Current opinion in psychiatry

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review summarizes recent evidence related to the cognitive trajectories of aging, the factors associated with the different trajectories, and the effect of sex on cognitive decline. RECENT FINDINGS: Trajectories of cognitive aging identified in different studies vary in number, in the proportion of individuals falling into each of the classes and in the predictors of class membership. Trajectories observed include types with 'rapid decline', those with 'gradual decline' and those with 'maintenance of high level' of cognitive performance...

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Vascular dementia (VaD) is the second common cause of dementia after Alzheimer's disease, and deep learning has emerged as a critical tool in dementia research. The aim of this article is to highlight the current deep learning applications in VaD-related imaging biomarkers and diagnosis. RECENT FINDINGS: The main deep learning technology applied in VaD using neuroimaging data is convolutional neural networks (CNNs). CNN models have been widely used for lesion detection and segmentation, such as white matter hyperintensities (WMH), cerebral microbleeds (CMBs), perivascular spaces (PVS), lacunes, cortical superficial siderosis, and brain atrophy...

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To synthesise the recent work examining the relationship between sleep disturbances and dementia, emphasising studies involving individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or Alzheimer's disease (AD) and/or those investigating AD biomarkers. Additionally, we provide an update on recent interventions targeting sleep-related issues in older adults with MCI or AD. RECENT FINDINGS: Various studies have examined obstructive sleep apnoea, sleep duration, and circadian alterations in relation to Alzheimer's pathology and dementia risk, with an emerging body of evidence suggesting that cardiovascular disease, hypertension, glymphatic function, and inflammation might serve as plausible pathophysiological mechanisms contributing to dementia during critical brain periods...

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: We reviewed recent literature on prevalence and interventional approaches for cognitive impairment in the context of HIV infection alongside current controversies and challenges around its nomenclature, screening, and diagnosis. RECENT FINDINGS: Prevalence estimates for HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND) indicate that HAND remains highly prevalent despite combination antiretroviral treatment (cART) widely used. The available data are heterogeneous, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) where recent reviews indicate substantial heterogeneity, wide prevalence estimates and lack of data from the majority SSA countries, despite them currently experiencing the greatest burden worldwide of both HIV and HAND...

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Tourette syndrome (TS) and chronic tic disorders, collectively referred to as TS, are relatively common childhood onset neuropsychiatric conditions associated with functional impairment and distress. Over the past several years, clinical research has contributed to the advancement of the field's understanding of mechanisms and clinical correlates of TS. This progress has led to the development of key assessment tools and the implementation of novel interventions for individuals with TS...

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Most people with dementia live in the community. As lifespan increases, one in three persons aged 85+ are expected to live with dementia. We conduct a systematic search to identify frameworks for dementia care and prevention in community settings. This is important to ensure quality of life for people living with cognitive decline (PLCD). RECENT FINDINGS: 61 frameworks are synthesized into the dementia care and prevention in community (DCPC) framework...

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Noninvasive brain stimulation (NIBS) is a promising method for altering cortical excitability with clinical implications. It has been increasingly used in children, especially in neurodevelopmental disorders. Yet, its safety and applications in the developing brain require further investigation. This review aims to provide an overview of the safety of commonly used NIBS techniques in children, including transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)...

The current study investigated variables that are being considered when assigning psychotherapists to individuals convicted of sexual and violent offences. Its main aim is to inform practitioners and researchers alike of potentially beneficial combinations between therapist and client and infer hypotheses for future studies. A mixed-methods approach, combining interviews and a follow-up questionnaire, was employed. Nineteen interviews with forensic practitioners working in socio-therapeutic facilities in Germany were conducted...

BACKGROUND: Workplace aggressions on hospital workers is a very frequent and under-reported problem. OBJECTIVE: The novel objective of our study was to analyze the number of workplace aggressions per hospital worker. Other objectives of the study were to analyze the management knowledge and interest in receiving training on aggressions by hospital workers. METHODS: An anonymous survey was handed out among all professionals in a university hospital...

