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Science (New York, N.Y.) Aug 2023Despite the potential importance of genital mechanosensation for sexual reproduction, little is known about how perineal touch influences mating. We explored how...
Despite the potential importance of genital mechanosensation for sexual reproduction, little is known about how perineal touch influences mating. We explored how mechanosensation affords exquisite awareness of the genitals and controls reproduction in mice and humans. Using genetic strategies and in vivo functional imaging, we demonstrated that the mechanosensitive ion channel PIEZO2 (piezo-type mechanosensitive ion channel component 2) is necessary for behavioral sensitivity to perineal touch. PIEZO2 function is needed for triggering a touch-evoked erection reflex and successful mating in both male and female mice. Humans with complete loss of PIEZO2 function have genital hyposensitivity and experience no direct pleasure from gentle touch or vibration. Together, our results help explain how perineal mechanoreceptors detect the gentlest of stimuli and trigger physiologically important sexual responses, thus providing a platform for exploring the sensory basis of sexual pleasure and its relationship to affective touch.
Topics: Animals; Female; Humans; Male; Mice; Ion Channels; Mechanoreceptors; Touch Perception; Penile Erection; Sexual Behavior
PubMed: 37616369
DOI: 10.1126/science.adg0144 -
The New England Journal of Medicine Feb 2024A 67-year-old woman with a history of obesity, chronic low back pain, and recurrent episodes of major depression presents with mild depressive symptoms of more than 2... (Review)
Review
A 67-year-old woman with a history of obesity, chronic low back pain, and recurrent episodes of major depression presents with mild depressive symptoms of more than 2 years’ duration, with worsening symptoms over the past 4 months. She was receiving sertraline at a stable dose of 100 mg per day until 3 months ago, when she initially presented for her worsening depressive symptoms. At that time, sertraline was tapered off, and treatment with extra-long extended-release bupropion (bupropion XL) was started at a dose of 150 mg daily and was increased to 300 mg daily 3 weeks later. Despite having taken the higher dose of bupropion XL for more than 2 months, the patient continues to have low mood, loss of interest in usual pleasurable activities, trouble falling asleep, wakefulness several times during the night, diminished energy, poor appetite, difficulty concentrating, and intrusive thoughts of being “better off dead,” but she does not have active suicidal thinking. Her nine-question Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) score is 17 (on a scale of 0 to 27, with higher scores indicating greater severity of depressive symptoms). How would you evaluate and treat this patient?
Topics: Humans; Aged; Depression; Depressive Disorder, Treatment-Resistant; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 38354142
DOI: 10.1056/NEJMcp2305428 -
Psychiatrische Praxis Jul 2023With reference to a poem "Dialogue between two lovers" and a fable "The Last Love", essential aspects of love are described: love as access to the world, as a path to...
With reference to a poem "Dialogue between two lovers" and a fable "The Last Love", essential aspects of love are described: love as access to the world, as a path to wisdom, self-knowledge and virtue, love as fear of loss and the desire to merge, love as encounter in dialogue, love as care, love as ecstasy, a feeling of pleasure and happiness. These are based on three theories of love from the beginnings of philosophy in ancient Greece by Plato and Aristotle. In the article they are considered from a philosophical-psychiatric perspective and supplemented by newer interpretations. With the help of a brief description of individual psychiatric disorders, a new understanding of love has been formulated. Ethical reflections on love life in psychiatry suggest that love in psychiatry is subject to a taboo, despite the creative possibilities it offers. Possible causes are discussed at the end. The article encourages thinking about love in psychiatry.
Topics: Humans; Love; Germany; Philosophy; Psychiatry; Happiness
PubMed: 37429276
DOI: 10.1055/a-2055-8857 -
Current Psychiatry Reports Nov 2023Sadistic pleasure-the enjoyment of harm-infliction to others-can have devastating interpersonal and societal consequences. The goal of the current review is to... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE OF REVIEW
Sadistic pleasure-the enjoyment of harm-infliction to others-can have devastating interpersonal and societal consequences. The goal of the current review is to illuminate the nomological net of traits related to sadism. We aim to achieve an understanding of the current empirical status on the link between sadism and personality disorders, psychopathy, the Dark Triad, and basic personality traits in clinical and community-based samples.
RECENT FINDINGS
The field is dominated by self-report studies on the Dark Triad with convenience samples. The link with DSM personality disorders has hardly been empirically studied. Existing evidence shows that sadism is most strongly related to increased psychopathic personality traits. Sadism can originate both from the interpersonal, affective, and behavioural basis of dark personality traits. There are diverging ideas on the differential status between sadism, psychopathy, and other dark traits. Research is needed on the causal impact of the broader range of personality disorders on sadism, in more diverse samples, including behavioural assessments of sadistic pleasure, as well as on the interplay of such personality traits with situational and affective aspects, and victim attitudes.
Topics: Humans; Sadism; Personality Disorders; Antisocial Personality Disorder; Personality
PubMed: 37856033
DOI: 10.1007/s11920-023-01466-0 -
Journal of Hip Preservation Surgery 2023A little while ago, I had the opportunity to spend some time in the operating room (theatre) of one of the world's most experienced and technically skilful hip...
A little while ago, I had the opportunity to spend some time in the operating room (theatre) of one of the world's most experienced and technically skilful hip arthroscopists. How I wish I had made the effort to visit this surgeon earlier in my career and how I regret that there are still so many surgeons I have failed to visit. Every surgeon who has allowed me into their operating room has shown me something that has enhanced my practice and learning to execute their manoeuvres always adds to the pleasure of surgical practice.
PubMed: 38162265
DOI: 10.1093/jhps/hnad045