Systemic Injections of Cannabidiol Enhance Acetylcholine Levels from Basal Forebrain in Rats.

Cannabis sativa is a plant that contains more than 500 components, of which the most studied are Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). Several studies have indicated that CBD displays neurobiological effects, including wake promotion. Moreover, experimental evidence has shown that injections of CBD enhance wake-related compounds, such as monoamines (dopamine, serotonin, epinephrine, and norepinephrine). However, no clear evidence is available regarding the effects of CBD on additional wake-related neurochemicals such as acetylcholine (ACh). Here, we demonstrate that systemic injections of CBD (0, 5, 10 or 30 mg/kg, i.p.) at the beginning of the lights-on period, increase the extracellular levels of ACh collected from the basal forebrain and measured by microdialysis and HPLC means. Moreover, the time course effects on the contents of ACh were present 5 h post-injection of CBD. Altogether, these data demonstrate that CBD increases ACh levels in a brain region related to wake control. This study is the first to show the effects of ACh levels in CBD-treated rats and suggests that the basal forebrain might be a site of action of CBD for wakefulness modulation.

Dehydroepiandrosterone, Its Sulfate and Cognitive Functions.

UNLABELLED: To present a review of cross-sectional and longitudinal studies that investigate the relationship between the hormones Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) and cognition. METHODS: The cognition items included in this review were global cognitive function, memory, attention, executive function, intelligence, perception and visuospatial ability. A systematic review was proceeded using three databases: PubMed, ISI Web of Science, and PsycINFO. RESULTS: Two thousand fifty five references about cognition and hormones were found; 772 duplicated references were excluded, resulting in 1.283 references to be evaluated. According to exclusion and inclusion criteria, 25 references were selected. A positive correlation between DHEA-S blood levels and global cognition was found in women and men. Other positive correlations between DHEA-S and working memory, attention and verbal fluency were found only in women. The DHEA effect on cognition is limited to one study conducted among young men with high-doses.

Comparison of early risk factors between healthy siblings and subjects with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

Introduction: The following work aims to compare the types and magnitude of risk events in patients with Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder and each of those groups with of a group of healthy siblings, exploring differences and similarities of the two psychotic disorders. Methods: Retrospective interviews were conducted with 20 families to investigate maternal and obstetric health, social support and the presence of early trauma for the affected family members and healthy siblings. Mothers were interviewed with the Prenatal Psychosocial Profile and each family participant was assessed with the Early Trauma Inventory, Screening Questionnaire of the Genomic Psychiatry Cohort and the Diagnostic Interview for Psychosis and Affective Disorders. Results: Obstetric and gestational history, pregnancy weight changes and early trauma were associated with offspring's mental illness, including statistically significant findings for complications of pregnancy, pregnancy weight changes, general trauma, physical punishment and emotional abuse. Conclusion: These findings highlight the different risk factor exposures that occur within a family, which may increase the risk for severe mental illness.

Cognition in Schizophrenia: A Systematic Review of Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale Studies.

Objective: To critically analyze the evidence regarding changes in verbal and performance intelligence quotient (IQ) in patients with schizophrenia.Data Sources: An English-language-only search was conducted in the PubMed, Cochrane Library, and LILACS databases for articles with study objectives that included Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) assessment of cognitive functions in patients with schizophrenia. Descriptors were defined based on Medical Subject Headings, where associations of psychotic disorders related to the schizophrenia spectrum were suggested, as well as the "Wechsler Scales" descriptor. The search was conducted in November 2022 with no restriction on the date of publication to select studies that used any of the WAIS editions.Study Selection: Articles that met the inclusion criteria were selected after title and summary identification and full-text review.Results: A total of 28 articles were identified. All studies presented total IQ scores, but only 20 showed results for verbal IQ (n = 20) or performance IQ (n = 19). Analyzed data indicated patients had average performance on verbal comprehension features but low average performance on perceptual reasoning, working memory, and processing speed indices.Conclusions: Executive function deficits were found in the analyzed studies, which reflect difficulties in planning and impulse control-characteristics present in the diagnosis of schizophrenia. The identification of this neuropsychological functioning contributes to the understanding of the cognitive dynamics found in schizophrenia and may help in early diagnosis, reinforcing the hypothesis that cognitive performance may be one of the indicators of psychopathologic expression.Prim Care Companion CNS Disord 2023;25(5):22r03456. Author affiliations are listed at the end of this article.

