Stathmin1 (Stmn1) is a protein highly expressed during the development of the central nervous system. The phosphorylation of Stmn1 involves microtubule dynamics, so Stmn1 plays a vital part in neurite outgrowth and synaptic plasticity. Previous studies reported that Stmn1 genetic variants influence fear and anxiety as well as cognitive-affective processing. However, no study reported on the relationship between Stmn1 gene polymorphism and cognition in Chinese. Thus, this association was investigated in the present study.

A total of 129 healthy Han Chinese were genotyped for Stmn1 rs182455 polymorphism by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism analyses. Cognitive function was assessed using the Stroop Color-Word Test (SCWT) and Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised (HVLT-R).

In the present sample, rs182455 CC, CT, and TT genotypes were found in 56 (43.41%), 65 (50.39%) and 8 (6.20%) cases, respectively. The genotype distribution did not deviate from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (χ² = 3.715, p = 0.054). Significant differences were found between the three rs182455 genotypes and between the CC and (CT+TT) genotype groups in the Stroop Color (SC) scores of the SCWT (F = 3.322, 2.377; p = 0.039, 0.019, respectively) and the total recall (TR) scores on the HVLT-R (F = 3.118, 2.225; p = 0.048, 0.028, respectively). There was a female-specific difference in SC scores between the three rs182455 genotypes (F = 2.318, p = 0.023). The rs182455 genotype distribution showed no significant difference between two sexes (χ² = 1.313, p = 0.519), whereas significant differences were seen in SC and TR scores between two sexes (t = –2.294, –2.490; p = 0.023, 0.014, respectively).

The findings suggest that rs182455 Stmn1 polymorphism might affect cognitive flexibility and immediate free recall in healthy Chinese individuals, especially females.

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a common disease with a high economic cost. The glutamate cell signaling pathway associated with alcohol has been reported to be one of the main pathologies of AUD. Previous studies have suggested that FYN, which is known to control NMDA glutamate receptor function through phosphorylation, might be associated with AUD.

The present study included 354 subjects in the alcohol-dependent group and 139 subjects in the control group. The alcohol-dependent group was recruited from five university hospitals and a psychiatric hospital, and the control group was recruited from people who visited the university hospital for routine medical checkups in Korea. FYN gene single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) were selected based on SNP databases and previous studies of the FYN gene. Ten SNPs were genotyped using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism techniques.

GG genotypes and G allele frequencies of rs1058134 in male AUD patients were significantly lower than in controls (p = 0.003). AA genotypes and A allele frequencies of rs12191154 in female AUD patients were significantly lower than in controls (p < 0.001, p = 0.003). In female AUD patients, AA genotypes and A allele frequencies of rs9387025 were significantly higher than in controls (p = 0.003).

These findings suggest that the FYN gene may be a candidate gene for AUD. This may help for the planning of further studies to determine the function of each SNP and the exact relationship between the FYN gene and AUD.

This review updates our understanding of the neuroanatomical and neurocircuitry factors involved in panic disorder (PD). Many aspects remain undetermined.

Clinical studies and a randomized controlled trial were identified via PubMed database and included in this review.

The search, following PRISMA guidelines, identified 13 human studies and 3 animal studies. Nine human studies compared brain activity and connectivity between regions in PD patients. Neural activity in the amygdala was highlighted in six studies. The hippocampus had higher activation in PD patients compared to those with social phobia, but generally showed less activity compared to healthy controls. The parahippocampal gyrus and thalamus exhibited greater activation in PD patients than healthy controls. Activity in the prefrontal cortices was also noted, particularly the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC), ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (vlPFC), dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC), and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC). Other regions involved included the dorsal midbrain, left brainstem (showing hyperactivation), S1, and right caudate, which showed increased activity in PD patients. The left intraparietal sulcus (IPS) exhibited hypoactivation in response to predictable cues compared to unpredictable or neutral cues within the default mode network (DMN). Three animal studies suggested that electrical and chemical activation of the dorsal periaqueductal gray (dPAG) in rats elicited fight-or-flight behaviors, providing a model for panic attacks.

