Can lithium salts prevent depressive episodes in the real world?
To critically examine the effectiveness of lithium in preventing depressive symptoms (mixed and depressive episodes) in real life settings, taking into account adherence to drug treatment and its implications for the clinical costs of the disease. Overall, 72 patients with bipolar disorder initially treated with lithium carbonate were included and followed-up for 10 years. Patients were assessed every 8 weeks for morbidity and alcohol/drug consumption. Patients with good adherence to lithium had fewer episodes with depressive features than poor adherers (B = 2.405, p = 0.046) and also fewer manic and hypomanic epi...
Source: European Neuropsychopharmacology - September 20, 2018 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Ana Gonz ález-Pinto, Purificación López-Peña, Cristina Bermúdez-Ampudia, Eduard Vieta, Mónica Martinez-Cengotitabengoa Source Type: research
Schizophrenia dimension-specific antipsychotic drug action and failure in amphetamine-sensitized psychotic-like rats
Schizophrenia is a neuropsychiatric disorder, causing psychotic, affective and neurocognitive impairments in patients. Even though the etiology of schizophrenia has not yet been fully understood, neurochemical abnormalities involved in the distinct symptom dimensions of the disease have been suggested (Schumann et al., 2014). A striatal dopamine (DA) hyper-function is considered as the most prominent alteration (Baumeister& Francis, 2002), causing the psychotic symptoms of the disease (Kapur et al., 2005). (Source: European Neuropsychopharmacology)
Source: European Neuropsychopharmacology - September 19, 2018 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Taygun C. Uzuneser, Magnus Schindeh ütte, Ekrem Dere, Stephan von Hörsten, Johannes Kornhuber, Teja W. Grömer, Christian P. Müller Source Type: research
An fMRI study of decision-making under sunk costs in gambling disorder
The sunk cost effect is the tendency to continue an investment, or take an action, even though it has higher future costs than benefits, if costs of time, money, or effort were previously incurred. This type of decision bias is pervasive in real life and has been studied in various disciplines. Previous studies and clinical observations suggest that decision-making under sunk costs is altered in gambling disorder (GD). However, the neural mechanisms of decision-making under sunk costs in GD remain largely unknown, and so is their association with the clinical characteristics of this patient group. (Source: European Neuropsychopharmacology)
Source: European Neuropsychopharmacology - September 19, 2018 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Junya Fujino, Ryosaku Kawada, Kosuke Tsurumi, Hideaki Takeuchi, Takuro Murao, Ariyoshi Takemura, Shisei Tei, Toshiya Murai, Hidehiko Takahashi Source Type: research
CB1 receptors in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus modulate the release of 5-HT and GABA to stimulate food intake in rats
Endocannabinoids and their receptors not only contribute to the control of natural processes of appetite regulation and energy balance but also have an important role in the pathogenesis of obesity. CB1 receptors (CB1R) are expressed in several hypothalamic nuclei, including the paraventricular nucleus (PVN), where induce potent orexigenic responses. Activation of CB1R in the PVN induces hyperphagia by modulating directly or indirectly orexigenic and anorexigenic signals; however, interaction among these mediators has not been clearly defined. (Source: European Neuropsychopharmacology)
Source: European Neuropsychopharmacology - September 11, 2018 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Ana Mar ía Cruz-Martínez, Juan Gabriel Tejas-Juárez, Juan Manuel Mancilla-Díaz, Benjamín Florán-Garduño, Verónica Elsa López-Alonso, Rodrigo Erick Escartín-Pérez Source Type: research
Nicotine improves probabilistic reward learning in wildtype but not alpha7 nAChR null mutants, yet alpha7 nAChR agonists do not improve probabilistic learning
Cognitive impairments, e.g., reward learning, are present in various psychiatric disorders and warrant treatment. Improving reward-related learning could synergistically enhance psychosocial treatments and cognition generally. A critical first step is to understand the mechanisms underlying reward learning. The dopamine system has been implicated in such learning, but less known is how indirect activation of this system may affect reward learning. We determined the role of alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR) on a probabilistic reversal learning task (PRLT) in mice that includes reward and punishment. (Source: ...
