Current Psychiatry Research and Reviews - Online First

The present research focuses very sensitively on the particularly complex issue of perinatal loss, attempting to investigate and record the women's experiences related to it, the thoughts and feelings at the given time, the degree and quality of the support that was provided by the environment of those involved and the effect of the psycho-emotional and social imprint over time.

A total of nine women aged between 42 and 73 years participated in the research. The research method chosen to be used was qualitative research and a semi-structured interview guide was used to collect data with eleven appropriately worded questions that covered the purpose of the research project.

Most participants reported that pregnancies were an unintended outcome. Specifically, six participants reported that the pregnancy was accidental, and the remaining three that they tried to achieve them. Perinatal loss is an unexpected, unspeakable, and uncontrollable event where the incomprehensible synchronicity of life and death seems to be circumvented.

The necessity for the creation of new protocols in the hospital/obstetric setting regarding perinatal loss and the importance of having a supportive scheme that will be addressed to women who have experienced perinatal bereavement during the healing and care stage constitute an urgent need, so that the latter can able to make sense of their loss and manage it, receiving support on a long-term basis.

As for Health Professionals, the emerging importance of attending educational programs for the formation of counseling skills for the benefit of all those who are grieving is approached.

In the information age, mobile phones have become an important tool in people’s lives. However, prolonged and frequent use of mobile phones can lead to mobile phone addiction and have a negative impact on people’s physical and mental development.

The aim of this study was to explore the direct relationship between Early Memories of Warmth and Safeness (EMWS) and Mobile Phone Addiction (MPA) among university students, as well as the mediating role of alexithymia and the moderating role of positive coping styles.

A sample of 422 Chinese university students (M = 20.00 years, SD = 1.40 years) anonymously responded to the EMWS Scale, Toronto Alexithymia Scale, MPA scale, and Positive Coping Style Scale.

EMWS were negatively associated with MPA. Alexithymia mediated the relationship between EMWS and MPA. Positive coping styles moderated the relationship between EMWS and MPA and that between EMWS and alexithymia. Specifically, With the increase in the level of positive coping styles, the negative effects of EMWS on MPA and alexithymia were gradually weakened.

Results indicated that EMWS was intimately related to MPA and that EMWS affected MPA through alexithymia, with positive coping styles playing a moderating role. The results have implications for the prevention and intervention of MPA among college students.

Cannabidivarin, a non-psychotropic phytocannabinoid, has been identified and recognized for its antioxidant and neuroprotective properties, with potential effects on central nervous system (CNS) ailments.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the depression-relieving potential of cannabidivarin in both stressed and unstressed mice via the CUMS (chronic unpredictable mild stress) model through in-vivo analysis.

Swiss male albino mice were exposed to the CUMS protocol daily for three consecutive weeks, resulting in depression-like behavioral symptoms. Imipramine at a dose of 15 mg/kg and cannabidivarin at doses of 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg were administered for three weeks to different groups of both stressed and unstressed mice.

Both imipramine (15 mg/kg) and cannabidivarin (200 mg/kg), after 21 consecutive days of administration, significantly reduced the immobility time in mice exposed to stress compared to the stressed group given saline. Neither treatment significantly affected the locomotor activity in either stressed or unstressed mice. Cannabidivarin showed antidepressant potential by reducing immobility in stressed mice, similar to imipramine, at a dose of 15 mg/kg. Additionally, both cannabidivarin (200 mg/kg) and imipramine (15 mg/kg) significantly lowered elevated plasma corticosterone, nitrite levels, and monoamine oxidase-A activity in the brains of stressed mice. Both treatments also notably reversed the chronic stress-induced decrease in catalase activity.

In conclusion, cannabidivarin demonstrated significant depression-relieving potential in mice exposed to chronic unpredictable stress using the CUMS model. These effects are likely mediated through its interaction with cannabinoid receptors, as supported by in-vivo findings and the well-established role of phyto-cannabinoids in modulating responses of endocannabinoid system.

Music, as a form of entertainment, has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety by stimulating the release of various neurotransmitters. β-Endorphin, a natural pain-relieving peptide released in response to noxious stimuli, alleviates pain by inhibiting cyclic AMP (cAMP) through the activation of the µ-opioid receptor. This study aims to explore the anti-nociceptive effects of pain alleviation through music and investigate its potential underlying mechanisms using different pain models.