Resting-state fMRI functional connectivity and clinical correlates in Afro-descendants with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

Schizophrenia (SCZ) and bipolar disorder (BD) exhibited altered activation in several brain areas, including the prefrontal and temporal cortex; however, a less explored topic is how brain connectivity and functional disturbances occur in non-Caucasian samples of SCZ and BD. Individuals with SCZ (n=20), BD (n=21), and healthy controls (HC, n=21) from indigenous and African ethnicity were submitted to clinical screening and functional assessments. Mood, compulsive and psychotic symptoms were also correlated to network dysfunction in each group. Two distinct networks' subcomponents demonstrated significant lower global efficiency (GE) in SCZ versus HC, corresponding to left posterior dorsal attention and medial left ventral attention (VA) networks. Lower GE was found in BD versus controls in four subcomponents, including the left medial and right VA. Higher compulsion scores correlated in BD with lower GE in the left VA, whereas increased report of alcohol abuse was associated with higher GE in left default mode network. Although preliminary, differences in the activation of specific networks, notably the left hemisphere, in SCZ versus controls, and lower activation in VA areas, in BD versus controls. Results highlight default mode and salient network as relevant for the emotional processing of SCZ and BD of indigenous and black ethnicity. Abstract: schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, functional neuroimaging, ethnicity, default network.

Mental health interventions for suicide prevention among indigenous adolescents: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: The legacies of colonization and of policies of forced assimilation continue to be a cause of intergenerational trauma, manifested through feelings of marginality, depression, anxiety and confusion, which place indigenous peoples at increased risk of suicide. OBJECTIVES: To assess the quality, content, delivery and effectiveness of interventions for preventing suicides among indigenous adolescents. DESIGN AND SETTING: Systematic review conducted with Cochrane methodology, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. METHODS: The Cochrane library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, LILACS and PsycINFO databases were searched for studies published up to February 2021. The following inclusion criteria were used: published in any language; interventions that aimed to prevent suicides among indigenous adolescents; randomized or non-randomized study with a control or comparative group; and validated measurements of mental health problems. RESULTS: Two studies were identified: one on adolescents in the remote Yup'ik community in south-western Alaska, and the other on Zuni adolescents in New Mexico. Both studies showed evidence of effectiveness in interventions for reducing some of the risk factors and increasing some of the protective factors associated with suicide. High levels of community engagement and culture-centeredness were key anchors of both studies, which ensured that the intervention content, delivery and outcome measurements aligned with the beliefs and practices of the communities. Both studies were judged to have a moderate risk of bias, with biases in sample selection, attrition and inadequate reporting of results. CONCLUSIONS: The current evidence base is small but signaled the value of culturally appropriate interventions for prevention of suicide among indigenous adolescents. REGISTRATION DETAILS: The study protocol is registered in the international prospective register of systematic reviews (PROSPERO); no. CRD42019141754.

Early trauma and schizophrenia onset: preliminary results of an outpatient cohort in Brazil.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the prevalence of early trauma in individuals with onset of schizophrenia (SZ) at early (≤ 18 years) and adult (> 18 years) ages (EOP and AOP, respectively) and explore relationships between the onset of disease and clinical variables including traumatic events and psychotic and mood symptoms. METHODS: Subjects with SZ (n = 71) and EOP and AOP were compared for history of psychological trauma, sexual abuse, and physical punishment using the Early Trauma Inventory Self Report - Short Form (ETISR-SF). They were also compared for history of comorbidities and affective disorders using the Diagnostic Interview for Psychosis and Affective Disorders, the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale, and the Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia. Coefficients were calculated for correlations between scale results and disease duration. RESULTS: Early trauma was significantly associated with an early onset psychotic episode (r = -0.315, p < 0.01). General trauma and depressive symptoms in adulthood were also associated (r = 0.442, p < 0.01), as were social anxiety symptoms and early trauma (r = 0.319, p < 0.01). Total ETISR-SF scores and the physical abuse item were significantly higher in EOP than in AOP. In the hierarchical regression, PANSS scores were best predicted by a model including the duration of disease and age of first psychotic episode (R = 0.303). CONCLUSIONS: Our results support the hypothesis that early trauma, including physical abuse, may play a relevant role in schizophrenia symptoms, such as an earlier psychotic occurrence, as well as features of other psychiatric disorders, such as greater severity of social anxiety and depression.

