The characteristics of modern-type depression and its relevance in clinical practice.

Participants of expert group on CPG for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Adarsh Tripathi, Om Prakash Singh, Paramjeet Singh, Tushar Jagawat, M, Aleem Siddiqui, K.K. Verma, D.M. Mathur INTRODUCTION Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a common psychiatric illness with lifetime prevalence of 1-3% [1]. It is the fourth-most common psychiatric illness and a leading cause of disability. OCD is associated with significant impairment in functioning, quality of life and disability. If untreated, OCD is a chronic illness with a waxing and waning of symptoms. A recent meta-analysis of long-term naturalistic prospective studies demonstrated that nearly a half of patients experience remission with much higher rates of remission in Indian patients compared to those in the west [2]. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment may improve outcomes. Despite OCD being a common mental illness, most seek treatment after several years of suffering. Those who suffer from OCD tend to be secretive about their symptoms and suffer from shame and embarrassment. Less than a third of OCD sufferers receive appropriate pharmacotherapy and even less receive evidence-based psychotherapy. Symptoms The hallmarks of OCD are presence of obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions are repetitive, unwanted, intrusive thoughts, images or urges that are mostly ego-dystonic and cause severe distress or anxiety. Compulsions (or rituals) are repetitive behaviours or mental acts that are performed in response to an obsession to reduce anxiety/distress or prevent a dreaded consequence. Obsessions and compulsions are time consuming, distressing and are often resisted unsuccessfully. Clinical manifestations of OCD are remarkably similar across cultures and geographic locations. Common obsessions and compulsions and symptom dimensions identified through factor-analytical studies are shown in Table 1.Table 1: Common symptoms of OCDDiagnosis Many people experience intrusive thoughts and exhibit repetitive behaviours. A diagnosis of OCD is made only if symptoms are time consuming (e.g., more than an hour per day), distressing or cause significant interference in functioning. This is reflected in DSM-5 diagnosis of OCD and in the upcoming ICD-11 [3]. The ICD-11 criteria for OCD are likely to be very similar to the DSM-5 criteria [34]. The ICD-11 may include an insight specifier along the same lines as DSM-5. There are sweeping changes to the description of OCD in the proposed ICD-11. Duration criteria and subtyping of OCD may be removed in the revision for lack of evidence and clinical relevance. In ICD-10, a diagnosis of OCD was discouraged in the presence of schizophrenia, tic disorder or depression. This criterion too may be removed paving the way to make a diagnosis of OCD even in the presence of these comorbid disorders. Another major change to the diagnosis of OCD is creation of OCD and related disorders in DSM-5 (and in the ICD-11) and exit from the group of anxiety disorders. Many disorders are included in this group: body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), trichotillomania (TTM), skin picking disorder, hoarding disorder, substance/medication-Induced obsessive-compulsive and related disorder and obsessive-compulsive and related disorder due to another medical condition. In the upcoming ICD-11, few other conditions find a place in this group that include tic disorders, hypochondriasis and olfactory reference syndrome. All these disorders are grouped together based on shared clinical features (e.g., repetitive behaviours), comorbidity patterns, familiality, neuropsychological deficits, treatment response and importantly shared brain circuitry abnormalities. Hoarding disorder which may not share many features with OCD is grouped along with OCD because of historical association with OCD and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder. Comorbidity OCD is often comorbid with other psychiatric disorders. It is important to assess all patients with OCD for associated psychiatric comorbidity since they may have an effect on treatment outcome if left untreated. Depression and anxiety disorders are present in over a half of patients seeking treatment for OCD. Common comorbid disorders are listed in Table 2. Those with early onset OCD, in particular those with onset in childhood have high rates of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) and tic disorders.Table 2: Comorbid disorders in OCDBipolar disorder, in particular type 2, is reported to be not uncommon in OCD [5]. Similarly, OCD is not uncommon in those with primary diagnosis of bipolar disorder [67]. OCD when comorbid with bipolar disorder tends to run an episodic course [8] with worsening of symptoms in depressive phases and improvement in hypomania/ mania phases. It is important to recognise OCD-bipolar comorbidity because of treatment implications. The specific serotonin-reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) traditionally used to treat OCD may induce switch to mania or rapid cycling course. Obsessive-compulsive symptoms and OCD are not uncommon in schizophrenia. Nearly a third of schizophrenia patients report OC symptoms or OCD. Presence of OCD may have a negative effect on the long-term course of schizophrenia. Therefore treatment of OCD with SSRIs and cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT)/behavior therapy (BT) may have to be considered although there is not much of systematic evidence supporting their efficacy in treatment of OCD in schizophrenia. COMMON INGREDIENTS OF MANAGEMENT PLAN Common ingredients of managing OCD include the following: Detailed assessment of symptoms and comorbid patterns including suicidal behaviours either by unstructured clinical interview alone or supplementation with structured assessments. Decision on setting for treatment (outpatient vs. inpatient care depending upon the severity, treatment resistance etc.) Detailed psychoeducation of the patient and family member (s) about OCD, its course and treatment options including duration of treatment. Choice of treatment: drugs vs. CBT vs. combination In the Indian context, SSRIs are first-line treatments preferred over CBT because of feasibility, affordability and limited number of trained therapists. CBT may be considered if SSRIs alone are not beneficial. Discussion on side-effects of drugs; in women risks vs. benefits of drugs during pregnancy and in the post-partum period Follow-up plan after initiating treatment ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION In routine clinical practice, use of structured / semistructured interviews and rating scales may not be necessary. They are optional. However, they may be used when the clinician needs supplementary information. A list of useful instruments in the assessment of OCD is provided in Table 3.Table 3: Commonly used instruments to assess OCD (optional)The Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (YBOCS) is the most widely used severity rating scale for OCD in both adults [9] and children [10] and is considered a gold standard instrument to measure severity of OCD. It is a 10-item observer-rating scale, also available as self-rated instrument. It measures the overall severity of obsessive-compulsive symptoms for the preceding week. The YBOCS is a global measure of symptoms and does not provide severity of individual symptom dimensions. A total score of ≥ 16 is considered to be indicative of clinically significant OCD. The YBOCS severity scale also has an associated symptom check list of 15 categories of obsessions and compulsions including miscellaneous symptoms. The checklist elicits both current (1 month) and past symptoms. On the YBOCS item-11 insight scale, the insight is graded as follows: 0 = excellent (fully