The anti-nociceptive efficacy of pain alleviation through music, specifically Rag Bhairavi played on the flute at 15 dB (RBM), was evaluated in Swiss albino mice, alongside paracetamol (100 mg/kg) as a standard analgesic control. Both central and peripheral pain models were employed to assess the effects of RBM on pain. Additionally, the influence of RBM on non-painful stimuli was examined. To investigate the correlation between RBM and neurotransmitter levels (norepinephrine, dopamine, serotonin, and β-endorphin), brain homogenates from treated animals were analyzed. The potential mechanism of pain reduction was further explored through Western blot analysis, focusing on cytosolic cAMP levels.

Pain alleviation through music with RBM significantly elevated the levels of key neurotransmitters in the brain. Moreover, western blot analysis revealed a marked reduction in cAMP levels in the RBM-treated group compared to the pain-induced group. These findings suggest that RBM exerts its pain-relieving effects by enhancing the release of hypothalamic-pituitary neurochemicals, particularly β-endorphin, and reducing cAMP levels through activation of the µ-opioid receptor.

The study concludes that Rag Bhairavi pain alleviation through music exhibits significant anti-nociceptive properties, likely mediated by an increase in neurochemical levels and inhibition of cAMP via β-endorphin-dependent activation of the µ-opioid receptor.

Addressing the cognitive factors affecting mental health in medical students' education is vital for training healthy professionals who can provide safe, high-quality patient care.

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between cognitive errors and mental health status among clinical medical students.

This cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 107 clinical medical students at Jiroft University of Medical Sciences in 2023 using the census method. Data were collected using the Beck Depression Inventory, Spielberger Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Ellis Cognitive Errors Questionnaire. The data were analyzed in SPSS-22 using descriptive and inferential statistics, with a significance level set at p < 0.05.

The mean scores for depression and anxiety among students were 37.5 and 51.1, respectively, falling within the severe range. The mean cognitive error score was 61.6, which falls within the extreme range, indicating a high frequency of cognitive distortions. The most prevalent cognitive error was “should-better” (33.6%), while the least common was “mental filter” (13.1%). A significant positive correlation was observed between cognitive errors and both depression and anxiety scores, as well as between depression and anxiety scores (p < 0.05).

The findings reveal a concerning mental health profile among medical students, marked by severe depression and anxiety levels. The study further demonstrates a significant association between cognitive distortions and psychological distress in this population.

Tourette Syndrome (TS) typically appears in childhood. The adverse childhood experiences of individuals with TS may influence their adult well-being. The social adjustment problems of adults with TS are often ignored in clinical practice. This study explored how Chinese adults with TS in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Mainland China understand and are affected by TS.

We recruited 19 individuals with moderate-to-severe TS from ad hoc TS support groups in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Mainland China and conducted semi-structured in-depth interviews between April 2015 and January 2016, and between June and September 2022. A total of 9 participants completed three quantitative scales: Gilles de la Tourette syndrome - quality of life scale (GTS-QoL) and two self-assessments, namely the severity of TS symptom index (S-TS-I) and satisfaction with life index (SL-I).

We identified ten resilience factors, which were categorized into two main categories. The first category, “Mental Health with Social Challenges” included lack of family support, struggles to adapt to social expectations of normal behavior, bullying from peers, friends, or teachers, and negative thoughts about TS. The second category, “Support Systems and Coping Mechanisms,” encompassed support from families, support from teachers and friends, positive thoughts about TS, professional guidance, life goals, and coping strategies. We found that adults with TS who had more “Support Systems with Coping Mechanisms” than “Mental Health with Social Challenges” were more satisfied with their lives. Surprisingly, GTS-QoL was correlated with S-TS-I (TS severity) but not with SL-I scores (TS satisfaction). The participants exhibited differences in cultural beliefs and perceptions of TS depending on the locale.

Two prominent categories were identified pertaining to how Chinese people with TS understand, are affected by, and cope with their condition.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) frequently co-occurs with tic disorders (TD) and attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Data on adults are limited because most studies focus on children.

We aimed to investigate the clinical and sociodemographic impact on adults of the comorbidity of OCD with ADHD or TD.

We screened 356 adults seeking treatment for OCD in a cross-sectional observational study for past or present ADHD and TD. We used the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-17 Item (HDRS-17) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). We also questioned parameters mainly involving adult life, such as marital status, unemployment rate, educational attainment, suicide attempts (SA), hospitalization, alcohol use disorder (AUD), substance use disorder (SUD) and smoking.