Sexual dysfunction in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome: clinical and hormonal correlations.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the sexual function of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), including the clinical and hormonal characteristics potentially related to sexual dysfunction, in an endocrinology and gynecology ambulatory. METHODOLOGY: Women in ambulatory accompaniment for PCOS (N = 88) were sequentially evaluated by means of the Arizona Sexual Experience Scale (ASEX) and the application of structured diagnostic interview Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (version 4.4) for the identification of mood disorders. The clinical and laboratorial parameters were examined using the patient's medical records. RESULTS: The incidence of sexual dysfunction was verified (13.3%), and it was observed that the average (SD) ASEX score of 14.4 (3.7) was comparable with that of the population with no medical problems. There is a negative correlation between the scores of ASEX and the levels of total testosterone (-0.360), luteinizing hormone (-0.397), and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (-0.723). CONCLUSION: The main factors of preservation of the sexual function in our sample were identified as the low average age of the patients in treatment and the hyperandrogenism habitually found as a consequence of the physiopathology of PCOS.

Prevalence of psychiatric disorders in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of psychiatric disorders among women in ambulatory treatment for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and to correlate its clinical and demographic aspects with mental disorders. METHODOLOGY: Seventy-two patients in ambulatory treatment at the Endocrinal and Gynaecological Institute of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro were evaluated using Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition criteria by means of MINI (Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview, version 4.4). Polycystic ovary syndrome was confirmed according to the ultrasonographic criteria of Adams and by clinical parameters. RESULTS: Forty-one patients (57%) presented at least one psychiatric diagnosis. Among them, the prevalence of mood disorder reached 78%. The most prevalent diagnostics were major depression (26.4%) and bipolar disorder (11.1%). CONCLUSION: A high prevalence of mental disorders was observed, especially major depression and bipolar disorder. The data obtained regarding the relationship between PCOS and mood disorders in a Brazilian sample is in accordance with recent research findings in the same area.

The Endocannabinoid System May Modulate Sleep Disorders in Aging.

Aging is an inevitable process that involves changes across life in multiple neurochemical, neuroanatomical, hormonal systems, and many others. In addition, these biological modifications lead to an increase in age-related sickness such as cardiovascular diseases, osteoporosis, neurodegenerative disorders, and sleep disturbances, among others that affect activities of daily life. Demographic projections have demonstrated that aging will increase its worldwide rate in the coming years. The research on chronic diseases of the elderly is important to gain insights into this growing global burden. Novel therapeutic approaches aimed for treatment of age-related pathologies have included the endocannabinoid system as an effective tool since this biological system shows beneficial effects in preclinical models. However, and despite these advances, little has been addressed in the arena of the endocannabinoid system as an option for treating sleep disorders in aging since experimental evidence suggests that some elements of the endocannabinoid system modulate the sleep-wake cycle. This article addresses this less-studied field, focusing on the likely perspective of the implication of the endocannabinoid system in the regulation of sleep problems reported in the aged. We conclude that beneficial effects regarding the putative efficacy of the endocannabinoid system as therapeutic tools in aging is either inconclusive or still missing.

A Systematic Review of Home-Setting Psychoeducation Interventions for Behavioral Changes in Dementia: Some Lessons for the COVID-19 Pandemic and Post-Pandemic Assistance.