rational thinking), 1= good insight (readily acknowledges absurdity or excessiveness but has some lingering doubts), 2 = fair insight (reluctantly admits absurdity, but waivers; has some unrealistic fear but no fixed conviction), 3 = poor insight (overvalued ideas; maintains they are not unreasonable or excessive, but acknowledges validity of contrary evidence), and 4 = lack of insight (delusional). A higher score on the Y–BOCS item-11 indicates poorer insight. FORMULATING A TREATMENT PLAN Formulating a treatment begins with correct diagnosis of OCD as per the DSM or ICD classificatory systems. When feasible a structured clinical interview is recommended to obtain a comprehensive account of patient's problems. Once a diagnosis is established, a detailed assessment of symptom profile is mandatory. Family members often accommodate patient's rituals and contribute to poor outcome. In most severely ill patients, an elaborate family assessment may be needed. Once assessment is complete, short-term and long-term goals of treatment have to be established. Enhancing treatment adherence is a vital aspect of formulating a treatment plan. It is important to educate patients about lag in the onset of action of drugs and that improvement may occur over several months of continuous treatment. Brief education about basic principles of psychotherapy should be explained if psychotherapy is being planned. Essentials of formulating a treatment plan are summarized in Table 4. All patients and their immediate family members should be provided psychoeducation about OCD (Table 5).Table 4: Essentials of formulating a treatment planTable 5: Components of psychoeducationCHOICE OF TREATMENT SETTINGS In the Indian scenario, treatment is either on an outpatient or an inpatient basis. Outpatient treatment is usually sufficient for most OCD patients who are mild to moderately ill and for those who are likely to be adherent to treatment. Patients may be followed-up at periodic intervals, initially once in a month or two and subsequently at longer intervals depending upon the response to treatment and tolerability and side-effects. Hospital treatment may be considered for those who are at high suicide risk, dangerous to self or others, and intolerant to side-effects. Many severely ill and treatment-resistant patients may require prolonged (2-3 months) hospitalization for intensive treatment with CBT and for rationalization of pharmacotherapy. Inpatient care may also be required for severe depression, mania or psychosis that may be comorbid with OCD. Admission in rehabilitation services may be necessary for some patients who may not have benefited from standard treatments including inpatient care. PHARMACOLOGICAL TREATMENT The clinical practice guideline is framed based on a review of relevant scientific literature. As a first step, we framed relevant questions which arise in the minds of the practitioner while treating a patient suffering from OCD. A literature search was conducted in PubMed to answer these questions. We also reviewed the existing guidelines on treatment of OCD [11121314]. After a thorough literature review, the treatment strategies were rated based on the Strength of Recommendation Taxonomy (SORT) [15]. Consistent evidence from multiple randomized controlled trials (RCT) constitutes the highest level of evidence for a recommendation. However, the external validity of RCTs has been questioned due to the rigid protocols in undertaking the studies. A practitioner may make a clinical decision based on the available evidence considering other relevant factors that influence the decision making process. A non-exhaustive list of these factors might include psychiatric and other medical comorbidities, previous treatment trials, affordability, accessibility, hypersensitivity, side-effect profile, patients' values etc. RELEVANT CLINICAL ISSUES First-line pharmacological treatment for OCD Meta-analyses of RCTs show that selective-serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are significantly more effective than placebo in the treatment of OCD [16]. SSRIs are associated with many adverse effects but are usually well tolerated. The only other medication which has shown to be consistently effective in OCD is the serotoninergic tricyclic antidepressant clomipramine. Clomipramine has been found to be significantly more effective than placebo in multiple RCTs and meta-analysis of RCTs [16]. Network meta-analysis comparing the efficacy of clomipramine vs. SSRIs failed to find any efficacy advantage over SSRIs [16]. Most head-to-head comparison trials have not found any significant difference between the efficacy of clomipramine and SSRIs [17]. Further, meta-analyses and individual RCTs have found that the tolerability of clomipramine is worse than that of SSRIs [1317]. The anticholinergic, cardiac and neurological side effects of clomipramine may be problematic in this regard. CONSIDERING THE CONSISTENT EFFICACY AND BETTER TOLERABILITY, GUIDELINES RECOMMEND SSRIs AS FIRST LINE TREATMENT FOR OCD (TABLE 6). Choice of SSRITable 6: Medications recommended as monotherapy in OCDMeta-analyses comparing the different SSRIs [16] and direct head-to-head comparisons [1718] have not shown superiority of any one SSRI over the other. SSRIs differ to some extent in their propensity to cause certain adverse effects and drug interactions. However, there is no unequivocal evidence to suggest that these differences may be clinically meaningful. Recently, concerns have been raised regarding cardiac adverse effects with high dose of citalopram, which is commonly used in OCD. Hence, high-dose citalopram may be used with caution in those with risk for arrhythmias. THE PRACTITIONER IS RECOMMENDED TO CHOOSE AN SSRI FOR AN INDIVIDUAL PATIENT BASED ON FACTORS SUCH AS PREVIOUS RESPONSE, COMORBIDITY, TOLERABILITY, ACCEPTABILITY, ADVERSE EFFECTS, COST AND DRUG INTERACTIONS. Dose of SSRI It is generally recommended that OCD be treated with a higher dose of SSRI than that used in depression (Table 5). A meta-analysis of fixed-dose comparison studies have found a greater efficacy with higher doses of SSRI (60-80 mg fluoxetine equivalent) compared to medium (40-50 mg fluoxetine equivalent) and low doses (20-30 mg fluoxetine equivalent) [19]. However, all three dose ranges were significantly more effective than placebo. The increased efficacy comes at the cost of poor tolerability as evidenced by increased dropouts due to adverse effects [19]. A review of individual fixed-dose comparison studies found that the dose-response relationship is more evident for escitalopram, fluoxetine and paroxetine, while it is less clear-cut for citalopram and sertraline [17]. Clomipramine has not been tested in such fixed dose comparison studies. However, most studies have employed a flexible dosing at 150-250 mg [17]. It should be remembered that there is likely to be inter-individual differences in pharmacokinetic profile of drugs due to intrinsic variations in drug metabolism and drug interactions. GUIDELINES RECOMMEND TREATMENT OF OCD WITH HIGHER DOSE OF SSRIs. HOWEVER, IF AN INDIVIDUAL PATIENT IS NOT ABLE TO TOLERATE HIGHER DOSE, LOW TO MEDIUM DOSE TREATMENT CAN BE CONSIDERED. Duration of trial and dose titration A recent meta-analysis of 17 RCTs found that SSRIs separate from placebo as early as 2 weeks and that majority of improvement occurs early on in the course of treatment [20]. However, improvements seen early in the course of treatment may not be always clinically meaningful. In many patients, clinically meaningful improvements may be seen only after weeks or months of treatment. It is recommended that an adequate trial of a SSRI (or clomipramine) should be at least for 12 weeks to account for the lag in the onset of action. The APA guidelines recommend upward titration to the maximum FDA-approved doses by 4-6 weeks and continuation in that dose for another 6-8 weeks or so to determine efficacy [11]. Certain clinical and biological predictors of treatment response to SSRIs have been identified but they are not robust predictors (Table 7).Table 7: Predictors of response to SSRIsGUIDELINES RECOMMEND CONTINUING MAXIMALLY TOLERATED EFFECTIVE DOSE OF A SSRI FOR AT LEAST 12 WEEKS FOR JUDGING ITS EFFICACY. GUIDELINES ALSO RECOMMEND DOSE ESCALATION TO EFFECTIVE DOSE RANGES WITHIN 4-6 WEEKS AND CONTINUATION IN THE SAME DOSE FOR ANOTHER 6-8 WEEKS. 