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Frontiers in Psychiatry 2023
PubMed: 37779613
DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1284670 -
World Journal of Psychiatry Jan 2022We review the still scarce but growing literature on resilience to the effects of social stress on the rewarding properties of drugs of abuse. We define the concept of... (Review)
Review
We review the still scarce but growing literature on resilience to the effects of social stress on the rewarding properties of drugs of abuse. We define the concept of resilience and how it is applied to the field of drug addiction research. We also describe the internal and external protective factors associated with resilience, such as individual behavioral traits and social support. We then explain the physiological response to stress and how it is modulated by resilience factors. In the subsequent section, we describe the animal models commonly used in the study of resilience to social stress, and we focus on the effects of chronic social defeat (SD), a kind of stress induced by repeated experience of defeat in an agonistic encounter, on different animal behaviors (depression- and anxiety-like behavior, cognitive impairment and addiction-like symptoms). We then summarize the current knowledge on the neurobiological substrates of resilience derived from studies of resilience to the effects of chronic SD stress on depression- and anxiety-related behaviors in rodents. Finally, we focus on the limited studies carried out to explore resilience to the effects of SD stress on the rewarding properties of drugs of abuse, describing the current state of knowledge and suggesting future research directions.
PubMed: 35111578
DOI: 10.5498/wjp.v12.i1.24 -
Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience 2022
PubMed: 35923898
DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.961825 -
Frontiers in Psychiatry 2020To the extent that severe and lasting anorexia nervosa (SE-AN) is defined in terms of refractoriness to the best treatments available, it is mandatory to scrutinize the... (Review)
Review
To the extent that severe and lasting anorexia nervosa (SE-AN) is defined in terms of refractoriness to the best treatments available, it is mandatory to scrutinize the proven effectiveness of the treatments offered to patients. The array of so-called current evidence-based treatments for anorexia nervosa (AN) encompasses the entire spectrum of treatments ranging from specialized brand-type treatments to new treatments adapted to the specific characteristics of people suffering from AN. However, after several randomized control trials, parity in efficacy is the characteristic among these treatments. To further complicate the landscape of effective treatments, this "tie score" extends to the treatment originally conceived as control conditions, or treatment as usual conditions. In retrospection, one can understand that treatments considered to be the best treatments available in the past were unaware of their possible iatrogenic effects. Obviously, the same can be said of the theoretical assumptions underpinning such treatments. In either case, if the definition of chronicity mentioned above is applied, it is clear that the responsibility for the chronicity of the disorder says more about the flagrant inefficacy of the treatments and the defective assumptions underpinning them, than the nature of the disorder itself. A historical analysis traces the emergence of the current concept of "typical" AN and Hilde Bruch's contribution to it. It is concluded that today's diagnostic criteria resulting from a long process of acculturation distort rather than capture the essence of the disorder, as well as marginalizing and invalidating patients' perspectives.
PubMed: 33658948
DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.538997 -
Psychoneuroendocrinology Dec 2023The underlying psychobiology that contributes to Anorexia Nervosa (AN) onset and disease progression remains unclear. New research is emerging suggesting a possible link...
INTRODUCTION
The underlying psychobiology that contributes to Anorexia Nervosa (AN) onset and disease progression remains unclear. New research is emerging suggesting a possible link between inflammation and a variety of mental illnesses. Alterations of cytokines may play a role in the pathogenesis of AN. Some studies have found differences in the cytokine profile of those with AN compared to healthy controls, but results are heterogeneous. The aim of this work was to systematically review existing studies investigating in-vivo cytokine production in those with AN before and after weight restoration compared to controls.
METHODS
A comprehensive literature search of four electronic databases (PubMed, PsychInfo, EMBASE and CINAH) was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines to identify human in-vivo studies investigating the relationship between AN and cytokine production. Data extracted from included studies related to population characteristics (e.g. age, gender, mean mBMI/%IBW), cytokine measurement and relevant findings. Confounding factors (e.g. smoking status, co-morbid mental illness, menstruation status) were also collected.