Neuroimaging studies suggest several key regions involved in PD pathophysiology, including the brainstem, amygdala, hippocampus, parahippocampal gyrus, thalamus, insula, and prefrontal and cingulate cortices. Hypersensitivity in the brainstem and amygdala plays a role in activating the fear network. Further prospective studies are needed to identify the neuroanatomical sites involved in PD and fear circuitry.

Little is known about the association between subjectively experienced levels of diabetes distress (DD) and personality traits (PTs), even when levels of DD appear stable over time. This study aimed to use the Alternative Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) Model for Personality Disorders (AMPD) to associate specific maladaptive PTs with experienced DD and to describe differences in the constellation of PTs between people with type 1 diabetes (PWT1D) and type 2 diabetes (PWT2D).

A total of 358 participants with diabetes mellitus (DM) (56.2% female, mean age 42.33 years, standard deviation (SD) = 14.33) were evaluated using the Diabetes Distress Scale (DDS) and the shortened 160-item version of the Personality Inventory for DSM-5 (PID-5). Psychometric properties of the DDS were evaluated first, then the association between DDS and PID-5 scores, and the differences between groups based on diabetes type and DD level, were analyzed.

Strong associations were found between the PID-5 Negative Affectivity (NEF) domain and the emotional burden (β = 0.852, p_Holm < 0.001) and regimen distress (β = 0.435, p_Holm = 0.006) DDS subscale scores. PWT1D had a higher level of personality pathology than PWT2D, as did participants with elevated levels of DD across most domains and facets of PID-5.

Our findings suggest that attention should be paid to the level of NEF among people with diabetes in relation to their emotional burden and perception of regimen distress. We recommend a distinction between people based on their diabetes type. Implications for clinical practice and interventions for DD perceived through the lens of the dimensional DSM-5 PT model are discussed.

The factors contributing to adolescents’ views of self can be complex and idiosyncratic. Self-esteem can hinge upon a narrow or broad set of factors, depending on how the adolescent conceptualizes the self. The present study examines how narrow and broad views of self may be differentially related to measures of depression severity and suicide risk among adolescents.

In total, 90 adolescent psychiatric inpatients were evaluated while hospitalized during a major depressive episode. All patients completed the Children’s Depression Inventory, the Hopelessness Scale for Children, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and the Self-Esteem Worksheet—an idiographic measure that allows each person to rate the importance and success related to enter their personal values and priorities.

Compared to depressed adolescent inpatients, depressed and suicidal teens reported significantly higher levels of depression and hopelessness, along with significantly lower levels of self-esteem on both measures of self-esteem. Further, lower scores on the Self-Esteem Worksheet were associated with more severe depression, elevated hopelessness, and elevated suicidal ideation.

The Self-Esteem Worksheet provides insights into the mind of vulnerable teens that may help to guide treatment and prevention efforts.

Social support is recognized as a critical factor in both the prevention and management of Major depression Disorder (MDD), and can influence interoceptive processes. The mechanism of sex differences in the association between social support and MDD has not been clarified. This study was to elucidate the mechanism of sex differences in the association between social support and MDD by a mediation analysis with interoception mediator.

Participants included 390 depressed patients (male/female: 150/240). Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS) was used to assess the degree of social support; Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA-2C) was used to evaluate the interoception; Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) was used to assess depression status. The pairwise correlated variables were put into the mediation model for the mediation analysis.

The depression status in female depressed patients was more severity than that in male depressed patients, while the social support in female depressed patients was less than that in male depressed patients. In male depressed patients, the Noticing of MAIA-2C plays a partial mediating role in social support and depression status, however, in female depressed patients, the Self-Regulation and Trusting of MAIA-2C plays a partial mediating role in social support and depression status.