2. Other medications that can be tried as monotherapy in OCD Venlafaxine, a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor with preferential serotonergic action, has been studied in comparison to paroxetine in a double blinded study and clomipramine in a single blinded study. The studies found no difference in the efficacy between venlafaxine and the comparator agents in acute control of OCD. Given the absence of evidence from placebo-controlled trials, venlafaxine is not the first-line treatment for OCD. Hence, the guidelines consider venlafaxine as a second-line monotherapy agent in the treatment of OCD. Mirtazapine has been studied as a monotherapy in two small open-label trials with inconsistent findings. Therefore, mirtazapine cannot be recommended as monotherapy in treatment of OCD. 3. Treatment strategy for non-responders to first-line treatment Definitions of treatment outcome [21] are given in Table 8. Estimates suggest that around 40-70% patients show an adequate response to a trial of SSRI with a remission rate of 10-40% [16]. Clinicians often face the subsequent challenge of partial and non-response to SSRIs. Continuing improvement has been noticed with prolonged trial of SSRIs as discussed above. Hence, the initial trial may be continued further if there is evidence of ongoing improvement. A general treatment algorithm for OCD and for non-responders to SSRIs is shown in Figures 1 and 2 respectively.Table 8: Definitions of treatment outcome in OCDFigure 1: Treatment algorithm for treating a patient with OCD. *First line treatment chosen based on feasibility and severity of illness, #CBT/BT- Cognitive behavior therapy/Behavior therapy, @SSRI – Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, %rTMSrepetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, $ - tDCS- transcranial direct current stimulation. ** Preferred for severe OCDFigure 2: Strategies for non-responders to SSRIs. SSRI-Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, CBT/BT-Cognitive behavior therapy/behavior therapy, rTMS- repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulationa. Switching to another medication Switching to another first-line medication has been found to be effective; experts provide a rough estimate of 40-50% response rate for the second SSRI and decreasing response rates with further trials. Switching to a second SSRI is suggested for non-responders to a first SSRI. In partial responders, changing medication may entail loss of the response to the earlier medication. Hence, switching is recommended in partial responders only if there are severe persisting symptoms or upon failure of other augmenting strategies such as CBT and atypical antipsychotics. b. Switching / Augmenting with CBT/BT It is uncertain whether initiating a combination of BT/CBT simultaneously with SSRI is advantageous compared to either treatment alone. However, CBT/BT has been proven to be effective as an augmenter in partial/non-responders to SSRIs [182223]. Where feasible, CBT/BT is a potential first-line augmenting option for partial/non-responders to SSRI treatment. c. Augmenting with another medication (Table 9)Table 9: Pharmacological augmenting agents in medications have been commonly tried as to SSRIs. and have the are the most widely studied augmenting agents of SSRIs The literature on is with including small doses and duration of treatment with both and of treatment resistance etc. recent meta-analyses of RCTs on found that as a group was significantly more effective than placebo in decreasing YBOCS a third of patients to and are consistently found to be effective as augmenting The evidence for should be with caution as it was based on a single study. A comparing and placebo of SSRI found that not separate from placebo in augmenting efficacy This study has raised questions on the efficacy of as an and have not been consistently found to be while other have not been studied Meta-analyses not any on adequate dose and duration of treatment should be used in low doses (e.g., mg of mg for a period of at least weeks for an adequate of in the should be considered after the benefits and risks of long-term BASED ON THE AND BE THE FIRST FOR PHARMACOLOGICAL agents There is a supporting the use of drugs in OCD. The agents have been studied in OCD found effective in 2 double blinded and one single blinded found effective in 2 double blinded RCTs effective in 2 small but inconsistent in two RCTs from three has to be studied BASED ON THE AND ITS BETTER TOLERABILITY, IS AS THE FIRST agents including and are reported to be effective and well in small RCTs However, due to the of the individual are recommended as second line augmenting agents along with evidence that clomipramine can be an effective augmenting Clomipramine and SSRI combination should be used with fluoxetine and as they may clomipramine related adverse effects cardiac serotonin due to pharmacokinetic interactions. Clomipramine of SSRI may be tried but adequate to be in the potential adverse effects of the Mirtazapine has been found to the response with no significant benefits and may be considered as an augmenting agent in partial responders and Other augmenting agents and have not been found effective and are not recommended as augmenting The and efficacy of and drugs have to be studied they are recommended for routine clinical has been found to have acute effects in a which needs and the strategy can be recommended for routine clinical Other strategies there to be some short-term benefits for clomipramine in treatment patients, the benefits are This is not available in and is not recommended at present for clinical There are a few trials the of higher than recommended doses of SSRIs to mg of mg of in This strategy should be considered and may be used only in patients after other OF of patients not to available pharmacological and and treatments the have been tried in has not been for the treatment of OCD. in the of and not provide evidence for the efficacy of Hence, is not recommended as a treatment for OCD and may be considered for the treatment of comorbid conditions severe and disorders, if 2. transcranial magnetic the of and of or decreasing their based on the of stimulation. The in OCD are usually not with available of has been tried in which have with other in OCD. trials of low or high over either have but low over supplementary and However, the evidence has not been very the have to be in with There is no evidence that effects for longer than the trial The guideline as an for further and not for routine clinical 3. direct current is another and which either or the of the depending on the of the There are only a few and an open-label trial on in OCD. It has to be more it can be recommended for clinical use in OCD. in specific of the which is to be in OCD. can be with the of or with the of and a of as are in treatment OCD in a few to the these are generally employed in treatment patients (Table in the of studies that around of patients improve over months There is some that may be more effective in OCD and that its efficacy may be similar to that of brain may be associated with short-term and adverse effects including personality and adverse effects although rates are not criteria for brain brain is a high of in the the of action is it is to for OCD has been in controlled studies of and A recent meta-analysis found a rate of with a YBOCS of around is an and is associated