RESULTS
36 studies were eligible for this systematic review of which the majority were conducted in Europe (77.8%) and involved female subjects (97.2%). Those with AN ranged in age from 13 to 47 years and had an illness duration of 3 months to 24 years. 15 candidate cytokines and 3 receptors were identified (TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-1B, CRP, IL-2, IL-7, IL-10, IFN-γ, TNF-R2, IL-1 α, IL-15, TNF-R1, IL-17, IL-18, TGF-B1, IL-12, IL-6R and TGF-B2) exploring in-vivo levels in patients with AN and comparing to controls. TNF-alpha and IL-6 were the most extensively studied with IL-6 being significantly elevated in 4 out of 8 (50%) of longitudinal studies when comparing AN patients at baseline compared to post weight restoration. Following weight restoration, there was no difference in IL-6 levels when comparing to HC in 7 of 8 (87.5%) longitudinal studies examined.
CONCLUSIONS
The most promising cytokine potentially involved in the pathogenesis of AN appears to be IL-6, and possibly TNF-alpha pathways. The heterogeneity of clinical and methodology factors impedes the generalizability of results. Future studies may wish to address these methodological shortcomings as alterations in cytokine levels in AN could act as therapeutic targets assisting with weight restoration and psychopathology and may offer diagnostic potential.
Topics: Humans; Female; Adolescent; Young Adult; Adult; Middle Aged; Anorexia Nervosa; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; Interleukin-6; Cytokines; Longitudinal Studies
PubMed: 37769539
DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2023.106390 -
Frontiers in Psychiatry 2020Losing a spouse is considered one of the most stressful life events a person can experience. Particularly in the immediate weeks and months after the loss, bereavement... (Review)
Review
Losing a spouse is considered one of the most stressful life events a person can experience. Particularly in the immediate weeks and months after the loss, bereavement is associated with a significantly increased risk of morbidity and mortality. Despite an abundance of research aimed at identifying risk factors for adverse health outcomes following marital death, the mechanisms through which mental and physical health problems emerge following bereavement remain poorly understood. To address this issue, the present review examines several pathways that may link bereavement and health, including inflammation and immune dysregulation, genetic and epigenetic changes, gut microbiota activity, and biological aging. We then describe how these processes may be viewed from the perspective of the Social Signal Transduction Theory of Depression to provide a novel framework for understanding individual differences in long-term trajectories of adjustment to interpersonal loss. Finally, we discuss several avenues for future research on psychobiological mechanisms linking bereavement with mental and physical health outcomes.
PubMed: 33343412
DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.565239 -
General Hospital Psychiatry 2023The COVID-19 pandemic is still spreading worldwide two years after its outbreak. Depression has been reported in around 30% of SARS-CoV-2 infected patients. We aim to... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
OBJECTIVE
The COVID-19 pandemic is still spreading worldwide two years after its outbreak. Depression has been reported in around 30% of SARS-CoV-2 infected patients. We aim to synthesize the available meta-analytical evidence in an umbrella review exploring the prevalence of depression during and after SARS-CoV-2 infection.
METHODS
First, we performed a narrative umbrella review including only meta-analyses providing a quantitative summary of the prevalence of depression during or after SARS-CoV-2 infection. Then we extracted the prevalence and sample size from the original studies included in each meta-analysis, and after removing duplicate studies, we performed a random-effects model meta-analysis based on single original study estimates. Heterogeneity, publication bias, leave-one-out sensitivity, and subgroup analyses were performed.
RESULTS
14 meta-analyses were included in the umbrella review. The prevalence of depression ranged from 12% to 55% in the presence of high heterogeneity. The meta-analysis based on 85 original studies derived from the included 14 meta-analyses showed a pooled prevalence of depression of 31% (95% CI:25-38%) in the presence of high and significant heterogeneity (Q = 8988; p < 10; I = 99%) and publication bias (p < 0.001).
CONCLUSION
The burden of post-COVID depression substantially exceeds the pre-pandemic prevalence. Health care services for COVID-19 survivors should monitor and treat emergent depression, reducing its potential detrimental long-term effects.