The female depressed patients receive significantly less social support than male counterparts, contributing to more severe symptoms, with the quality and adequacy of social support being crucial due to its mediation by interoception, highlighting a biological mechanism behind MDD. Differences in how interoception mediating role between genders suggest a physiological reason for the heightened severity of depressive symptoms in females.

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of paliperidone combined with sertraline in treating schizophrenia (SCZ) and its effect on serum neurofunctional factors.

A retrospective analysis was conducted on SCZ patients admitted between June 2020 and June 2021. Initially, 80 patients were treated with paliperidone, while 36 received a combination of paliperidone and sertraline. Propensity score matching based on 3 covariates resulted in 2 groups: the control group (paliperidone alone, n = 36) and the observation group (paliperidone + sertraline, n = 36). The clinical efficacy, adverse reactions, quality of life scores, serum biomarkers levels related to nerve and liver function, and anxiety and depression levels were compared between the 2 groups.

The observation group demonstrated higher total effectiveness than the control group (p = 0.011). Post-treatment, the scores of all dimensions of quality of life in both groups were improved, and the observation group was higher than the control group (p < 0.001). Post-treatment, the observation group exhibited lower neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and higher neuregulin 1 (NRG1) levels than the control group (p < 0.001). The levels of aminotransferase (AST), total bilirubin (TBiL) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) increased in both groups post-treatment (p < 0.001). The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-2 (IL-2) decreased in both groups post-treatment, and the observation group had lower levels of these cytokines compared to the control group after treatment (p < 0.001). Post-treatment, Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) score and Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) score decreased in both groups, with the observation group showing lower scores than the control group (p < 0.001). The changes in the scores of various dimensions of quality of life, HAMA and HAMD scores, neurofunctional factors and inflammatory markers levels in the observation group were greater than those in the control group (p < 0.001). There were no serious side effects during and after treatment in both groups.

Paliperidone combined with sertraline effectively improves serum neuregulin levels in SCZ patients, alleviates negative emotional effects without causing liver or kidney damage, and demonstrates excellent clinical efficacy and safety.

A systematic review of evaluating the clinical effects of auricular acupressure on patients with depression.

A comprehensive literature search was conducted in various electronic databases including PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, CNKI, Wanfang, Embase, and VIP. The search time limit was from the establishment of the database to December, 2023. The included results were integrated and analyzed, and ReviewManager 5.4 was used for meta-analysis.

A total of 13 studies with a total of 504 depression patients were included. Compared with the control group, auricular acupressure showed a significant reduction in depression scores, as reflected in the Hamilton Depression Scale (standardized mean difference [SMD] = –1.50, 95% confidence interval [CI]: –2.25~–0.75); risk rate [RR] = 1.96, 95% CI: 0.66~5.82), Self-Rating Depression Scale (SMD = –0.91, 95% CI: –1.15~–0.67), and Patient Health Questionnaire scores (SMD = –0.94, 95% CI: –1.46~–0.41; all p < 0.01).

The meta-analysis suggested that auricular acupoint therapy is safe and effective in treating depression, and can reduce Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scores. There were no obvious adverse reactions. This therapy could therefore be used as a complementary therapeutic approach for patients with depression.

Compared to the general population, individuals with substance use disorders (SUD) report more frequently to suffer from sleep disturbances and symptoms of depression, and to perceive lower social support. Here, we investigated whether this pattern of mental health issues could be confirmed and replicated among individuals with amphetamine use disorder (AUD). We also assessed the degree of perceived social support from their families, friends and significant others, always compared to healthy controls (HC) of the general population.

Individuals with AUD attending the Outpatient Department for Substance Abuse of the Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences (Kermanshah, Iran) (n = 468; 30.8% females; mean age: 29.16 years) and healthy controls (HC; n = 376; 34.6% females; mean age: 24.11 years) participated in the study. Participants completed a series of self-rating questionnaires covering sociodemographic information, symptoms of insomnia and depression, and perceived social support from their families, friends and significant others.