with and adverse Further, the needs to be which may be can be recommended in OCD patients (Table after regarding the and of the The are not in and the are only one aspect of a comprehensive treatment which should may be considered only in patients after of patients for treatment severity of illness and Patients should be explained about the of benefits and They should be by an of a a and a for for The treatment should be conducted of a of and with of adverse criteria for to are shown in Table FOR OCD (TABLE Cognitive / and in has been shown to be in the treatment of OCD All treatment guidelines have suggested the use of CBT as a first-line treatment CBT for OCD is a first-line treatment option for OCD. is the most important of CBT along with When are monotherapy may be recommended in mild to moderately ill In severely ill patients a combination of CBT and SSRI is CBT as an strategy It is uncertain whether initiating a combination of and SSRI is advantageous compared to either treatment alone. However, CBT/BT is found to be effective in augmenting SSRIs in partial/non-responders to SSRIs [34]. A recent study found CBT to be to and placebo in augmenting SSRIs in OCD Patients in the CBT group

INTRODUCTION Psychiatric disorders are common after stroke and traumatic brain injury (TBI) both in the short term and long term. They can be caused by regional disruption of neuronal network, impairment of regional cerebral blood flow, impaired cerebral metabolism, axonal injury, and pressure effect of intracranial bleed. Around 16 million people each year experience first ever stroke. Of these patients, 5 million become disabled and 5.7 million dies.[1] Traumatic brain injuries are also common and pose an enormous burden on families and caregivers because of the associated neuropsychiatric complications.[2] However, these neuropsychiatric complications are often remained unaddressed or not adequately treated because of the treating doctor's preoccupation with other severe physical disabilities, whereas treating these neuropsychiatric complications can improve the overall outcome of the patients to a considerable extent. In this clinical practice guideline (CPG), the assessment of psychiatric disorders following stroke and TBI is discussed together, while the management of psychiatric disorders following stroke and TBI is discussed separately under the two broad subheadings. This CPG mostly focused on the most common neuropsychiatric consequences of stroke and TBI, namely depression, psychosis, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorders (PTSD), mania, emotional lability, fatigue, apathy, and personality changes. There is substantial overlap between neuropsychiatric disorders following stroke and TBI and repetitions will be avoided. This CPG does not include the cognitive consequences of stroke and TBI. We included researches both on ischemic stroke and intracerebral hemorrhage. However, we did not include dementia. CATEGORIES OF EVIDENCE AND STRENGTH OF RECOMMENDATIONS While writing this CPG, we ensured compliance with AGREE II instrument. We marked available evidences from Ia to IV and strengths of recommendations from A to D as per the prevailing norms.[3] Categories of evidence Ia: Evidence from meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) Ib: Evidence from at least one RCT IIa: Evidence from at least one controlled study without randomization IIb: Evidence from at least one quasi-experimental study III: Evidence from nonexperimental descriptive studies, such as correlation studies comparative studies, and case − control studies IV: Evidence from opinions and/or clinical experience of respected authorities or expert committee reports. Strength of recommendations A: Directly based on Category I evidence B: Directly based on Category II evidence or extrapolated recommendation from Category I evidence C: Directly based on Category III evidence or extrapolated recommendation from category I or II evidence D: Directly based on Category IV evidence or extrapolated recommendation from Category I, II or III evidence S: Standard of care. GENERAL ASSESSMENT OF PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS FOLLOWING STROKE AND TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY As a referral physician, psychiatrists have the role to make thorough assessment of a patient following stroke and TBI to rule in/out the presence of any psychiatric disorders in a busy emergency room or inpatient department or intensive care unit (ICU). To assess the consciousness level of the patient, Glasgow Come Scale still remains the gold standard. It is usually very difficult to conduct a psychiatric assessment on a semi-comatose patient or a patient who is uncooperative. In that case, one can use Kirby's pro forma for examining uncooperative patients. The attending psychiatrist should examine the patient in a calm environment with not too many people around. However, the presence of primary caregiver can be allowed if the patient cannot give reliable and valid information which is more often the case. The demeanor of the treating doctor should be nonthreatening. He should talk in a clear voice with every word being uttered with due stress to reach the patient who usually have some or the other sensory impairment. If in delirium, psychiatrist should revisit the patient at a later date and time. Psychiatrist should also take the pain to bring forth the history of substance use disorders which are commonly associated with road traffic accidents and resultant TBI [Box 1].Box 1: Checklist for treating psychiatrist while evaluating post stoke and posttraumatic brain injury psychiatric disordersThe treating psychiatrist should go through the clinical records very carefully and if needed should corroborate the clinical history from the primary caregiver or the eye witnesses. Patient's past psychiatric history is of immense importance as it has some correlation with development of poststroke depression (PSD) and other psychiatric disorders. Psychiatrist should also go through the laboratory reports carefully and look for underlying infection, blood loss, electrolyte disturbances, endocrine dysfunction, and other systemic comorbid conditions which are reflected in complete blood count, urine culture and sensitivity, cerebrospinal fluid study, hemoglobin level, serum sodium, serum potassium, serum chloride, serum thyroid-stimulating hormone, serum parathyroid hormone, fasting blood sugar, liver function test, serum creatinine, etc. If needed and when in doubt, the referral psychiatrist should order for more biochemical investigation to rule out organic condition. The psychiatrist should also pay attention to the neuroimaging reports (computed tomography scan, magnetic resonance imaging, etc.,) to decipher a possible connection between the neurological insult and psychiatric disorder. Electroencephalography should be ordered to rule out subconvulsive status epilepticus which can mimic a psychiatric disorder. A detailed scrutiny of the medications already received should be done to rule out any iatrogenic psychiatric disorder. If needed, the psychiatrist should talk to treating neurologist or the neurosurgeon regarding stoppage of medicine, replacing the offending drug, or possible dose adjustment. A detailed mental status examination should be done with particular focus on obtaining an adequate speech sample, looking for the predominant affect, presence of any delusion or hallucination, and assessment of cognitive function, particularly judgment, abstract thinking, and lobar functions. There are provisions to diagnose various psychiatric disorders following stroke, transient ischemic attack (TIA), and brain injury in DSM 5 and ICD10. The diagnosis of poststroke and post-TBI psychiatric disorders depends on structured clinical interview and using of a screening instrument. There is no universally accepted screening instrument for diagnosing psychiatric disorders following stroke or TBI. For the diagnosis of PSD, Beck Depression Inventory, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, Nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale, Geriatric Depression Scale, and the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression (CES-D) Scale have been used. Anxiety disorders can be screened by Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Anxiety Subscale and Hamilton Anxiety Scale. For screening of PTSD, psychiatrist can use clinician administered PTSD Scale, PTSD checklist for a stressor, TIA or stroke as stressor; Post-Traumatic Stress Diagnostic Scale; Impact of Events Scale-Revised. Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale can be used for screening of psychosis and Young's Mania Rating Scale can be used for screening of mania. For the assessment of personality disorders or personality changes, a detailed psychological evaluation with Eysenck's Personality Questionnaire, Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory, International Personality Disorder Examination, or Iowa Personality Disorder Screen may be needed [Table 1].Table 1: Screening tools and management of various psychiatric disorders following stroke/traumatic brain injuryMANAGEMENT OF POSTSTROKE PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS Poststroke depression PSD is the one of the most commonly reported neuropsychiatric conditions following stroke. Often undiagnosed, PSD is a treatable condition. PSD can occur within 1–18 months following stroke and its prevalence vary considerably over time (reported prevalence at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 18 months were 24.5%, 27.1%, 28.3%, 19.8%, and 26.3%, respectively).[4] PSD is believed to be associated with worse functional outcome following stroke. A meta-analysis showed that, PSD had a adverse impact on survival rates following stroke and it affected short-term mortality more than long-term mortality.[5] Various meta-analysis and systematic review have looked into the role of prophylactic antidepressant treatment to reduce the chance of developing PSD.[6789] Many of them found that, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and physical exercise improved mood symptoms in PSD. A Cochrane review which included 63 RCTs and over 9000 participants and specifically looked into the role of SSRIs in PSD found that, SSRIs should not be used routinely to promote recovery after stroke as they do not improve recovery after stroke (A).[10] In the Effect of fluoxetine on functional outcomes after acute stroke trial, eligible patients with stroke were recruited and randomly given fluoxetine (20 mg daily) or placebo for 6 months, starting after 2 − 15 days of stroke. After 12 months of follow-up, fluoxetine was found to improve the neuropsychological scale score but not other variables. Therefore, it did not support the routine use of prophylactic fluoxetine in PSD (A).[11] Similar was the finding from the efficacy of citalopram treatment in acute stroke (TALOS study) (A).[12] The efficacy of CBT on PSD remains undetermined due to low quality of the studies and high degree of heterogeneity among them as found by one meta-analysis (A).[13] Neuromodulation techniques such as transcranial direct current stimulation and transcranial magnetic stimulation can offer some benefit, but there are the lack of high quality RCTs (B).[14] SSRIs and SNRIs are often used in conjunction with anti-platelet medication such as clopidogrel in PSD. Fluoxetine and fluvoxamine (CYP2C19 inhibiters) can reduce the efficacy of clopidogrel and can increase the risk of ischemic disease.[15] There have been concerns regarding intracranial bleed following the use of SSRIs also. Studies have suggested that, if given before stroke, SSRIs were associated with severity and mortality in patients with hemorrhagic stroke.[16] However, one recent review pointed out the lack of evidence in support of SSRIs alone increasing the risk of spontaneous intracranial bleed. Therefore, it can be concluded that, SSRIs should not be prescribed prophylactically in all poststroke patients. Rather, they should be screened for PSD and if diagnosed, then only SSRIs and SNRIs can be prescribed as needed (S) with some sort psychological intervention (CBT) (B). Both neurologists and psychiatrists need to be aware of drug-drug interaction which can be potentially life threatening in such group of patients (S). Poststroke psychosis The symptoms of PSP include delusions, hallucinations, psychomotor agitation, irrelevant and incoherent speech, catatonic symptoms, and sleep cycle disturbances. These symptoms usually manifest within a week following stroke but may manifest several weeks later also. Studies form the early 90s indicated that PSP is relatively rare and after 9 years' follow-up only 5 patients developed PSP.[17] A recent meta-analysis found the prevalence of PSP to be around 4.86%.[18] Literature on the management of PSP is sparse compared to PSD or poststroke anxiety (PSA). RCTs on the management of PSP are lacking. The treatment usually follows same principles which are followed for the management and treatment of primary psychotic disorders. Secondgenerationantipsychotics(SGAs), for example, quetiapine, risperidone, andolanzapinearemostcommonlyusedtotreatPSP (D). However, their safety in patients with stroke is highly debatable. Olanzapine can have deleterious effect of plasma glucose and lipids which are not welcome in patients with stroke. Quetiapine can cause postural hypotension, whereas risperidone can cause extra-pyramidal side effects. The concern of anti-psychotics being associated with high incidences stroke has been refuted by a large case − control study.[192021] TheusualpracticeistostartlowandgoslowincaseoftreatmentofPSP(S). However, incertaincases(agitatedandviolentpatients)injectablesmightberequiredandinthatcaseinjectableolanzapineorinjectablehaloperidolcanbeused(D). Asinpatientswithprimarypsychoticdisorders, CBTforhallucinationordelusioncanbebeneficialinPSP(S).[22] Poststroke anxiety disorders PSA is common and only second to PSD in terms of prevalence. All kind of anxiety disorders can be seen following stroke but the core symptoms remain the same – palpitation, psychic and physical restlessness, excessive worry and fear, feeling of nervousness, pseudo neurological symptoms, for example, dizziness, blurring of vision, tingling and numbness of hands and feet, fine tremors, etc. Sensory impairment, ICU admission, painful physical conditions, communication difficulties, and sleep disturbance can lead to the development of PSA. A meta-analysis found the prevalence of PSA to vary between 20% to 24% depending on the time elapsed following stroke.[23] SSRIs, SNRIs, Tri-CyclicAntidepressants(TCAs), Mirtazapine, Buspirone, Benzodiazepines, and Z-drugsallhavebeenusedinthetreatmentofPSAintheabsenceofanydefiniteguideline(D).[24] Meta-analyses conducted by Chun etal. reported beneficial effect of pharmacotherapy (paroxetine, imipramine, and buspirone) and psychotherapy compared to control. However, the studies were of low quality and highly heterogeneous, and therefore, the positive conclusion could be due to bias.[25] Cochrane review in this area also highlighted lack of quality studies and emphasized the need of large scale RCTs.[24] Nonpharmacologicalmanagements, for example, Yoga, Tai-Chi, Self-helpmindfulness, andrelaxationtechniquescanoffersomebenefitinthemanagementofPSA(C).[2627] Therefore, SSRIs, SNRIs, andevenTCAscanbeusedinthetreatmentofPSA(S, D)alongwithnon-pharmacologicalinterventions(C). However, as in case of PSD, psychiatrists and neurologists should be aware of potential drug-drug interactions. Posttraumatic stress disorder following stroke PTSD develops following an event which pose actual or imagined threat to physical and psychological integrity of an individual and stroke is no less than a catastrophe. Symptoms of PTSD include intrusive flashbacks/memories, autonomic arousal, emotional numbness, and avoidance behavior. Poststroke PTSD often has associated PSD and PSA (in up to 40% of the cases).