Prevalence Of Psychiatric Disorders Research Articles

Prevalence of substance use among a sample of patients attending an outpatient psychiatric clinic in Amman, Jordan.

The issue of substance use is increasingly being recognised as a significant global public health concern. In relation to its influence in the Arab world, scholarly investigation continues to be regarded as relatively constrained in scope. We aimed to investigate the prevalence of substance use among patients with psychiatric disorders, as well as the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of this patient population. This cross-sectional study included 671 patients with psychiatric disorders who attended an outpatient private psychiatric clinic in Amman, Jordan, between January and May 2023. We compared the demographic and clinical characteristics of substance-using and non-substance-using patients. Bivariate and multiple binary logistic regression analyses were used to investigate factors associated with substance use. The patients were aged 20-80years, with a mean age of 32.45 ± 10.18years. Most patients were men, more than half were single and unemployed, and mood disorders were the most prevalent psychiatric disorder. Male sex, a younger age, lower educational attainment, current unemployment, and having a family history of substance use were associated with substance use. Substance users exhibited a higher propensity for engaging in self-harming behaviours, having medical conditions, and being subjected to emotional trauma. This study found that patients with psychiatric disorders are vulnerable to experiencing substance use. Clinicians should contemplate directing their attention towards patients as a strategy to proactively address the issue of emerging substance use and enhance overall treatment outcomes.

Development of a Symptom Validity Index for the Beck Anxiety Inventory

Objective: Anxiety disorders are the most prevalent psychiatric disorders experienced by individuals in the United States, and anxiety is often assessed with anxiety symptom inventories. At present, though, there are no anxiety symptom inventories that include symptom validity indices. The present study sought to develop a symptom validity index for the most commonly used anxiety symptom inventory in neuropsychological practice, the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). Method: A sample of 244 veterans seeking outpatient neuropsychological assessments were included in the study. Participants were divided into valid and invalid groups based on external criterion symptom validity tests. The valid participants were then divided into clinical subgroups (Current Anxiety, Lifetime Anxiety, and No Anxiety). A validity index derived from the BAI total score was examined for the total sample and all subgroups. Results: A cutoff of ≥ 29 was identified when utilizing the Valid Full Sample, which resulted in a 0.91 specificity rate and 0.54 sensitivity rate. However, cutoffs had to be adjusted when applied to the clinical subgroups. The Valid Current Anxiety subgroup required the largest cutoff increase (i.e. ≥ 36), which resulted in a 0.91 specificity rate and a 0.42 sensitivity rate. Conclusions: This is the first published article to develop a symptom validity index for the BAI. To minimize false positive errors, a BAI total score of ≥ 36 is recommended.

Addressing treatment hurdles in adults with late-onset attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a detailed case report

BackgroundAttention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most prevalent psychiatric disorder in children, characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. This neurobehavioral disorder often persists into adulthood, presenting significant challenges when undiagnosed and untreated, due to potential long-term implications and comorbidities, including anxiety, mood instability, and mixed symptoms along the bipolar spectrum.Case presentationA 49-year-old married male patient presented with anxiety and recurrent depressive episodes, initially diagnosed as major depressive disorder. His mood symptoms fluctuated between depressive lows, irritability, and impulsivity. His diagnosis was revised to ADHD with comorbid bipolar spectrum disorder. The patient exhibited lifelong ADHD symptoms affecting academic performance, relationships, and job responsibilities. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) was employed to manage symptoms and enhance coping strategies. Despite progress in controlling anger and impulsivity, challenges persisted in inhibitory control and negative triggers, causing impulsive decisions. The patient reported a restless mind, depressive mood, and a sense of inadequacy. Improvements were noted in anxiety regulation, concentration, and sleep quality, though deficits in cognitive and behavioral domains remained. The patient faced challenges in academic performance, information processing speed, attention, and executive functions.ConclusionThis case underscores the importance of accurately diagnosing ADHD and its comorbidities in adults to ensure effective treatment. Delayed diagnosis can have lasting impacts, emphasizing the need for further research and personalized therapeutic approaches. The insights from this case serve as a valuable resource for healthcare professionals enhancing their understanding of the diverse manifestations of ADHD, aiding in better diagnosis and management strategies.

