 182 patients were retrospectively included in the study and divided into three groups: 65 manic patients, 34 patients with bipolar depression, and 83 unipolar depressive patients. White blood cells, neutrophils, monocytes, lymphocytes, and platelets were retrieved from the patients' database. NLR, MLR, PLR, and SII index were calculated using these parameters. (3) Results: Patients with manic episodes had elevated NLR (p < 0.001), MLR (p < 0.01), PLR (p < 0.05), and SII index (p < 0.001) compared to unipolar depression and increased NLR (p < 0.05) and SII index (p < 0.05) when compared to bipolar depression. NLR (p < 0.01) and SII index (p < 0.05) were higher in the bipolar depression than unipolar depression. NLR is an independent predictor of the bipolar type of depression in depressive patients. (4) Conclusions: The results confirm the role of inflammation in the pathophysiology of mood disorders and suggest the ability of NLR as a marker for the differentiation of bipolar from unipolar depression.

Safety Profile of Finasteride: Distribution of Adverse Effects According to Structural and Informational Dichotomies of the Mind/Brain.

Finasteride is currently used extensively for male androgenic alopecia and benign prostatic hyperplasia; however, some adverse effects are severe and even persistent after treatment cessation, the so-called 'post-finasteride syndrome'. The following most severe adverse effects-sexual dysfunction and depression-often occur together and may potentiate one other, a fact that could explain (at least in part) the magnitude and persistence of finasteride adverse effects. This paper presents the pharmacological action of finasteride and the corresponding adverse effects, the biological base explaining the occurrence, persistence and distribution of these adverse effects, and a possible therapeutic solution for post-finasteride syndrome. The distribution of finasteride adverse effects is presented within a comprehensive and modern neuro-endocrine perspective related to structural and informational dichotomies of the brain. Understanding the variation of finasteride side effects among different populations would be necessary not only to delineate the safety profile of finasteride for different subgroups of men (a subject may or may not be affected by a certain anti-hormonal compound dependent on the individual neuro-endocrine profile), but also as a possible premise for a therapeutic approach of finasteride adverse effects. Such therapeutic approach should include administration of exogenous hormones, which are deficient in men with post-finasteride syndrome, namely dihydrotestosterone (in right-handed men) or progesterone/dihydroprogesterone (in left-handed subjects).

[HIV infection associated cognitive disorders]. / Tulburarile cognitive asociate infectiei HIV.

The most frequent neuropsychiatric complication of the human immunodefienciency virus infection is cognitive impairment, wich may range in severity from a mild cognitive disorder to a severe dementing illness. HIV-associated dementia is known to be a poor indicator in patients with HIV. Caring for a person who develops cognitive impairment or even stable dementia is exhausting emotionally, psysically and financially. The most important difference between HIV-associated dementia and HIV associated minor cognitive disorder is the severity of impairment in activities of daily living. The purpose of this articol is to distinguish the most common symptomatology of this complication of HIV infection in order to prevent and treat cognitive deficits from the early stages if is possible.