[28] A meta-analysis reported 1-year prevalence of poststroke PTSD to be around 23%.[29] Furthermore, persons with PTSD have higher risk of developing stroke compared to people without PTSD.[30] There is dearth of RCTs in treatment of PTSD. SSRIs, SNRIs, andTCAscanbetried(D). Othermedications, e.g., antipsychotics, anticonvulsants, andanxiolyticshavealsobeentried(D).[31] Psychotherapeutic approaches, e.g., trauma-focused therapies, CBT, and exposure therapy appears to be helpful in resolution of symptoms but they need to be tested in large scale studies (D).[32] Poststroke mania Prevalence of poststroke mania (PSM) is rather low (<2%).[33] Most of the data in this area are in the form of case report or case series.[33] Majority of the subject developed PSM between 1 day to 24 months after stroke.[34] In 1978, Kraut-hammer and Klerman gave the concept of secondary mania in which a manic episode is produced by metabolic, neurological, or toxic disorder.[34] The criteria of secondary mania (PSM in this case) are as follows: (1) symptoms lasting for at least 1 week; (2) presence of elevated or irritable mood; and (3) presence of at least two symptoms out of the followings: Pressured speech, grandiosity, hyperactivity, flight of ideas, distractibility, lack of judgment, and decreased sleep; and (4) no history of affective illness or delirium co-occurring with the mania. Lesions responsible for PSM are usually found in the caudate nucleus, parietal, temporal, and frontal lobes and thalamus. Mania is more common with right-sided lesions, although left sided lesions have also been reported.[3536] Treatment of PSM is in line with treatment of an acute manic episode. Moodstabilizers, e.g., valproate, carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, etc.;antipsychotics, e.g., olanzapine, quetiapine, risperidone, etc.;andbenzodiazepinesarethemainstayoftreatment(S. D). It is better to avoid lithium in this population because of the presence of multiple comorbidities and potential drug-drug interactions. Furthermore, choosing a mood stabilizer which allows antiepileptic coverage is beneficial. Poststroke emotional lability Poststroke emotional lability is also known by various other names, for example, pathological laughter/crying, emotional incontinence, hyperemotionality, pseudobulbar affect, etc. The symptoms appeared to be dramatic but transient. Patients can present with sudden onset laughter or crying while speaking on a rather inconspicuous matter. Sometimes, it may be difficult to differentiate it from depression. If symptoms are long-lasting, it may result in distress, depression, social avoidance, and embarrassment. The prevalence of poststroke emotional lability varies between 8% to 32%.[37] Quality research in the management of poststroke emotional lability is lacking, thereby precluding any meaningful recommendation. ACochranereviewwithtotal293participantsreported, antidepressantsreducedthefrequencyoflaughingandcryingepisodesbutthequalityofevidencewaslow(A). The effect was not specific to any particular drug or class of drugs. The review pointed our several methodological deficiencies.[38] Poststroke fatigue Poststroke fatigue (PSF) is common sequalae of both ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. Nearly half of the stroke survivors suffer from PSF. A systematic review put the prevalence of PSF between 25% and 85%.[39] Uniform definition of PSF is lacking. Most commonly PSF is described as, subject lack of mental and physical energy which interferes with individual's day to day activities. PSF has been found to be associated with old age, neurological deficits, diabetes, hypertension, heart failure, kidney disease, pain, anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances, prestroke fatigue, and cognitive impairment.[40] Few studies have pointed to a link between PSF and subcortical and infra-tentorial infarcts.[40] Considering the multifactorial causation of PSF, any one particular pharmacological agent is unlikely to provide any benefit. Modafinil, amoodawakenerhasbeenfoundtobeusefulinPSFfollowingbrainstem-diencephalicstrokebecauseofitseffectonreticularactivatingsystem(C).[41] A small RCT also favoured the use of Modafinil up to a dose of 400 mg/day (B).[42] SSRIs including fluoxetine, escitalopram, sertraline and SNRI, duloxetine has been studied in PSF but none were proven beneficial except for anxiety symptoms.[4344] Clinicians often try vitamin supplementations in PSF. Vitamin B12, Vitamin B1, and idebenone, a synthetic coenzyme Q10 analog have all been studied, but results are inconclusive (C).[454647] JointAmericanStrokeAssociationandAmericanHeartAssociationstatementencouragesregularphysicalexercisetoreducePSF(D, S).[48] A Cochrane review which included two nonpharmacological interventions, mindfulness-based stress reduction program and a fatigue education program found no conclusive evidence of any intervention having any efficacy to treat PSF (A).[49] Poststroke apathy Post-stroke apathy is of stroke. It is by a lack of with and criteria for poststroke apathy for weeks or and two other symptoms cognitive or and functional There are conditions, particularly depression, which can mimic poststroke In that case, should be put on of cognitive symptoms of depression, for example, low lack of attention and ideas, etc. prevalence of poststroke apathy was in a large Poststroke apathy is more common in less and in of and depression in 40% of Patients with poststroke apathy have been found to have higher risk of depression and worse functional Quality evidence for the treatment of poststroke apathy is lacking. There is one RCT with mg and mg which in in Scale score and more There are Poststroke personality disorders There can be of personality or patient can personality after a stroke. There are that patient and/or Personality are more in case of frontal Studies have put the prevalence of and at and The in the prevalence was because of the in which the study was population of stroke, and used to assess personality changes. There are very RCTs which have looked into the treatment of poststroke personality disorders have been extrapolated from studies conducted in SSRIs, for example, in this group of patients OF PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS FOLLOWING TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY For management of psychiatric disorders following TBI, we are not to the same for stroke for of this Rather, we will management and treatment evidences as The first report of psychiatric disorder following TBI was of a who an in when an and frontal which personality form a responsible to and not to take A of psychiatric disorders can be seen following TBI. Posttraumatic agitation, and are common in Posttraumatic has been to posttraumatic consciousness and in cognitive The of posttraumatic varies between to sleep and underlying delirium can promote can be physical and and often than not is sudden and in The of is the severity of injury and of The of in TBI varies between 25% to is although a rather form compared to and it is common in post-TBI patients which as excessive with The of post-TBI varies between to as per the of the studies consequences of TBI are apathy, and We have discussed apathy in in the of psychiatric disorders following stroke. The prevalence of post-TBI apathy varies between 20% to As discussed it may be difficult to differentiate apathy from depression. Furthermore, apathy can to available pharmacological anxiety, and psychosis are other common psychiatric disorders following TBI. The prevalence of depression after TBI was higher compared to population and was put at having