Genetic overlap between major depressive disorder and obstructive sleep apnea

ObjectiveObservational studies have frequently shown a co-occurrence of psychiatric disorders and Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), with major depressive disorder (MDD) being a prevalent psychiatric disorder. This study aims to investigate the genetic overlap between MDD and OSA to explore their underlying pathological mechanisms.MethodsLeveraging the extensive and recent GWAS for OSA and MDD, we conducted genetic correlation analyses utilizing Linkage disequilibrium score regression (LDSC), re-evaluated their pleiotropic Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) with Cross-Phenotype Association (CPASSOC) and Colocalization (COLOC), investigated the overlap at the gene level using physical annotations and Multi-marker Analysis of GenoMic Annotation (MAGMA), and finally employed Mendelian randomization (MR) to assess potential causal relationships between the two disorders.ResultsUpon our investigation, we established that MDD and OSA exhibit high heritability (h2MDD=0.02, h2OSA=0.04) alongside a significant genetic correlation (rg=0.31, P= 1.42E-23). Utilizing CPASSOC, we identified 397 pleiotropic SNPs, associable with 45 loci, two of which share common genetic fragments with a pleiotropic role. Furthermore, the MAGMA study uncovered a total of 154 pleiotropic genes capable of influencing multiple brain regions. Lastly, leveraging MR analysis, we concluded that MDD heightens the risk of developing OSA (P=3. 10E-04, OR (95%CI):1.28(1.12~ 1.47)).ConclusionIn summary, our study identified PCLO as a common gene between OSA and MDD and provided evidence that MDD causally contributes to the development of OSA. These insights enhance our understanding of the shared mechanisms underlying the comorbidity of these conditions.

A Review on Exploring the Potential of Vincamine and Melatonin as an Effective Anti-depressant Agent.

Depression is a prevalent psychiatric disorder and one of the leading causes of disability around the world. Herbal and synthetic medications used to treat depression, may interrupt the therapy process and cause adverse effects. Currently, the use of medicinal and phytochemical plants, which have various therapeutic effects and has potential strategy for treating depression. According to the studies, medicinal plants have a variety of effects on the brain system and have antidepressant properties such as synaptic modulation of serotonin, noradrenalin and dopamine as well as inflammatory mediators. According to the literature review, Vinca Rosea extract has a variety of pharmacological activities, but there is no evidence of its antidepressant properties. The main aim of the present study is to gather data from the literature review regarding the antidepressant activity of vincamine alone and along with melatonin. According to the review antidepressant activity of various medications can be tested using two different types of studies, including in-vivo and in-vitro. Clinical and preclinical research suggests that one of the main mediators in the pathophysiology of depression seems to be stress. Depression can be evaluated using experimental methods based on a variety of physical indicators, including locomotor activity, rearing, faeces, and the quantity of entries in the centre square (in-vivo and in-vitro). Biological conditions can be used to find it as well. It has been successfully concluded that vincamine, either alone or in combination with melatonin, may provide a potential role as an antidepressant. According to the Globe Health Organization, depression will become the most common cause of loss of interest in working in the world. As a result, depression research is one of the most significant ways in which we might create new treatments in the form of vincamine and combination with melatonin for depression and improve existing therapies to make them work better for depressed people. It will also aid in the development and creation of novel ways for the better treatment of depression.

Challenges and Opportunities in Managing Geriatric Depression: The Role of Personalized Medicine and Age-Appropriate Therapeutic Approaches

The global aging population has experienced rapid growth in recent decades, leading to an increased prevalence of psychiatric disorders, particularly depression, among older adults. Depression in the geriatric population is often compounded by chronic physical conditions and various psychosocial factors, significantly impacting their quality of life. The main question raised in this review is as follows: how can personalized medicine and age-appropriate therapeutic approaches improve the management of geriatric depression? This paper explores the epidemiology of geriatric depression, highlighting the influence of gender, race, and socioeconomic status on its prevalence. The classification and diagnosis of geriatric depressive disorders, based on ICD-11 and DSM-5 criteria, reveal the complexity of managing these conditions in older adults. Personalized medicine (PM) emerges as a promising approach, focusing on tailoring treatments to the individual’s genetic, clinical, and environmental characteristics. However, the application of PM in this demographic faces challenges, particularly in the context of pharmaceutical forms. The need for age-appropriate drug delivery systems is critical, given the prevalence of polypharmacy and issues such as dysphagia among the older patients. This study emphasizes the importance of developing patient-centric formulations to enhance the effectiveness of personalized therapy in geriatric patients.