BACKGROUND: Impacts of social isolation measures imposed by COVID-19 Pandemic on mental health and quality of life of older adults living with dementia and their caregivers remain unexplored. Studies have shown that psychoeducational and psychosocial interventions can manage behavioral and psychological symptoms in dementia (BPSD) and reduce the emotional burden on family members when applied in home-setting scenarios. METHOD: a comprehensive systematic review of useful interventions for easing the BPSD burden in patients with dementia (PwD) and their caregivers in the context of COVID-19 quarantine was performed from January 2010 to March 2020. RESULTS: From a total of 187 articles retrieved from electronic databases (MEDLINE, LILACS, Cochrane and SCOPUS), 43 studies were eligible for this review. Most of the psychosocial and psychoeducational interventions described were person-centered strategies based on the cognitive-behavioral approach or informational tools to enhance care providers' knowledge of dementia. Most studies achieved successful results in handling BPSD and mood-anxiety symptoms of care providers, contributing to an overall improvement in dyad life quality. CONCLUSION: Evidence from the last few years suggest that low-cost techniques, tailored to the dyad well-being, with increasing use of technology through friendly online platforms and application robots, can be an alternative to conventional assistance during COVID-19 Pandemic. Nevertheless, the world's current experience regarding the duration of the COVID-19 Pandemic and its effects on the cognition, behavior, and life quality of PwD will demand research on preventive and protective factors of dementia and the pursue of efficient interventions in different scenarios.

Mental health interventions for suicide prevention among indigenous adolescents: a systematic review protocol.

INTRODUCTION: There are more than 370 million indigenous people from 5000 cultures living in 90 countries worldwide. Although they make up 5% of the global population, they account for 15% of the extreme poor. Youth suicide is the second leading cause of mortality among 15-29 years old and disproportionately affects indigenous youth. This research protocol pertains to a systematic review of studies that use a comparator/control group to evaluate the effectiveness of suicide interventions targeting indigenous adolescents (aged 10-19 years). METHODS AND ANALYSIS: We will conduct a systematic search on MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, LILACS and PsycINFO from inception to September 2019 to identify articles that compare mental health interventions for suicide prevention among indigenous adolescents. Two reviewers will independently determine the eligibility of each study. Studies will be assessed for methodological quality using the risk of bias tool to assess non-randomised studies of interventions. We will conduct a meta-analysis if possible and use established statistical methods to identify and control for heterogeneity where appropriate. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This systematic review will use published data and does not require ethics approval. However, this review is in preparation of a feasibility study that will examine how best to support the physical and mental health of indigenous adolescents in Brazil. Ethics approval for the feasibility study was obtained from National Research Ethics Commission. Findings will be disseminated through a peer-reviewed publication and will be made available to key decision-makers with authority for indigenous health and other relevant stakeholders. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42019141754.

The retinoid X receptor: a nuclear receptor that modulates the sleep-wake cycle in rats.

RATIONALE: The nuclear receptor retinoid X receptor (RXR) belongs to a nuclear receptor superfamily that modulates diverse functions via homodimerization with itself or several other nuclear receptors, including PPARα. While the activation of PPARα by natural or synthetic agonists regulates the sleep-wake cycle, the role of RXR in the sleep modulation is unknown. OBJECTIVES: We investigated the effects of bexarotene (Bexa, a RXR agonist) or UVI 3003 (UVI, a RXR antagonist) on sleep, sleep homeostasis, levels of neurochemical related to sleep modulation, and c-Fos and NeuN expression. METHODS: The sleep-wake cycle and sleep homeostasis were analyzed after application of Bexa or UVI. Moreover, we also evaluated whether Bexa or UVI could induce effects on dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine epinephrine, adenosine, and acetylcholine contents, collected from either the nucleus accumbens or basal forebrain. In addition, c-Fos and NeuN expression in the hypothalamus was determined after Bexa or UVI treatments. RESULTS: Systemic application of Bexa (1 mM, i.p.) attenuated slow-wave sleep and rapid eye movement sleep. In addition, Bexa increased the levels of dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine epinephrine, adenosine, and acetylcholine sampled from either the nucleus accumbens or basal forebrain. Moreover, Bexa blocked the sleep rebound period after total sleep deprivation, increased in the hypothalamus the expression of c-Fos, and decreased NeuN activity. Remarkably, UVI 3003 (1 mM, i.p.) induced opposite effects in sleep, sleep homeostasis, neurochemicals levels, and c-Fos and NeuN activity. CONCLUSIONS: The administration of RXR agonist or antagonist significantly impaired the sleep-wake cycle and exerted effects on the levels of neurochemicals related to sleep modulation. Moreover, Bexa or UVI administration significantly affected c-Fos and NeuN expression in the hypothalamus. Our findings highlight the neurobiological role of RXR on sleep modulation.