depression at the time of injury, cognitive deficits, of left and and pain was associated with depression in TBI All of anxiety for example, anxiety social anxiety and PTSD are common in TBI patients. The prevalence of anxiety disorders varies between and following between psychosis and TBI is less A meta-analysis suggested that, risk of was in TBI group as compared to the control but of studies included any meaningful and are higher in TBI group as compared to the population and some have found it to be as high as Around 20% participants with TBI all of for example, mood antipsychotics, and have been used in the treatment of psychiatric disorders following TBI [Table but in the of study and large of the studies recommendations are difficult to In clinical many of these alone or in There is evidence in of nonpharmacological Cochrane review did not any evidence in of any nonpharmacological for example, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy or CBT for depression following There are a psychiatrist should be aware while such patients, for example, level of cognitive function, neuroimaging done or presence or of clinical subconvulsive status medications received by the patient, drug-drug etc. [Box of medications for should be prescribed to improve patient compliance (S). or should be used because of risk of and cognitive (S). but not the attending psychiatrist should also use depending on of comorbid physical conditions 1].Table used to treat psychiatric disorders following traumatic brain injury and their of to for treating psychiatrist in patients with traumatic brain 1: of psychiatric management of a patient with traumatic brain Psychiatric disorders following stroke and TBI present for the treating a who is with brain psychiatrists of should in of brain and its the other being a behavioral should be the of the patient, the need of the and the emotional need of The link between psychiatric disorders following stroke and TBI is not an Therefore, treatment also to be one drug for Psychiatrist often has to do and before the As already been there is dearth of large scale RCTs for most of the conditions and treatment recommendations are often extrapolated from primary disorders. However, that may not a or brain may not function in the same as a or However, this guideline an to of the available evidences in this area and recommendations were based on has to while this is in a particular clinical support and of There are no of

The neuroethics of non-invasive brain stimulation

Exploring a novel therapeutic approach with noninvasive cortical stimulation for vulvodynia

BackgroundsSocial hierarchy is one of the most influential social structures employed by social species. While dominants in such hierarchies can preferentially access rich resources, subordinates are forced into lower social statuses and lifestyles with inferior resources. Previous studies have indicated that the social rank regulates social behaviors and emotion in a variety of species, whereby individual organisms live within the framework of their ranks. However, in human societies, people, particularly young men, who cannot accept their own social status may show social withdrawal behaviors such as hikikomori to avoid confronting their circumstances.MethodsThis article reviews the neural mechanisms underlying social status identified in animal studies with rodents and primates, and assesses how social rank affects animal's social behaviors and emotion which may be relevant to modern type depression.ResultsSeveral brain regions such as medial prefrontal cortex are implicated in the formation of animal's social status, which leads to the differences in vulnerability and resilience to social stress.ConclusionOn the basis of these findings, we propose that physical interventions such as voluntary exercise, diet, transcranial direct current stimulation, and psychotherapy, rather than psychotropic drugs, may be useful therapeutic approaches for modern type depression, which is a typical example of social status conflict and a phenotype of adjustment disorder to the traditional hierarchical social order.

Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Use of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Psychiatry.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a chronic neuropsychiatric condition often resistant to conventional treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy and pharmacotherapy. For treatment-refractory cases, neuromodulation techniques offer promising alternatives. This review provides an overview of recent advances in three major neuromodulation strategies: transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), and deep brain stimulation (DBS). DBS has demonstrated robust efficacy across several brain targets, though clinical outcomes are influenced by interindividual variability in fiber anatomy, lead positioning, correct parameter adjustments, and symptomatology. Recent efforts focus on connectivity-based targeting, patient-specific imaging, and the development of closed-loop systems guided by electrophysiological and neuroimaging biomarkers. rTMS, a noninvasive neuromodulation technique, shows therapeutic potential but lacks consensus on optimal parameters and cortical targets, despite FDA approval of certain stimulation protocols. tDCS, while the most accessible modality, presents inconclusive evidence due to small sample sizes and heterogeneity in electrode montages. Overall, these neuromodulation techniques are rapidly evolving and hold considerable promise, but further high-quality studies are needed to standardize stimulation protocols, validate reliable biomarkers and tailor interventions to individual patient profiles. Personalized neuromodulation may represent the future of therapeutic strategies in OCD.

Transcranial direct current stimulation for the treatment of major depressive disorder: A summary of preclinical, clinical and translational findings

Individuals with schizophrenia typically suffer a range of cognitive deficits, including prominent deficits in working memory and executive function. These difficulties are strongly predictive of functional outcomes, but there is a paucity of effective therapeutic interventions targeting these deficits. Transcranial direct current stimulation is a novel neuromodulatory technique with emerging evidence of potential pro-cognitive effects; however, there is limited understanding of its mechanism. This was a double-blind randomized sham controlled pilot study of transcranial direct current stimulation on a working memory (n-back) and executive function (Stroop) task in 28 individuals with schizophrenia using functional magnetic resonance imaging. Study participants received 30 min of real or sham transcranial direct current stimulation applied to the left frontal cortex. The 'real' and 'sham' groups did not differ in online working memory task performance, but the transcranial direct current stimulation group demonstrated significant improvement in performance at 24 h post-transcranial direct current stimulation. Transcranial direct current stimulation was associated with increased activation in the medial frontal cortex beneath the anode; showing a positive correlation with consolidated working memory performance 24 h post-stimulation. There was reduced activation in the left cerebellum in the transcranial direct current stimulation group, with no change in the middle frontal gyrus or parietal cortices. Improved performance on the executive function task was associated with reduced activity in the anterior cingulate cortex. Transcranial direct current stimulation modulated functional activation in local task-related regions, and in more distal nodes in the network. Transcranial direct current stimulation offers a potential novel approach to altering frontal cortical activity and exerting pro-cognitive effects in schizophrenia.