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: As the specificities of autistic women are increasingly recognized, this review aims to highlight emerging areas of research. These areas primarily focus on measurement bias of diagnostic tools, the physical and mental health of autistic women, and the unique aspects of the lives of autistic women, both personally and professionally across all life stages. RECENT FINDINGS: Conventional diagnostic tools struggle to capture the specificities of autism in females, but more sensitive instruments like the GQ-ASC (Girls' Questionnaire for Autism Spectrum Conditions), later also referred to as Q-ASC (Questionnaire for Autism Spectrum Conditions) in the scientific literature, show better performances...

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No abstract text is available yet for this article.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The purpose of this review is to synthesize recent advances in the psychiatric and behavioral manifestations of Williams syndrome, a rare genetic syndrome. Recent advances have focused on more deeply characterizing the social phenotype and developing social skill interventions, improving the assessment and treatment of anxiety, and exploring eating behaviors. RECENT FINDINGS: The social cognitive phenotype in Williams syndrome, which consists of both high social drive and social cognition deficits, is present cross-culturally and may be related to reduced eye gaze...

BACKGROUND: Perioperative hypothermia (PH) negatively affects the physical and mental health of patients to varying degrees. Currently, there is no effective multidisciplinary team (MDT) intervention for gynecological patients with PH. AIM: To apply the best evidence on the prevention and management of PH in gynecological patients, improve the quality of perioperative evidence-based care based on treatment by an MDT for gynecological patients and analyze the effect of MDT- and evidence-based practice (EBP) projects on the psychological status and cognitive function of gynecological patients with PH...

INTRODUCTION: Numerous studies reveal that mental health-related stigma, stereotypes, and prejudices negatively affect the patients, jeopardizing their health, prognosis, and social opportunities. Healthcare professionals, who are in the first line of combating mental disease, are expected to play a significant role in drastically changing discriminatory and stigmatizing attitudes toward psychiatric patients and in diminishing the existing healthcare and social disparities. In this study, we aimed to explore and highlight the views of Greek medical students-that is of the future physicians-toward mental illness and people suffering from it...

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The circular interactions between type 2 diabetes (TMD2) and major depressive disorder (MDD) are well documented but the understanding of their mechanisms has only recently gained more clarity. Latest research indicates, that the association between TMD2 and MDD is largely mediated by insulin resistance (IR). RECENT FINDINGS: A metabolic subtype of MDD can be distinguished from other MDD subpopulations, that is characterized by predominantly atypical clinical presentation, IR and different responsiveness to antidepressant interventions...

PURPOSE: The main purpose of the study was to assess university students' mental health and identify factors associated with the risk of suicidal thoughts, plans, and attempts during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and distance learning. RECENT FINDINGS: The study was conducted in spring 2021 and comprised 10 760 Polish students. The survey employed modified versions of the C-SSRS, CIDI, WHO-5, GAD-7, the PTSD checklist for DSM-5 and CAGE-AID Questionnaire and included questions about panic attacks, COVID-19-related information and sociodemographic characteristics...

BACKGROUND: To investigate the relationship between adverse childhood experiences and internet gaming disorder (IGD) and the mediating role of resilience in the relationship between these two factors. METHODS: The adverse childhood experience scale, resilience scale and IGD Scale were administered to 9349 university students. Correlations and mediating effects were calculated among these scores. RESULTS: After controlling for sex and age, significant correlations among adverse childhood experiences, resilience and IGD were observed; resilience was a partial mediator variable in the relationship between adverse childhood experiences and IGD...

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common psychiatric disorder and is associated with an increased risk of suicidal behavior, especially in females. The differences in the presentation of ADHD in females, factors contributing to suicidality and the effects of therapeutic interventions are presented in this review to highlight the relationship between ADHD and suicidality and self-harm behavior. RECENT FINDINGS: Impulsivity, an inherent symptom of ADHD, commonly acts as a risk factor of suicidality and is associated with both suicidal behavior and nonsuicidal self-injury...

Digital therapeutics (DTx) offer evidence-based digitally-delivered high quality standards applications and/or softwares in the prevention, management and treatment of several medical conditions, including mood disorders. Nowadays, there are only three DTx officially approved by the Food and Drug Administration for mental conditions and there are still very few DTx developed in the context of mood disorders. The current comprehensive overview aims at providing a summary of currently published studies on DTx clinical applications in major depressive disorder (MDD), depressive symptomatology and bipolar disorder (BD), by using PubMed/MEDLINE and Scopus databases...