Prevalence of psychiatric disorders among the adult population in a rural community of Jammu, India: a cross-sectional study.

Mental health is crucial for overall well-being, but rural areas often face difficulties in accessing mental health services and understanding psychiatric disorders. This study aimed to address these issues by assessing the prevalence of psychiatric disorders among adults in rural Jammu and examining how socio-cultural and demographic factors are related to these disorders. A sample of 1,016 adults from rural Jammu was surveyed using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI). Data were collected through house-to-house visits conducted by trained investigators. Descriptive and inferential statistics, including frequency distribution and odds ratio, were employed to analyze the data respectively. Overall, 20.67% of the participants had a psychiatric disorder. Alcohol dependence was the most common condition, affecting 12.30% of the individuals, followed by generalized anxiety disorder at 3.14%. The study found significant associations between psychiatric disorders and several factors. Specifically, older people were more likely to have psychiatric disorders, with an odds ratio of 3.7 [2.07-6.59]. Married individuals also had a higher likelihood of experiencing psychiatric disorders (OR: 2.3 [1.55-3.54]). Those with less schooling were at an increased risk, with an odds ratio of 7.77 [2.31-26.09], and people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds were more likely to have these disorders as well (OR: 5.1 [2.4-10.5]). The findings underscore the complex association between socio-demographic factors and mental health outcomes in rural areas of Jammu region. Addressing these disparities requires targeted interventions and policies that account for the unique socio-cultural contexts of rural populations. By understanding the specific challenges faced by these communities, policymakers and healthcare providers can develop more effective strategies to enhance mental health services and promote well-being.

Unraveling the brain dynamics of Depersonalization-Derealization Disorder: a dynamic functional network connectivity analysis

BackgroundDepersonalization-Derealization Disorder (DPD), a prevalent psychiatric disorder, fundamentally disrupts self-consciousness and could significantly impact the quality of life of those affected. While existing research has provided foundational insights for this disorder, the limited exploration of brain dynamics in DPD hinders a deeper understanding of its mechanisms. It restricts the advancement of diagnosis and treatment strategies. To address this, our study aimed to explore the brain dynamics of DPD.MethodsIn our study, we recruited 84 right-handed DPD patients and 67 healthy controls (HCs), assessing them using the Cambridge Depersonalization Scale and a subliminal self-face recognition task. We also conducted a Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) intervention to understand its effect on brain dynamics, evidenced by Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) scans. Our data preprocessing and analysis employed techniques such as Independent Component Analysis (ICA) and Dynamic Functional Network Connectivity (dFNC) to establish a comprehensive disease atlas for DPD. We compared the brain's dynamic states between DPDs and HCs using ANACOVA tests, assessed correlations with patient experiences and symptomatology through Spearman correlation analysis, and examined the tDCS effect via paired t-tests.ResultsWe identified distinct brain networks corresponding to the Frontoparietal Network (FPN), the Sensorimotor Network (SMN), and the Default Mode Network (DMN) in DPD using group Independent Component Analysis (ICA). Additionally, we discovered four distinct dFNC states, with State-1 displaying significant differences between DPD and HC groups (F = 4.10, P = 0.045). Correlation analysis revealed negative associations between the dwell time of State-2 and various clinical assessment factors. Post-tDCS analysis showed a significant change in the mean dwell time for State-2 in responders (t-statistic = 4.506, P = 0.046), consistent with previous clinical assessments.ConclusionsOur study suggests the brain dynamics of DPD could be a potential biomarker for diagnosis and symptom analysis, which potentially leads to more personalized and effective treatment strategies for DPD patients.Trial registrationsThe trial was registered at the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry on 03/01/2021 (Registration number: ChiCTR2100041741, https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=66731) before the trial.

The Association and Prognostic Implications of Long Non-Coding RNAs in Major Psychiatric Disorders, Alzheimer's Diseases and Parkinson's Diseases: A Systematic Review.

The prevalence of psychiatric disorders and neurodegenerative diseases is steadily increasing, placing a significant burden on both society and individuals. Given the intricate and multifaceted nature of these diseases, the precise underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Consequently, there is an increasing imperative to investigate the mechanisms, identify specific target sites for effective treatment, and provide for accurate diagnosis of patients with these diseases. Numerous studies have revealed significant alterations in the expression of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in psychiatric disorders and neurodegenerative diseases, suggesting their potential to increase the probability of these diseases. Moreover, these findings propose that lncRNAs could be used as highly valuable biomarkers in diagnosing and treating these diseases, thereby offering novel insights for future clinical interventions. The review presents a comprehensive summary of the origin, biological functions, and action mechanisms of lncRNAs, while exploring their implications in the pathogenesis of psychiatric disorders and neurodegenerative diseases and their potential utility as biomarkers.