Therapeutic Approaches for the Management of Sleep Disorders in Geriatric Population.

OBJECTIVE: Aging is a natural biological phenomenon that occurs in human beings. With increasing of age, there is an appearance of deleterious changes related to progression onto pathological conditions, including hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, hearing and vision impairments, as well as sleep disorders. It is important to recognize that some sleep disturbances reported by aged subjects include insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome, among others. Moreover, accumulating evidence indicates that coexistence of medical issues with sleep disorders constitutes clinical challenges for treatment of comorbidities in elderly. Here, we have attempted to review and summarize the available literature that assesses the sleep disturbances in aging. In addition, we highlight the management of sleep disorders associated with aging. Due to the particular health condition of aged adults, the development of effective pharmacological interventions for sleep disorders treatment in aging is warranted. METHODS: Review of studies retrieved from the PubMed. RESULTS: The sleep-wake cycle includes abnormalities classified as sleep disorders. Comorbidity between sleep disturbances and aging-related health issues will represent a public health challenge to be addressed in the near future. Moreover, this scenario will suggest an area that requires further drug investigation and design of new pharmacological and pharmaceutical strategies to treat sleep disorders in the elderly population. CONCLUSION: The review highlights the sleep disturbances in aging. We focus on current knowledge in medicinal chemistry and further design of new treatments tools for managing sleep disturbances in the aged population.

Relationship between sexual hormones, quality of life and postmenopausal sexual function.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the relationship between sexual hormones, sexual function and quality of life in postmenopausal women. METHOD: A cross-sectional study was conducted with a convenience sample of 36 postmenopausal women between the ages of 45 and 65 in follow-up at a climacteric outpatient clinic. Mood, quality of life, sexual function and hormonal profile were assessed. RESULTS: With regard to sexual hormones and sexual function, a relationship was found between orgasm and luteinizing hormone (r=0.37), orgasm and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) (r=0.39), SHBG and less pain (r=0.44), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and desire (r=-0.45), as well as between prolactin and lubrication (r=0.33). Sexual hormones and quality of life were related as follows: progesterone and limitations due to physical aspects (r=0.35), SHBG and social aspects (r=0.35), cortisol and pain (r=0.46), DHEA and social aspects (r=-0.40). Finally, the following relationships were found between sexual function and quality of life: sexual desire and vitality, social aspects, state of general health and mental health (r=0.46, r=0.51, r=0.35, and r=0.38, respectively). Arousal, orgasm and satisfaction with sexual life showed a relationship with less physical pain (r=0.40, r=0.42, and r=0.43, respectively). Satisfaction with sexual life was correlated with vitality (r=0.33). CONCLUSION: Different correlations than expected were found in this study regarding the effect of some hormones on sexual function and some aspects of the quality of life of postmenopausal women.

Sleep and Neurochemical Modulation by DZNep and GSK-J1: Potential Link With Histone Methylation Status.