Letter to the Editor

BackgroundAutism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disease which has risen to become the main cause of childhood disability, placing a heavy burden on families and society. To date, the treatment of patients with ASD remains a complicated problem, for which neuromodulation techniques are a promising solution. This study analyzed the global research situation of neuromodulation techniques in the treatment of ASD from 1992 to 2022, aiming to explore the global research status and frontier trends in this field.MethodsThe Web of Science (WoS) was searched for literature related to neuromodulation techniques for ASD from 1992 to October 2022. A knowledge atlas to analyze collaboration among countries, institutions, authors, publishing journals, reference co-citation patterns, keyword co-occurrence, keyword clustering, and burst keywords was constructed using Rstudio software, CiteSpace, and VOSviewer.ResultsIn total, 392 publications related to the treatment of ASD using neuromodulation techniques were included. Despite some fluctuations, the number of publications in this field has shown a growing trend in recent years. The United States and Deakin University are the leading country and institution in this field, respectively. The greatest contributing authors are Peter G Enticott, Manuel F Casanova, and Paul B Fitzgerald et al. The most prolific and cited journal is Brain Stimulation and the most commonly co-cited journal is The Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. The most frequently cited article was that of Simone Rossi (Safety, ethical considerations, and application guidelines for the use of transverse magnetic stimulation in clinical practice and research, 2009). “Obsessive–compulsive disorder,” “transcranial direct current stimulation,” “working memory,” “double blind” and “adolescent” were identified as hotspots and frontier trends of neuromodulation techniques in the treatment of ASD.ConclusionThe application of neuromodulation techniques for ASD has attracted the attention of researchers worldwide. Restoring the social ability and improving the comorbid symptoms in autistic children and adults have always been the focus of research. Neuromodulation techniques have demonstrated significant advantages and effects on these issues. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) are new therapeutic methods introduced in recent years, and are also directions for further exploration.

Introduction. Migraine is a public health problem of great impact on patients as well as society. Migraine prophylaxis requires daily administration of anti-migraine compounds whether or not migraine attack is occurring. All the drugs used for migraine prevention have potential and often relevant adverse effect or contraindications. The purpose of present study was to evaluate efficacy of non-pharmacological management techniques like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (TDCS) on headache related disability and impact of headaches on life of patients suffering from migraine. Methodology. Sixty six subjects fulfilling the selection criteria were recruited for the study. They were randomly allocated into three groups. Group one received TDCS, Group 2 received CBT, and Group 3 (Control group) did not receive any treatment. Participants were asked to fi ll HDI and HIT 6 prior to start of intervention, post intervention and at follow up. Collected data was analyzed for statistical significance. Results. We found a significant decrease in HDI and HIT 6 scores in TDCS and CBT Group as compared to Control Group. This improvement was maintained during follow up period. Conclusion. TDCS and CBT can be effective in decreasing headache related disability and impact of headache on daily life in patients suffering from Migraine.

Neuromodulatory techniques in eating disorders: From electroconvulsive therapy to transcranial magnetic stimulation and beyond: A mixed method systematic meta-review.

Background: Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is characterized by obsessive preoccupation with perceived physical flaws, often unnoticed by others. This preoccupation causes significant emotional distress, social withdrawal, and functional impairment. Recent advancements emphasize the importance of integrating neurobiological and behavioral perspectives in understanding BDD. Objective: This review synthesizes findings from neuroscience and behavioral psychology to examine the brain-behavior relationship in BDD and explores implications for treatment strategies. Methods: A narrative synthesis of current literature, including neuroimaging, neurochemical studies, and behavioral research, was conducted. Evidence from clinical trials on pharmacological treatments, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and neuromodulation techniques was analyzed. Results: Neuroimaging studies reveal hyperactivity in the orbitofrontal cortex, amygdala, and fusiform gyrus, contributing to obsessive thoughts, heightened emotional responses, and distorted visual processing. Neurochemical imbalances, particularly in serotonin, dopamine, and gamma-aminobutyric acid systems, perpetuate cognitive distortions and compulsive behaviors. Cognitive patterns, including selective attention to perceived flaws, catastrophic thinking, and overestimation of others’ judgments, interact with maladaptive behaviors such as mirror checking, avoidance, and reassurance-seeking. Integrated treatments, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and transcranial magnetic stimulation, address these interconnected mechanisms effectively. Conclusion: BDD arises from a complex interaction between neurobiological dysfunction, cognitive distortions, and maladaptive behaviors. Effective treatment requires a multidisciplinary approach targeting these domains. Future research should focus on longitudinal brain plasticity studies, sex differences, and optimized neuromodulation protocols to enhance therapeutic outcomes and personalized interventions.

Savant syndrome is a rare and unusual condition that occurs in the presence of severe developmental disabilities, disorders, and injuries. The syndrome can be congenital from birth to childhood or acquired as a result of a brain injury or damage to the central nervous system. There are several findings that indicate that savant syndrome usually occurs with significant brain metabolism alterations resulting in critical brain network changes. These types of changes in the brain are usually explained by the "tyranny of the left hemisphere" theory, which indicates the inhibition of the left hemisphere to allow the right hemisphere to develop savant abilities. Another way to temporarily simulate these types of changes in the brain can be through different neuromodulation techniques such as transcranial magnetic stimulation and transcranial direct current stimulation. Such neuromodulation techniques might help us discover the "hidden talent" potential through modulating the brain network metabolism. We herein discussed the types of savant syndrome along with its relation to specific neurometabolic network alterations. Furthermore, we provide a perspective on how newly developed neuromodulation and cognitive rehabilitation techniques can help simulate savant syndrome in healthy individuals through modulating the brain network activity.