Contrastive Functional Connectivity Defines Neurophysiology-informed Symptom Dimensions in Major Depression.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a prevalent psychiatric disorder characterized by substantial clinical and neurobiological heterogeneity. Conventional studies that solely focus on clinical symptoms or neuroimaging metrics often fail to capture the intricate relationship between these modalities, limiting their ability to disentangle the complexity in MDD. Moreover, patient neuroimaging data typically contains normal sources of variance shared with healthy controls, which can obscure disorder-specific variance and complicate the delineation of disease heterogeneity. We employed contrastive principal component analysis to extract disorder-specific variations in fMRI-based resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) by contrasting MDD patients (N=233) with age-matched healthy controls (N=285). We then applied sparse canonical correlation analysis to identify latent dimensions in the disorder variations by linking the extracted contrastive connectivity features to clinical symptoms in MDD patients. Two significant and generalizable dimensions linking distinct brain circuits and clinical profiles were discovered. The first dimension, associated with an apparent "internalizing-externalizing" symptom dimension, was characterized by self-connections within the visual network and also associated with choice reaction times of cognitive tasks. The second dimension, associated with personality facets such as extraversion and conscientiousness typically inversely associated with depression symptoms, is primarily driven by self-connections within the dorsal attention network. This "depression-protective personality" dimension is also associated with multiple cognitive task performances related to psychomotor slowing and cognitive control. Our contrastive RSFC-based dimensional approach offers a new avenue to dissect clinical heterogeneity underlying MDD. By identifying two stable, neurophysiology-informed symptom dimensions in MDD patients, our findings may enhance disease mechanism insights and facilitate precision phenotyping, thus advancing the development of targeted therapeutics for precision mental health.

Proactive Psychiatric Consultation and Hospital Length of Stay in Adults: A Review of the Literature

According to a 2022 systematic review on the prevalence of psychiatric disorders in general hospitals, it was estimated that approximately one-third of medical inpatients present with a coinciding psychiatric condition. However, other studies have reported that a low rate of patients actually obtain an inpatient psychiatric consult; and even fewer patients receive a consultation when it would not be traditionally indicated. Therefore, we have seen an emergence of the use of Proactive Consultation-Liaison (C-L) Psychiatry across many hospital settings. This model of care utilizes systematic screening for active mental health concerns, proactive interventions tailored to individual patients, team-based delivery, and care integration with primary services to provide psychiatric consultation earlier. This study conducted a focused PubMed search to review the research to date on proactive C-L psychiatry and its impact on hospital length of stay (LOS) in patients over 18 years old. Results show a consequential reduction in average hospital LOS when proactive C-L psychiatry services are used compared to reactive, on-request consultation services. A shortened LOS is seen with this practice when there is a quicker time for consultation or referral. Thus, there is evidence of proactive C-L psychiatry’s success in decreasing average hospital LOS and improving patient care. Additional studies are necessary to determine its significance, as little research to date has been completed on the topic. It is recommended to expand the scope of investigation to different patient populations, including but not limited to pediatrics and patients without an underlying mental health illness.

Sociodemographic Characteristics Of Rural And Urban School-Going Children With Behavioral And Emotional Disorders

Background: The prevalence of behavioral and emotional disorders among school-going children is a significant public health concern, particularly in developing countries like Bangladesh. This study aimed to explore the socio-demographic characteristics influencing these disorders in rural and urban settings in the Meherpur District of Bangladesh. Methods: This cross-sectional, descriptive, and analytical study was conducted from January 2007 to December 2009, involving 435 school-going children aged 5 to 18 years from both rural (n=214) and urban (n=221) areas of Meherpur District. Participants were selected through purposive sampling, and data were collected using the Development and Well-being Assessment (DAWBA) tool, validated in Bangla, to diagnose emotional and behavioral disorders based on ICD-10 criteria. Results: The study found significant disparities in socio-demographic factors between rural and urban groups. Rural children were more likely to have illiterate parents, with 37.85% of fathers and 61.21% of mothers being illiterate. Family income was significantly lower in rural areas, with 94.86% of rural families earning less than 10,000 Tk per month. The prevalence of psychiatric disorders was slightly higher in rural areas (15.89%) compared to urban areas (14.03%). Major depressive disorder was the most common emotional disorder, while hyperkinetic disorder was the most prevalent behavioral disorder, with no significant differences between rural and urban groups. Conclusion: The study highlights the critical role of socio-demographic factors in the prevalence of behavioral and emotional disorders among children in Bangladesh. The findings suggest a need for targeted interventions in rural areas to address educational and mental health disparities, contributing to more equitable health outcomes.