Topics: Humans; SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19; Pandemics; Prevalence
PubMed: 36535239
DOI: 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2022.12.002 -
Frontiers in Neuroscience 2022The relationship between gut microbiota (GM) and mental health is one of the focuses of psychobiology research. In recent years, the microbial-gut-brain axis (MGBA)... (Review)
Review
The relationship between gut microbiota (GM) and mental health is one of the focuses of psychobiology research. In recent years, the microbial-gut-brain axis (MGBA) concept has gradually formed about this bidirectional communication between gut and brain. But how the GM is involved in regulating brain function and how they affect emotional disorders these mechanisms are tenuous and limited to animal research, and often controversial. Therefore, in this review, we attempt to summarize and categorize the latest advances in current research on the mechanisms of GM and depression to provide valid information for future diagnoses and therapy of mental disorders. Finally, we introduced some antidepressant regimens that can help restore gut dysbiosis, including classic antidepressants, Chinese materia medica (CMM), diet, and exogenous strains. These studies provide further insight into GM's role and potential pathways in emotion-related diseases, which holds essential possible clinical outcomes for people with depression or related psychiatric disorders. Future research should focus on clarifying the causal role of GM in disease and developing microbial targets, applying these findings to the prevention and treatment of depression.
PubMed: 36570854
DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.1029495 -
European Neuropsychopharmacology : the... Oct 2023Major depression disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder (BD) are usual comorbidities in patients with substance use disorders (SUD), a condition known as dual disorder... (Review)
Review
UNLABELLED
Major depression disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder (BD) are usual comorbidities in patients with substance use disorders (SUD), a condition known as dual disorder (DD). MDD, BD and SUD are associated with cognitive impairment, potentially leading to a greater functional impairment in the context of DD.
OBJECTIVES
To review the existing data on the cognitive impairment in DD patients with comorbid MDD or BD, considering the influence of the depressive symptomatology.
METHODS
Following the PRISMA protocol 19 studies were selected from the last 17 years, 13 of which focused on BD, five on MDD and one included both diagnoses.
RESULTS
Studies based in BD+SUD showed that the most affected cognitive domains were attention and executive functions, but not all of them found a greater impairment due to the comorbidity. While fewer studies were found for depression, MDD+SUD works point to a similar impairment cognitive pattern. Furthermore, depression improvement could be associated to better cognitive performance.
LIMITATIONS
More standardized research is needed regarding the influence of depression on cognitive performance of DD patients, especially on those with comorbid MDD. Factors such as main substance, abstinence, or MDD/BD-related variables should be considered. Unstudied factors, like gender or circadian rhythms, are proposed to improve knowledge in this area.
CONCLUSIONS
Current studies suggest that DD could potentiate cognitive impairment in BD, MDD and SUD. However, additional research is needed to improve the understanding of comorbidity to apply more individualized therapies in the treatment of these patients, considering the interference of their neurocognitive functioning.
PubMed: 37453267
DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2023.06.006 -
Brain Sciences Jun 2021As fathers are increasingly involved in childcare, understanding the neurological underpinnings of fathering has become a key research issue in developmental... (Review)
Review
As fathers are increasingly involved in childcare, understanding the neurological underpinnings of fathering has become a key research issue in developmental psychobiology research. This systematic review specifically focused on (1) highlighting methodological issues of paternal brain research using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and (2) summarizing findings related to paternal brain responses to auditory and visual infant stimuli. Sixteen papers were included from 157 retrieved records. Sample characteristics (e.g., fathers' and infant's age, number of kids, and time spent caregiving), neuroimaging information (e.g., technique, task, stimuli, and processing), and main findings were synthesized by two independent authors. Most of the reviewed works used different stimuli and tasks to test fathers' responses to child visual and/or auditory stimuli. Pre-processing and first-level analyses were performed with standard pipelines. Greater heterogeneity emerged in second-level analyses. Three main cortical networks (mentalization, embodied simulation, and emotion regulation) and a subcortical network emerged linked with fathers' responses to infants' stimuli, but additional areas (e.g., frontal gyrus, posterior cingulate cortex) were also responsive to infants' visual or auditory stimuli. This review suggests that a distributed and complex brain network may be involved in facilitating fathers' sensitivity and responses to infant-related stimuli. Nonetheless, specific methodological caveats, the exploratory nature of large parts of the literature to date, and the presence of heterogeneous tasks and measures also demonstrate that systematic improvements in study designs are needed to further advance the field.
PubMed: 34202946
DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11060816