Of 356 adults, 71.07% had OCD only, 15.45% OCD+ADHD, 8.15% OCD+TD and 5.34% OCD+ADHD+TD. Y-BOCS scores did not differ among these categories. The comorbidity of ADHD was generally characterized by higher HDRS-17 and BAI scores, higher prevalence of AUD/SUD, fewer years of education and a higher percentage of non-married, divorced, and unemployed individuals. SA and rates of hospitalization were similar across the four categories. TD had no relationship with any of these characteristics.

In adults with OCD, past or present ADHD has deleterious effects on anxiety, depressive symptoms, educational attainment, employment and marital status, whereas TD is not associated with any worsening of clinical or sociodemographic characteristics.

Obsessive-compulsive Disorder (OCD) with transformation obsession is a rare psychiatric disorder that can pose various diagnostic difficulties and treatment challenges. Scientific research focusing on this disorder in adolescents is scarce. In this work, we present the case of a teenage girl who was treated for severe OCD with transformation obsession. The psychiatric management of this adolescent was performed on an outpatient basis and took place in the juvenile department at Saint Ylie Hospital (France). We hope that our work will add to the existing data on the psychiatric management of this condition in adolescents. In this work, we used the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5th version for the evaluation of psychiatric disorders and the Children's Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (CY-BOCS) to assess the severity of symptoms.

The patient (13 years old) experienced persistent, intrusive, and distressing ideas about transforming into another person. Despite knowing how unreal these ideas were, she feared they would come true. She had rituals that she felt compelled to carry out to help her manage her worries temporarily. She also experienced involuntary non-rhythmic movements of the facial muscles simultaneously. The patient was diagnosed with OCD with good insight and comorbid tics. Initially, the total CY-BOCS score was 40/40. Psychosis was considered a differential diagnosis due to the atypicality of the clinical manifestation, but it was ruled out after a thorough clinical evaluation. Psychotherapeutic management was not possible before adequate pharmaceutical treatment was started because of invasive and distressing symptoms. The pharmacological management led to the administration of a combination of fluoxetine at a dose of 40mg with olanzapine at a dose of 5mg after a partial response to fluoxetine alone. Weekly individual Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) was started as soon as the adolescent's condition allowed and included psychoeducation, muscle relaxation techniques, cognitive restructuring, Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), self-affirmation work, and relapse prevention. At the same time, parents also benefited from psychoeducational interventions. The evolution was marked by total clinical remission and clear psychometric improvement. The total CY-BOCS score ranged from 40/40 to 07/40 after 5 months of CBT. No adverse effects were reported throughout the treatment.

This case shows the possibility of unusual and severe OCD in adolescents. It also highlights the importance of careful diagnosis so as not to be mistaken and consider it a psychosis. The management of this type of OCD requires the combination of two pharmacological treatments before starting individual CBT and psychoeducational intervention for parents. This combination allows a complete clinical remission after a few months. It is preferable that further clinical trials be conducted to protocolize the management of this type of OCD.

This review examines the efficacy of psychological interventions in the management of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).

In the current study, a comprehensive analysis of the existing literature, covering case studies and clinical trials, compiled from Google Scholar, Sci-Hub, and PubMed, was performed. The research focused on the complex interplay between psychological factors and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), particularly the ways in which mental and emotional states can impact IBS symptoms and the effects of behavioral therapy on IBS management.

The efficacy of psychological therapies in addressing irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) has proven effective. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) treats pain perception and gastrointestinal symptoms, whereas gut-directed hypnotherapy is known for lowering symptoms and enhancing quality of life. Mindfulness-based stress reduction and relaxation practices are effective for stress management, but their availability is restricted. Personalized treatment strategies tailored to individual requirements are vital for enhancing the advantages of these therapies in IBS management.

Psychological interventions provide a valuable and effective approach to managing IBS. CBT, gut-directed hypnotherapy, and MBSR have been shown to significantly improve symptoms and quality of life. Future research should focus on improving these therapies to better address individual symptoms and brain-gut connections. Incorporating neurological and neurophysiological approaches may improve understanding and lead to more tailored treatments. Expanding accessibility and encouraging collaboration between healthcare providers and mental health specialists will be vital for optimizing IBS management and improving patient outcomes.