High Somatization Rates, Frequent Spontaneous Recovery, and a Lack of Organic Biomarkers in Post-Covid-19 Condition.

Many patients report neuropsychiatric symptoms after SARS-CoV-2 infection. Data on prevalence of post-COVID-19 condition (PCC) vary due to the lack of specific diagnostic criteria, the report of unspecific symptoms, and reliable biomarkers. PCC patients seen in a neurological outpatient department were followed for up to 18 months. Neurological examination, SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, Epstein-Barr virus antibodies, and cortisol levels as possible biomarkers, questionnaires to evaluate neuropsychiatric symptoms and somatization (Patient Health Questionnaires D [PHQ-D]), cognition deficits (Montreal Cognitive Assessment [MoCA]), sleep disorders (ISS, Epworth Sleepiness Scale [ESS]), and fatigue (FSS) were included. A total of 175 consecutive patients (78% females, median age 42 years) were seen between May 2021 and February 2023. Fatigue, subjective stress intolerance, and subjective cognitive deficits were the most common symptoms. Specific scores were positive for fatigue, insomnia, and sleepiness and were present in 95%, 62.1%, and 44.0%, respectively. Cognitive deficits were found in 2.3%. Signs of somatization were identified in 61%, who also had an average of two symptoms more than patients without somatization. Overall, 28% had a psychiatric disorder, including depression and anxiety. At the second visit (n=92), fatigue (67.3%) and insomnia (45.5%) had decreased. At visit three (n=43), symptom load had decreased in 76.8%; overall, 51.2% of patients were symptom-free. Biomarker testing did not confirm an anti-EBV response. SARS-CoV-2-specific immune reactions increased over time, and cortisol levels were within the physiological range. Despite high initial symptom load, 76.8% improved over time. The prevalence of somatization and psychiatric disorders was high. Our data do not confirm the role of previously suggested biomarkers in PCC patients.

Differential prevalence of psychiatric disorders and mental health characteristics associated with lifetime suicide attempts in the Asian American and Pacific Islander adult population

BackgroundAsian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) adults are an understudied group in terms of their mental health and mental healthcare needs. This has been complicated by the difficulty of recruiting adequate national samples of AAPI adults for research. ObjectiveThis study aimed to analyze national data to examine the lifetime prevalence of major psychiatric disorders among AAPI adults relative to non-AAPI adults, as well as to identify and compare sociodemographic and clinical characteristics associated with lifetime suicide attempts among AAPI and non-AAPI adults. MethodsCross-sectional data on 36,109 adults, including 1801 AAPI adults, from the National Epidemiological Survey of Alcohol and Related Conditions-III (NESARC-III), were analyzed with a series of chi-square and logistic regression analyses. ResultsWe found a significantly lower lifetime prevalence of mental health disorders in the AAPI versus the non-AAPI population nationally, including 2% of AAPI adults reporting lifetime suicide attempts as compared to about 5% of non-AAPI adults. Female sex and a history of major depressive disorder diagnosis were associated with lifetime suicide attempts in the AAPI and non-AAPI populations. Several unique factors were associated with having a history of suicide attempts in only the AAPI population, including a military service history and a diagnosis of panic disorder. DiscussionOur analysis demonstrated the significant sectors of the AAPI population that merit research, support, and intervention, including the AAPI veteran population. This study identifies several characteristics among AAPI adults that may make them particularly vulnerable to psychiatric problems and suicide risk, which may inform targeted prevention and efforts to provide culturally competent care to this population.