Histone methylation/demethylation plays an important modulatory role in chromatin restructuring, RNA transcription and is essential for controlling a plethora of biological processes. Due to many human diseases have been related to histone methylation/demethylation, several compounds such as 3-deazaneplanocin A (DZNep) or 3-((6-(4,5-Dihydro-1H-benzo[d]azepin-3(2H)-yl)-2-(pyridin-2-yl)pyrimidin-4-yl)amino)propanoic acid; N-[2-(2-pyridinyl)-6-(1,2,4,5-tetrahydro-3H-3-benzazepin-3-yl)-4-pyrimidinyl]-ß-Alanine (GSK-J1), have been designed to inhibit histone methylase or suppress histone demethylase, respectively. In the present study, we investigated the effects on the sleep-wake cycle and sleep-related neurochemical levels after systemic injections of DZNep or GSK-J1 given during the light or dark phase in rats. DZNep dose-dependently (0.1, 1.0, or 10 mg/kg, i.p.) prolonged wakefulness (W) duration while decreased slow wave sleep (SWS) and rapid eye movement sleep (REMS) time spent during the lights-on period with no changes observed in dark phase. In opposite direction, GSK-J1 (0.1, 1.0, or 10 mg/kg, i.p.) injected at the beginning of the lights-on period induced no statistical changes in W, SWS, or REMS whereas if administered at darkness, we found a diminution in W and an enhancement in SWS and REMS. Finally, brain microdialysis experiments in freely moving animals were used to evaluate the effects of DZNep or GSK-J1 treatments on contents of sleep-related neurochemicals. The results showed that DZNep boosted extracellular levels of dopamine, norepinephrine, epinephrine, serotonin, adenosine, and acetylcholine if injected at the beginning of the lights-on period whereas GSK-J1 exerted similar outcomes but when administered at darkness. In summary, DZNep and GSK-J1 may control the sleep-wake cycle and sleep-related neurochemicals through histone methylation/demethylation activity.

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) for Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Depression is a mental disorder that affects a large part of the world's population. DHEA is a hormone that has long been attributed to the ability to improve depressive symptoms. However, few studies were conducted with depression individuals not resulting from other medical conditions. OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether DHEA is more effective than placebo in the treatment of depressive symptoms in subjects with depression not resulting from other psychiatric or medical comorbidities. METHODS: An electronic search was carried out using the keywords Dehydroepiandrosterone (Mesh) AND Depression (Mesh) in the following databases: Medical Literature databases Analysis and Retrieval System Online (Medline), Excerpta Medical Database (EMBASE), Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences (LILACS) and the Cochrane Library through their website for relevant publications until June 2018. Only randomized clinical trials were included. The critical appraisal of the articles was performed using the Risk of Bias Tool from Cochrane Collaboration. RESULTS: The meta-analysis applied in this review pointed to a significant effect in favor of treatment with DHEA compared to placebo. CONCLUSION: DHEA may be one more effective alternative between the drugs used in the treatment of depression.

Fighting obesity: Non-pharmacological interventions.

The abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that impairs health is one of the criteria that fulfills obesity. According to epidemiological data, obesity has become a worldwide public health problem that in turn would trigger additional pathologies such as cardiorespiratory dysfunctions, cancer, gastrointestinal disturbances, depression, sleep disorders, just to mention a few. Then, the search for a therapeutical intervention aimed to prevent and manage obesity has been the focus of study during the last years. As one can assume, the increased prevalence of obesity has translated to search of efficient pharmaceuticals designed to manage this health issue. However, to further complicate the scenario, scientific literature has described that obesity is the result of interaction between multiple events. Therefore, pharmacological approaches have faced a serious challenge for develop the adequate treatment. Here, we argue that a wide range of non-pharmacological/invasive techniques can be used to manage obesity, such as diets, cognitive behavioral interventions, exercise and transcranial direct current stimulation. Combining these techniques may allow improving quality of life of obese patients.

Systemic Administration of Antipsychotic Asenapine Pre or Postnatal does not Induce Anxiety-like Behaviors in Mice.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Asenapine is an atypical antipsychotic approved by US Food and Drug Administration in 2009 and by European Medicines Agency in 2010 for Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder treatment. Currently, many studies have been developed in an attempt to clarify and minimize the risks related to the use of psychotropic during pre/postnatal period on patients with a history of mental disorders. CONCLUSION: The aim of this study was to test the impact of pre and/or postnatal exposition to asenapine on mice offspring behavior. Four groups of animals, previously treated with a dosage equivalent to 50% of the bioavailability obtained with a 20 mg daily use for human treatment, were exposed to the Open Field and Elevated plus Maze test. Only the group exposed to asenapine during both pre and postnatal periods showed response difference in the Elevated Plus Maze test, which was restricted to urination. However, our data suggest that the administration of asenapine does not induce significant anxiety-like behaviors in mice.