Compared to HC, individuals with AUD reported higher scores for insomnia and depression, and lower scores for perceived social support (families; friends; significant others). Older age and higher severity scores for depression and insomnia were the predictors in the binary logistic regression model to identify individuals with AUD and HC with a precision of 97.4%.

Individuals with AUD additionally suffer from insomnia and depression, along with lower perceived social support. Given that standardized intervention programs for insomnia, depression and social competencies exist, such interventions might mitigate mental health issues among individuals with AUD and improve their psychosocial behavior.

Cognitive impairment and depression significantly reduce quality of life in the aging population. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of depressive symptoms and cognitive impairment and explore its relationship in the elderly.

A total of 1645 elderly people in nursing homes and 4703 elderly people in the community were enrolled in the survey. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and Ascertain Dementia-8 were employed to evaluate depressive symptoms and cognitive impairment.

The overall prevalence of cognitive impairment was 12.5% in the community-dwelling group and 52.2% in the nursing home group. The prevalence of cognitive impairment in nursing homes was significantly higher than that in community-dwelling groups for the same age group (p < 0.001). The overall prevalence of depressive symptoms was 3.9% in the community-dwelling group and 2.0% in the nursing home group. The prevalence of depressive symptoms increased with age in the community-dwelling group (p < 0.001). The binary logistic regression results showed that the type of care mode affected the prevalence of cognitive impairment, and the elderly in nursing homes had a high risk of cognitive impairment (odds ratio [OR] = 3.528, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.209–5.635, p < 0.001); depressive symptoms had a significant positive correlation with the odds of cognitive impairment (OR = 1.854, 95% CI: 1.052–3.266, p < 0.05); and the cognitive impairment rate increased with age (OR = 1.412, 95% CI: 1.044–1.910, p < 0.05).

There was an increased prevalence in cognitive impairment as well as depressive symptoms in the aging population in Zhongshan city. Population-based mental health strategies need to be urgently implemented for the aging.

Hospitalized at least three times in a two-year period, have emerged as an unintended side effect of the deinstitutionalization of mental health in high-income countries. Guaranteeing access to high-quality outpatient services has shown to be the most effective method for alleviating the revolving door phenomenon. In Eastern Europe, deinstitutionalization is ongoing, 0 but the phenomenon has received little attention. The present cross-sectional study examined the revolving door phenomenon in the largest psychiatric inpatient unit in Bucharest, Romania.

Socio-demographic healthcare use and clinical characteristics of 144 patients were collected following admission to the “Profesor Doctor Alexandru Obregia” Psychiatric Hospital via an initial visit conducted between September 2022 and January 2023. A follow-up check occurred one year later to evaluate the number of readmissions and compare those who met the criteria for revolving door status at follow-up with those who did not. After identifying factors associated with revolving door status by univariate analysis, a bivariate model included the results to account for reciprocal moderating effects.

In total, 56 (38.9%) patients met the criteria for revolving door status. The number of lifetime hospitalizations was significantly higher in the revolving door group (odds ratio (OR) = 3.956, p ≤ 0.001), while involuntary admission on the initial visit decreased the odds of receiving a revolving door status on follow-up (OR = 0.188, p = 0.008). Revolving door patients had less time between readmissions than controls (OR = 0.991, p < 0.001).

Frequent hospitalization was the primary factor predicting revolving door status in the cohort studied, reflecting the Romanian mental health system’s focus on inpatient care. This illustrates the need for reliable outpatient care as an alternative to hospital admission to avoid the self-perpetuating cycle of repeated admissions that are inefficient both from an economic and medical standpoint.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a group of neurodevelopmental disorders with unknown etiology and unclear pathogenesis. Although construction of animal models of ASD using chemical exposure during pregnancy is a mature technique, the gut microbiota of these exposure models induced using different chemicals in mice have not been compared.