Association between retinal nerve fiber layer thickness and psychiatric disorders: a mendelian randomization study

BackgroundRetinal nerve fiber layer thickness, as a new visual indicator that may help diagnose mental disorders, is gaining attention from researchers. However, the causal relationship between retinal nerve fiber layer thickness and mental disorders is still to be effectively proved.MethodsA bidirectional Two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis was utilized to analyse aggregated data from large-scale genome-wide association studies, we selected genetic loci for retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in independent retinal abnormalities and three prevalent psychiatric disorders (schizophrenia, depression, bipolar disorder) as instrumental variables. The Two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis was mainly performed by inverse variance weighting and weighted median method. The Cochran Q test and leave-one-out sensitivity were used to ensure the robustness of the results. The Mendelian random polymorphism residuals and outliers were used to detect single nucleotide polymorphism outliers, and MR-Egger intercept test was used to test single nucleotide polymorphism horizontal pleiotropy.ResultsIVW showed that retinal nerve fiber layer thickness was positively associated with schizophrenia (OR = 1.057, 95%CI: 1.000-1.117, P < 0.05), in the study of bipolar disorder, MR analysis also suggested a positive causal relationship between retinal nerve fiber layer thickness and bipolar disorder (OR = 1.025, 95%CI: 1.005–1.046, P < 0.05), which indicated possible causal relationships between retinal nerve fiber layer thickness and these two diseases. Depression (OR = 1.000143, 95%CI: 0.9992631–1.001024, P = 0.74) indicated no significant causal association. No reverse causal effects of psychiatric disorders on retinal nerve fiber layer thickness were found.ConclusionsA statistically significant causal relationship between retinal nerve fiber layer thickness and schizophrenia and bipolar disorder has been supported by genetic means, indicating RNFL has potential to aid in the diagnosis of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

Electroencephalographic changes in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

BackgroundAttention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most prevalent psychiatric disorder in children who experience delayed language development. This work aimed to study electroencephalographic (EEG) changes in children with ADHD and establish a strategy for prompt identification and suitable management in the future.MethodsThis descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 100 children aged between 5 and 12 years old, both sexes, diagnosed with ADHD according to DSM-V Criteria, diagnosed as ADHD children with the Arabic version of Conner’s Parent Rating Scale. Psychometric evaluation by intelligence quotient (IQ) using Stanford Binet Intelligence test. The Receptive Expressive Arabic Language Scale was used to assess language profile.ResultsThere was a significant negative correlation between the severity of ADHD and IQ scores. There was an insignificant negative correlation between ADHD and scaled receptive language score and scaled expressive language score. There was an insignificant positive correlation between ADHD and scaled expressive language score. There was a significant difference between EEG changes and combined subtype of ADHD and scaled score of receptive language (P < 0.05). There was an insignificant difference between (EEG changes and language development), the scaled score of expressive, total language, and the scaled score of language.ConclusionsEEG has clinical utility in the diagnosis of ADHD. The results of EEG analysis in children with ADHD have been quite important, and this novel methodology could offer supplementary factors to strengthen its diagnostic impact.

Investigation the effect of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) training on stigma and family functioning in family members of patients with psychiatric disorders: a randomized controlled clinical trial

BackgroundRegarding the prevalence and pervasiveness of psychiatric disorders, which significantly affect not only the patients themselves, but also their families, family therapy has emerged as a promising intervention. This research examined the effects of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) on stigma and family functioning in family members of patients with psychiatric illnesses, demonstrating effectiveness in improving family functioning and coping strategies in the face of mental illness.MethodsThis randomized controlled clinical trial without blinding. Forty family members of patients with psychiatric disorders were randomly assigned to an intervention group (N = 20) or a control group (N = 20). The intervention group received ACT in eight weekly sessions, each lasting 90 min, while control group remained on a waiting list. Both groups were assessed at three time points: pre-intervention, post-intervention, and at a one-month follow-up. Data collection instruments included a demographic information questionnaire, a stigma assessment, and a family functioning measure. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 23.ResultsA statistically significant difference was observed between the mean post-test and follow-up stigma scores of the intervention and control groups (P < 0.05). The intervention group’s mean scores showed a rising trend, whereas the control group’s mean scores showed a declining trend. This was evident from within-group comparisons of the mean post-test and follow-up stigma scores. Repeated measures ANOVA indicated that the pattern of change in stigma for the intervention group was significant, in contrast to control group, suggesting a reduction in stigma (P < 0.001).ConclusionIn light of the findings presented in this study, ACT emerges as a promising intervention for mitigating stigma, and enhancing the family functioning of individuals afflicted with mental disorders. To improve the generalizability of the study results, comparable studies using this therapy method should be undertaken on family caregivers of patients with mental illnesses.Iranian Registry of Clinical TrialsIRCT registration number: IRCT20190917044802N10.Registration date14/9/2023.

