Current Psychopharmacology - Volume 10, Issue 3, 2021

During Lucid Dreams, the dreamer is aware, experiences the dream as if fully awake, and may control the dream content. The dreamer can start, stop, and restart dreaming, depending on the nature and pleasantness of the dream. For patients with Reward Deficiency Syndrome (RDS) behaviors, like Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Tourette's-Syndrome, and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), the dream content may be pleasant, unpleasant, or terrifying. A sample of psychiatric center patients identified as having RDS reported the effectiveness of a neuronutrient, dopamine agonist, KB200Z, in combating terrifying, lucid dreaming. These reports motivated the study of eight clinical cases with known histories of substance abuse, childhood abuse, and PTSD. The administration of KB200Z, associated with eliminating unpleasant or terrifying lucid dreams in 87.5% of the cases. Subsequently, other published cases have further established the possibility of the long-term elimination of terrifying dreams in PTSD and ADHD patients. Induction of dopamine homeostasis may mitigate the effects of neurogenetic and epigenetic changes in neuroplasticity, identified in the pathogenesis of PTSD and ADHD. The article explores how relief of terrifying lucid dreams may benefit from modulation of dopaminergic signaling activated by the administration of a neuronutrient. Recently, precision formulations of the KB220 neuronutrient guided by Genetic Addiction Risk Severity (GARS) test results have been used to repair inheritable deficiencies within the brain reward circuitry. The proposition is that improved dopamine transmodulational signaling may stimulate positive cognitive recall and subsequently attenuate the harmful epigenetic insults from trauma.

Background: The risk for all addictive drug and non-drug behaviors, especially, in the unmyelinated Prefrontal Cortex (PFC) of adolescents, is important and complex. Many animal and human studies show the epigenetic impact on the developing brain in adolescents, compared to adults. Some reveal an underlying hyperdopaminergia that seems to set our youth up for risky behaviors by inducing high quanta pre-synaptic dopamine release at reward site neurons. In addition, altered reward gene expression in adolescents caused epigenetically by social defeat, like bullying, can continue into adulthood. In contrast, there is also evidence that epigenetic events can elicit adolescent hypodopaminergia. This complexity suggests that neuroscience cannot make a definitive claim that all adolescents carry a hyperdopaminergia trait. Objective: The primary issue involves the question of whether there exists a mixed hypo or hyper - dopaminergia in this population. Methods: Genetic Addiction Risk Score (GARS®) testing was carried out of 24 Caucasians of ages 12-19, derived from families with RDS. Results: We have found that adolescents from this cohort, derived from RDS parents, displayed a high risk for any addictive behavior (a hypodopaminergia), especially, drug-seeking (95%) and alcohol- seeking (64%). Conclusion: The adolescents in our study, although more work is required, show a hypodopaminergic trait, derived from a family with Reward Deficiency Syndrome (RDS). Certainly, in future studies, we will analyze GARS in non-RDS Caucasians between the ages of 12-19. The suggestion is first to identify risk alleles with the GARS test and, then, use well-researched precision, pro-dopamine neutraceutical regulation. This “two-hit” approach might prevent tragic fatalities among adolescents, in the face of the American opioid/psychostimulant epidemic.

Background: Alcohol use disorder represents a serious health problem worldwide which is increasing in pervasiveness. Alcohol withdrawal syndrome is a common clinical problem encountered in emergency departments and inpatient settings, including intensive care units. While benzodiazepines are the most widely used class of medication for the treatment of alcohol withdrawal, in recent years, there is renewed interest in using phenobarbital, a barbiturate, in the treatment of refractory alcohol withdrawal. Objective: This review provides an overview of phenobarbital in the treatment of alcohol withdrawal, as well as clinical outcomes in patients, while also outlining some of the limitations of existing studies in comparing phenobarbital to benzodiazepines. Methods: PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, and Cochrane databases were searched using the terms phenobarbital, barbiturates, and alcohol withdrawal syndrome. Prospective and retrospective trials comparing phenobarbital with benzodiazepines to treat alcohol withdrawal in English were included. Results: Two prospective randomized controlled and eleven retrospective cohort trials were identified. Phenobarbital is safe alone and as an adjunct to benzodiazepine in the emergency department, intensive care units, general medical units and acute trauma surgery service. In a randomized controlled trial, one dose of phenobarbital in the emergency department significantly reduced the intensive care admission rate. There is some evidence that phenobarbital may be effective in the treatment of benzodiazepine- refractory alcohol withdrawal. Conclusion: Although existing knowledge and practice regarding phenobarbital for the treatment of alcohol withdrawal are increasing, there currently remains limited evidence in support of phenobarbital over benzodiazepines in superior efficacy and outcomes.