To compare the effects of exposure to different chemicals during pregnancy on the composition of gut microbiota in offspring, we treated Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) mice with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and valproic acid (VPA) during pregnancy to construct different offspring ASD mouse models. After successful model construction, the gut microbiota of these models were studied.

After adjusting for the random effects of the litter, the two groups showed a significant reduction in social time (social deficits) and an increase in self-grooming behaviors (repetitive and stereotyped behaviors). Gut microbiota analysis revealed significant changes, mostly a decrease, in the abundance of four phyla, 52 genera, and 41 species in the two types of ASD models. Several different gut microbes could be related to the development of ASD.

Chemicals exposure during pregnancy induces ASD-related behavioral abnormalities in offspring mice. Importantly, exposure to different chemicals during pregnancy produces varying degrees of effects on gut microbiota composition in offspring ASD models. This finding can provide a reference for studies on the etiology and pathogenesis of ASD.

Evidence is scarce on the mechanisms involved in the relationship between dietary inflammatory index and mental health in adolescents. This study aimed to assess the association between children-DII (C-DII) and depressive and anxiety disorder symptoms in adolescents and to explore whether inflammation and cardiometabolic risk factors mediate this association.

The study was conducted at the Ankara City Hospital Pediatrics Polyclinic and 304 adolescents. In cross-sectional study, adolescents were asked general information questions. Anthropometric measurements were performed and some biochemical parameters and inflammation (C-reactive protein (CRP)) were obtained. The C-DII score was calculated from 24-h dietary recalls. Depression and anxiety levels of the participants were assessed by self-report. Structural equation modelling analyzed how cardiometabolic risk factors and inflammation mediate the relationship between mental health and dietary inflammation.

C-DII scores were positively associated with depression and anxiety score (β [95% confidence interval (CI)] = 0.224 [0.08–0.25] for depression; 0.923 [0.04–1.67] for anxiety). Except for dietary inflammation with anxiety in girls, these relationships remained statistically significant in all subgroups by sex. It was determined that CRP partially mediated the relationship between dietary inflammation and depression and anxiety. It was determined that body mass index (BMI)-z score and waist circumference (WC) mediated the relationship between dietary inflammation and depression scores.

Our findings indicate that the higher pro-inflammatory potential of diet is associated with a higher risk of depression and anxiety, and this association may be mediated by CRP for depression and anxiety, WC, and BMI-z score for only depression. Further research is required to verify our findings and clarify the latent mechanism in larger populations.

This study analyses trends in the prescription and usage of benzodiazepines (BZDs) and Z-drugs within specialised medical institutions and emergency outpatient services in China from 2015 to 2021, focusing on demographics and prescribing patterns to promote better management practices.

A retrospective study was conducted from 2015 to 2021, reviewing prescription information and population characteristics from 10 hospitals, including specialised psychiatric institutions and general hospitals in Zhejiang, Jiangsu, and Shanghai. The study analysed a total of 33,569 valid prescriptions.

There was a noticeable increase in the total defined daily doses of both benzodiazepines and Z-drugs, with significant variations among different drugs. Lorazepam and zopiclone showed the most substantial increases in usage. Drugs like clonazepam and lorazepam were predominantly prescribed, indicating specific patterns in disease management, particularly for insomnia and anxiety.

This study reveals a significant increase in benzodiazepine and Z-drug prescriptions, particularly among elderly and female patients. The findings highlight the need for targeted interventions and policy reforms to ensure safe prescribing practices and mitigate the risks associated with long-term use in these vulnerable populations.

Neurosyphilis, caused by Treponema pallidum invading the nervous system, can lead to severe neurological complications across all stages of syphilis. Misdiagnosis is common, exacerbated by overlapping psychiatric conditions and diagnostic limitations. This study aims to improve the understanding and management of neurosyphilis in psychiatric settings to enhance diagnostic accuracy and treatment efficacy.