Depression detection based on the temporal-spatial-frequency feature fusion of EEG

Depression is a prevalent affective psychiatric disorder projected to be the leading contributor to the world’s disease burden by 2030. Due to its high prevalence and low recognition rate, an objective and effective detection method is urgently needed. Deep learning methods based on electroencephalography (EEG) have shown significant potential in depression detection. However, excessive channels can increase redundancy and computational complexity in EEG, while irrelevant channels may reduce accuracy. Additionally, existing models often overlook the complementarity between the temporal-, spatial-, and frequency-domain features of EEG, limiting their detection capabilities. To address these issues, we propose a method that fuses the temporal, spatial, and frequency domain features of EEG to enhance the detection accuracy while eliminating redundant channels. We introduce an EEG channel selection method based on frequency domain weighting that automatically adjusts the channel weights to select the EEG channels that best capture spatial information across the delta, theta, alpha, beta, and gamma bands, thereby optimizing the extraction of spatial-frequency features. In addition, we designed a multiscale spatiotemporal convolutional attention network to extract the spatiotemporal features of EEG. In this network, the multiscale convolutional attention module enhanced the model’s ability to capture spatial features, whereas the temporal trend-aware self-attention module extracted long-term temporal features by analyzing global correlations across different time points. Experimental results on the MODMA dataset show that our method achieved a 97.24% detection accuracy, surpassing current state-of-the-art models. This study offers a novel approach for constructing depression detection models, providing a foundation for future research and application.

Psychiatric phenotype in neurodevelopmental myoclonus-dystonia is underpinned by abnormality of cerebellar modulation on the cerebral cortex

Psychiatric symptoms are common in neurodevelopmental movement disorders, including some types of dystonia. However, research has mainly focused on motor manifestations and underlying circuits. Myoclonus-dystonia is a rare and homogeneous neurodevelopmental condition serving as an illustrative paradigm of childhood-onset dystonias, associated with psychiatric symptoms. Here, we assessed the prevalence of psychiatric disorders and the severity of depressive symptoms in patients with myoclonus-dystonia and healthy volunteers (HV). Using resting-state functional neuroimaging, we compared the effective connectivity within and among non-motor and motor brain networks between patients and HV. We further explored the hierarchical organization of these networks and examined the relationship between their connectivity and the depressive symptoms. Comparing 19 patients to 25 HV, we found a higher prevalence of anxiety disorders and more depressive symptoms in the patient group. Patients exhibited abnormal modulation of the cerebellum on the cerebral cortex in the sensorimotor, dorsal attention, salience, and default mode networks. Moreover, the salience network activity was directed by the cerebellum in patients and was related to depressive symptoms. Altogether, our findings highlight the role of the cerebellar drive on both motor and non-motor cortical areas in this disorder, suggesting cerebellar involvement in the complex phenotype of such neurodevelopmental movement disorders.

Psychiatric disorder and life-event in self harm: A cross-sectional study among clinical population in Bangladesh

BackgroundMental illness is an important risk factor for self-harm behavior. However, the association between self-harm behavior and psychiatric disorders has been poorly studied in Bangladesh. AimsTo determine the prevalence of psychiatric disorders and life-events among patients with a self harm behavior. MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted between March 2022 and November 2023. We collected data from 100 patients with self harms from two tertiary care hospital of Dhaka by semi-structured interviews. ResultsOf the 100 cases, 72 were females, 63 % came from semi-urban background. Hanging was the commonest method (31 %) followed cutting and piercing instrument (22 %), and ingestion of Benzodiazepines (20 %). Among the cases, 71 % had at least one psychiatric disorder (Axis I 49 % and Axis II 35 %). In case of life events, 52 % had life-events within immediate 48 h, 15 % in the last one month and 17 % in the last year. Family conflict (30 %) was the commonest risk factor and increased argument with resident family members (38 %) was the commonest life event. ConclusionsThis study revealed a similar proportion of psychiatric disorders revealed in previous studies among suicide attempts. It also unveiled life events in suicide attempts indicating a potential role of life events in suicide attempts in Bangladesh. However, a prudential interpretation is warranted while considering the study results as it was conducted among clinical samples.