Source: European Neuropsychopharmacology - September 11, 2018 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Morgane Milienne-Petiot, Kerin K Higa, Andrea Grim, Debbie Deben, Lucianne Groenink, Elizabeth W. Twamley, Mark A. Geyer, Jared W. Young Source Type: research
Effects of high-dose baclofen on cue reactivity in alcohol dependence: A randomized, placebo-controlled pharmaco-fMRI study
Increased functional brain response towards alcohol-associated stimuli is a neural hallmark of alcohol dependence and a promising target for pharmacotherapy. For the first time, we assessed the effects of individually titrated high-dose baclofen on cue reactivity and functional connectivity in alcohol-dependent (AD) patients in a randomized controlled trial (RCT).We investigated 23 recently detoxified AD patients and 23 matched healthy controls (HC) with a cue reactivity functional magnetic resonance imaging task. (Source: European Neuropsychopharmacology)
Source: European Neuropsychopharmacology - September 11, 2018 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Anne Beck, Patricia Pelz, Robert C. Lorenz, Katrin Charlet, Olga Geisel, Andreas Heinz, Torsten W üstenberg, Christian A. Müller Source Type: research
Rapid acquisition of dynamic control over DLPFC using real-time fMRI feedback
It has been postulated that gaining control over activity in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), a key region of the working memory brain network, may be beneficial for cognitive performance and treatment of certain psychiatric disorders. Several studies have reported that, with neurofeedback training, subjects can learn to increase DLPFC activity. However, improvement of dynamic control in terms of switching between low and high activity in DLPFC brain states may potentially constitute more effective self-regulation. (Source: European Neuropsychopharmacology)
Source: European Neuropsychopharmacology - September 11, 2018 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Max Alexander Van den Boom, Johan Martijn Jansma, Nick Franciscus Ramsey Source Type: research
Saliva oxytocin, cortisol, and testosterone levels in adolescent boys with autism spectrum disorder, oppositional defiant disorder/conduct disorder and typically developing individuals
The aim of the current study was to compare levels of oxytocin, cortisol, and testosterone in adolescents with either autism spectrum disorder (ASD), or oppositional defiant disorder (ODD)/conduct disorder (CD), and in typically developing individuals (TDI), and relate hormone levels to severity and subtype of aggression and callous-unemotional (CU) traits. Saliva concentrations of oxytocin, cortisol, and testosterone were assessed in 114 male participants (N = 49 ASD, N = 37 ODD/CD, N = 28 TDI,) aged 12–19 years (M = 15.4 years, SD = 1.9). (Source: European Neuropsychopharmacology)
Source: European Neuropsychopharmacology - September 7, 2018 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: M.J. Bakker-Huvenaars, C.U. Greven, P. Herpers, E. Wiegers, A. Jansen, R. van der Steen, A.E. van Herwaarden, A.N. Baanders, K.S. Nijhof, F. Scheepers, N. Rommelse, J.C. Glennon, J.K. Buitelaar Source Type: research
Live fast, die young? A review on the developmental trajectories of ADHD across the lifespan
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is highly heritable and the most common neurodevelopmental disorder in childhood. In recent decades, it has been appreciated that in a substantial number of cases the disorder does not remit in puberty, but persists into adulthood. Both in childhood and adulthood, ADHD is characterised by substantial comorbidity including substance use, depression, anxiety, and accidents. However, course and symptoms of the disorder and the comorbidities may fluctuate and change over time, and even age of onset in childhood has recently been questioned. (Source: European Neuropsychopharmacology)
Source: European Neuropsychopharmacology - September 6, 2018 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Barbara Franke, Giorgia Michelini, Philip Asherson, Tobias Banaschewski, Andrea Bilbow, Jan K. Buitelaar, Bru Cormand, Stephen V. Faraone, Ylva Ginsberg, Jan Haavik, Jonna Kuntsi, Henrik Larsson, Klaus-Peter Lesch, J. Antoni Ramos-Quiroga, J ános M. Rét Tags: Review Source Type: research
The need for paediatric registries to assess long-term brain effects of psychotropic medications: The case of bipolar disorder
Every time that a new compound is approved for paediatric use, the issue arises of long-term safety in a developing brain (and body). Critical issues that require long-term assessments in the adolescent population include cognitive performance, sexual dysfunction (including fertility), and height. Most psychiatric conditions develop in adolescence (Paus et al., 2008), and the most severe require medication, usually for long periods of time. In this age group, the developing brain may be especially vulnerable to the effects of psychotropic drugs. (Source: European Neuropsychopharmacology)
Source: European Neuropsychopharmacology - September 4, 2018 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Eduard Vieta, Celso Arango, A. John Rush Source Type: research
Editorial Board
(Source: European Neuropsychopharmacology)
Source: European Neuropsychopharmacology - September 1, 2018 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research
ECNP Calendar of Meetings
(Source: European Neuropsychopharmacology)
Source: European Neuropsychopharmacology - September 1, 2018 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research
Neurological soft signs in bipolar disorder in comparison to healthy controls and schizophrenia: A meta-analysis
Neurological soft signs (NSS) are subtle deficits in motor coordination, sensory integration, and sequencing of complex motor acts. Increased NSS is a well-established feature of patients with schizophrenia but a relatively smaller number of studies have investigated NSS in bipolar disorder (BD). Some authors but not others suggested that NSS can distinguish schizophrenia from BD. We conducted a meta-analysis of 18 studies to quantitatively review NSS in BD in comparison to schizophrenia and healthy controls. (Source: European Neuropsychopharmacology)
Source: European Neuropsychopharmacology - August 28, 2018 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Emre Bora, Özge Akgül, Deniz Ceylan, Ayşegül Özerdem Tags: REVIEW Source Type: research
Psychotropic drugs use and psychotropic polypharmacy among persons with Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease and the most common cause of dementia. AD is characterized by a decline in memory, language, problem solving and other cognitive skills that affects a person's ability to perform in activities in daily life (Alzheimer's Association, 2016). (Source: European Neuropsychopharmacology)
Source: European Neuropsychopharmacology - August 25, 2018 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Kim Orsel, Heidi Taipale, Anna-Maija Tolppanen, Marjaana Koponen, Antti Tanskanen, Jari Tiihonen, Helga Gardarsdottir, Sirpa Hartikainen Source Type: research
Loratadine augments emotional blushing
The aim of this study was to determine whether loratadine, a selective inverse agonist of peripheral histamine H1 receptors, would reduce emotional blushing. Loratadine (10 mg) or placebo was administered orally one hour before 31 healthy participants sang a children's nursery rhyme to evoke embarrassment and blushing. Skin blood flow was monitored via a laser Doppler probe attached to the cheek. Increases in facial blood flow while participants sang were greater in the loratadine than the placebo group (mean increase ± standard deviation 71 ± 52% in the loratadine group versus 35 ± 37%, p = .036). (S...
Source: European Neuropsychopharmacology - August 25, 2018 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Peter D. Drummond, Bronwyn Lester Tags: SHORT COMMUNICATION Source Type: research