A retrospective study used data from the Chinese Case Report System (CCRS) spanning 2014–2018. Four municipal psychiatric hospitals in Guangdong were chosen based on syphilis rates and psychiatric patient volumes. Sociodemographic data, syphilis history, symptoms, diagnostic and treatment details, and laboratory results were reviewed. The Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) assessed psychopathology symptoms. Treatment efficacy was evaluated using BPRS scores before and after standard treatment. Diagnoses followed national guidelines, with statistical analyses performed using logistic regression and t-tests.

Out of 69,436 psychosis patients screened, 1588 were diagnosed with syphilis, with 262 (16.5%) of these cases identified as neurosyphilis. Syphilis prevalence mildly declined from 2.8% (2014) to 2.0% (2016), while neurosyphilis cases increased marginally from 0.34% (2014) to 0.39% (2018). Confirmatory Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) tests were conducted in only 30.2% of neurosyphilis cases. Standard therapy was administered to 66.8% of patients, with significantly better outcomes in confirmed cases (p < 0.001).

Diagnosing and treating neurosyphilis in Guangdong’s psychiatric hospitals remains challenging. Accurate diagnosis and standardized treatment protocols are essential to effectively manage both syphilis and associated mental health complications caused by neurosyphilis.

To investigate the association between repetitive negative thinking and depression as well as feeding status at 3 and 6 months postpartum.

One hundred and twenty-eight pregnant women recruited by the hospital from January 2020 to June 2022 were selected for the study. General demographic data of pregnant women, the multiple Persistent Thinking Questionnaire (PTQ), the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) at 3 and 6 months postpartum, and breastfeeding status were collected. According to PTQ scores, the pregnant women were divided into high subgroup (scores ≥30) and low subgroup (scores <30). Intergroup comparisons of continuous variables following a normal distribution were performed using the t-test, while categorical data were analyzed using the χ² test. Spearman correlation analysis was conducted to examine the relationship between PTQ, EPDS, and breastfeeding status.

EPDS scores were higher in the high group than in the low group at 3 and 6 months postpartum (p < 0.001). The breastfeeding rates in the high group were lower than that in the low group at 3 and 6 months postpartum (p < 0.001). Higher PTQ scores were associated with postpartum depression at 3 and 6 months (r = 0.379, p < 0.001; r = 0.358, p < 0.001) and lower breastfeeding rates (r = –0.346, p < 0.001; r = –0.353, p < 0.001).

Higher PTQ scores are associated with increased postpartum depression and reduced breastfeeding rates at 3 and 6 months postpartum, suggesting that repetitive negative thinking may be related to postpartum mental health and feeding outcomes.

Family intervention is a crucial component of treatment for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), yet the impact of parent-mediated family-intensive behavioral intervention on the language abilities of children with ASD has been barely studied. The purpose is to investigate the effectiveness of the Verbal Behavior Milestones Assessment and Placement Program (VB-MAPP)-based family-intensive behavioral intervention in enhancing the language abilities of children with ASD. This study provides insights to help ASD children better cope with daily life.

From September 2020 to September 2022, a total of 85 clinically diagnosed children with ASD and 30 age- and sex-matched children without ASD were recruited. Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and VB-MAPP were used for evaluating and determining individualized intervention programs for children with ASD. The intervention lasted 6 months.

There were no significant differences in demographic characteristics between children with ASD and children without ASD (all p > 0.05), except for the mother’s age. After the intervention, there was a significant increase in all VB-MAPP scores among children with ASD (all p < 0.001), compared with the baseline VB-MAPP total score and 16 domain scores. Tests of noninferiority showed that children with ASD at post-intervention were non-inferior to children without ASD in the Visual Perceptual Skills and Matching-to-Sample (VP/MTS) score (p = 0.001), play score (p = 0.034), reading score (p < 0.001), and writing score (p < 0.001).

Family-intensive behavioral intervention significantly improved the skills of children with ASD, as assessed by the VB-MAPP. These findings emphasize the importance of family intervention and provide further support for proposing a family intervention program for children with ASD that is suitable for China’s national conditions.