Background: The FDA-approved drugs for female sexual interest, desire and/or arousal disorder (FSIAD), and hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD); however, these drugs have low tolerability for patients because of their multiple side effects and do not show actual therapeutic efficacy. Hypoactive Sexual Desire affects approximately 750.000.000 to 1.400.000.000 people worldwide. Methods: In this paper, we analyze therapeutic candidates in clinical practice as well as the methodologies of clinicaltrials of possible therapeutic targets of different systems related to the disorder. Results: Therefore, clinical trials of new drugs (benzodiazepines, amphetamines, testosterone, sildenafil, or new compound) to evaluate their efficacy in treating this disorder are necessary.

Background: The exact pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease is still a matter to debate. Currently there is no reliable therapy established for Alzheimer’s disease. However, several pieces of evidence suggest that the use of plant based phytoconstituents mainly delays the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. So, in this review, we collect information about the cause of Alzheimer’s disease hypothesis and the neuroprotective effect of phytoconstituents. Objective: This review paper aimed to analyze the current pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease and therapeutic effect of plant phytoconstituents that play a vital role in neuroprotective and antistress activities in Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders. Methods: The source of literature review obtained from Scopus, Science Direct, PubMed, Web of Science database, and journal by using Alzheimer’s pathogenesis, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, amyloid beta, flavonoids, alkaloids are an important part of these review research. Results: The current review explored different types of pathogenesis involved in Alzheimer’s disease and the role of phytoconstituents in its treatment. The collected information showed that plant based constituents inhibit the major cause of Alzheimer’s disease related to amyloid beta, tau protein, oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, etc. Conclusion: The study provides the clue for the investigation of eminent bioactive constituents may serve as an alternative candidate against Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders.

Background: Depression among female undergraduates is associated with hormonal changes and other stressful events around the menstrual cycle. Aim: This study assessed the relationship between premenstrual syndrome and depression among female undergraduates in a private Nigerian university. Methods: The study was conducted at the Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti. A stratified sampling technique was used in this study. A semi-structured questionnaire with sections on socio-demographic schedule proforma and the Becks Depression Inventory were used to collect information from respondents. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 21). Results: A total number of 440 students were recruited. Three hundred and sixty-two (82.3%) of the respondents had depression, with prominent mild mood disturbance (43.9%). The odds of depression were higher among respondents older than 20 years as compared with those who were 20 years old or younger (AOR=91.194 CI;9.326,891.774). Also, the odds of depression were higher among respondents who did have not close relationships with their mother compared to those who did (AOR= 10.5, CI; 3.525, 31.33). Besides, the odds of depression were higher among those with premenstrual syndrome than respondents without a history of premenstrual syndrome (AOR=70.06 CI; 12.018, 48.406). Finally, the odds of depression were higher among respondents with a family history of premenstrual (AOR=0.637 CI; 0.257, 1.574). Conclusion: There is a need to provide services aimed at preventing and managing premenstrual syndrome among undergraduates and screen for depression to prevent and detect mental health problems in this vulnerable population.

Background: Captagon or Fenethylline is a synthetic theophylline derivative of amphetamine that is widely available for recreational use in the Middle East. It has pain-reducing properties and is known to induce restlessness, irritability, and psychotic symptoms. Case Presentation: A middle-aged man with iatrogenic opioid use disorder was admitted for acute cholecystitis. A week following cholecystectomy, the patient used Captagon while hospitalized to manage opioid withdrawal pain. He experienced waxing and waning episodes of irritability, aggressiveness, disorganized behaviors, delusions, and hallucinations, all concurrent with his Captagon intake. These episodes were managed similarly to intoxication with other stimulant types. Conclusion: Careful patient counseling and close follow-up are essential when opioids are prescribed. Captagon’s pain-reducing properties make it an attractive and dangerous option for Middle Eastern patients suffering from opioid withdrawal. Captagon intoxication is currently managed similarly to other stimulant types, but more studies are needed to develop management guidelines specific to this substance.

Background: Due to the possible effect of omega-3 fatty acids on reducing depressive symptoms, in this study, we investigated these effects in combination with other antidepressants. Methods: The study was a double-blind clinical trial on 100 patients with a major depressive disorder who were divided into four groups of 25 each and treated with 50 mg daily sertraline plus placebo, 50 mg daily sertraline plus two grams Omega 3 daily, 75 mg daily venlafaxine plus placebo, and 75 mg daily venlafaxine plus 2 g Omega 3 daily for 6 weeks. Results: The mean Hamilton depression rating score of sertraline and venlafaxine plus omega-3 after treatment was 4.42 and 4.23 respectively versus sertraline and venlafaxine plus placebo 14.4 and 14.2 respectively (P value=0.0001). Conclusion: Omega-3 enhanced the clinical function of sertraline and venlafaxine to reduce the severity of depression. Adding omega-3 to either sertraline or venlafaxine does not have a comparative advantage over each other in terms of the improvement of severity of depressive symptoms.