Depression and physical comorbidities: an integrated review of challenges and treatment approaches.

Depression is a highly prevalent and debilitating condition that frequently coexists with various physical illnesses, including cardiovascular, metabolic, neurological, oncological, pulmonary, and gastrointestinal diseases. This bidirectional relationship complicates diagnosis, exacerbates disease burden, and negatively impacts clinical outcomes, quality of life, and treatment adherence. The underlying mechanisms involve neuroinflammation, autonomic dysfunction, metabolic dysregulation, and behavioral factors.

Valproate-Enhanced Protocols for Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome: A Brief Review and Retrospective Study of Efficacy and the Ability to Reduce Benzodiazepine Use.

Although benzodiazepines are the first-line treatment for alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS), their use may pose significant risks, including oversedation and the potential for misuse, particularly in vulnerable populations such as individuals with alcohol use disorder. Valproate has been investigated as a potential adjunctive treatment for AWS. We first conducted a brief narrative review of the existing literature on valproate in AWS, identifying only a few relevant studies.

When Standard Is Not Enough: A Narrative Review of Supratherapeutic SSRI Doses in Resistant Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

: OCD is a chronic psychiatric disorder, often requiring long-term pharmacological treatment. Although selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are considered first-line agents, 40 to 60% of patients show only partial or no response when treated at standard dosages. In such cases, supratherapeutic doses of SSRIs have been proposed as an alternative strategy.

Antidepressants in Bipolar Depression: From Neurotransmitter Mechanisms to Clinical Challenges.

Bipolar disorder (BD) is characterized by the occurrence of manic/hypomanic and depressive episodes, with the latter having a significant impact on morbidity, mortality and overall quality of life. Current guidelines for bipolar depression provide limited treatment options, with only a few approved therapies. Despite these limitations, approximately 50-60% of individuals diagnosed with BD are prescribed antidepressants.

Presence of Psychotic Spectrum Symptoms Before Age 12 in Schizophrenia Patients: A Retrospective Study on Clinical Implications for Early Detection and Intervention.

: Schizophrenia is a severe psychiatric disorder, with onset typically occurring in late adolescence or early adulthood. Early identification of psychotic symptoms, especially those occurring before age 12, has been linked to better long-term outcomes. This study aims to assess the presence of psychotic spectrum symptoms before the age of 12 in adult schizophrenia patients and explore their clinical implications for early detection and intervention.

Methylphenidate in Borderline Personality Disorder: Assessing Its Therapeutic Potential and Limitations.

Impulsivity is increasingly recognized as a transdiagnostic feature that spans multiple psychiatric disorders, including borderline personality disorder (BPD), bipolar disorder, and substance use disorders. In BPD, impulsive behaviors manifest as substance misuse, risky sexual activity, self-injury, and other maladaptive patterns. This review article updates the clinical and preclinical literature to explore the biological and psychological bases of impulsivity in BPD and considers whether methylphenidate (MPH) can be used as a treatment in this context.

Intravenous trazodone for the treatment of psychomotor agitation and associated symptoms in major depressive disorder patients experiencing a depressive episode with mixed features.

Psychomotor agitation is a challenging symptom of major depressive disorder with mixed features (MDD-MF), often worsening outcomes and complicating treatment. This retrospective study assessed the efficacy and tolerability of intravenous trazodone in 97 hospitalized patients with MDE-MF. Symptom severity was evaluated using montgomery asberg depression rating Scale (MADRS), young mania rating scale, hamilton anxiety rating scale, GAD-7, and clinical global impression scale-severity of illness (CGI-S) scales, with significant reductions in agitation, anxiety, and irritability observed early during treatment.

Correlation between skin cancer and therapy with anti-IL monoclonal antibodies in patients affected by moderate-to-severe psoriasis: an observational monocentric study.

Our study aimed to investigate the correlation between skin cancer and anti-interleukin (IL) therapy in patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis. This was an observational monocentric study in which we enrolled a total of 235 patients in which 127 patients were affected by moderate-to-severe psoriasis and treated with anti-IL monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) for at least 6 months, whereas 108 patients affected by mild psoriasis were treated with topical therapies. Afterward, we performed a dermatologic visit to all the subjects, collecting anamnestic information including risk factors for skin cancer.

Variations in BDNF and Their Role in the Neurotrophic Antidepressant Mechanisms of Ketamine and Esketamine: A Review.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is critical for neuroplasticity, synaptic transmission, and neuronal survival. Studies have implicated it in the pathophysiology of depression, as its expression is significantly reduced in brain areas such as the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus in patients with depression. Our narrative review focuses on the relationship between BDNF, ketamine, and esketamine, specifically by summarizing human studies investigating BDNF variations in patients treated with these two drugs.

Insights into the Incidence, Course, and Management of Lithium-Induced Hypothyroidism in Real-World Psychiatric Practice in Italy.

: Lithium is a cornerstone in the treatment of bipolar disorder (BD). However, lithium use requires careful monitoring of thyroid function due to associated dysfunctions. The aim of our real-world study is to retrospectively evaluate the impact of lithium on thyroid function and how these thyroid alterations can be measured and managed.

Treatment satisfaction and effectiveness of Lurasidone on quality of life and functioning in adult patients with schizophrenia in the real-world Italian clinical practice: a prospective 3-month observational study.

Background: Although second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) have proven to be effective therapeutic options for patients with schizophrenia, there is a notable lack of evidence on patients' subjective perspectives regarding their well-being, quality of life, and satisfaction with these medications. This study aimed to evaluate the treatment satisfaction and effectiveness of lurasidone on quality of life and functioning in adult patients with schizophrenia in real-world Italian clinical practice.

Methods: This was a multicentre, national, non-interventional, single-arm, 3-month prospective study.

Unraveling the Boundaries, Overlaps, and Connections between Schizophrenia and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD).

Schizophrenia (SCZ) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) typically have distinct diagnostic criteria and treatment approaches. SCZ is characterized by delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, and cognitive impairments, while OCD involves persistent, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors (compulsions). The co-occurrence of these disorders increases clinical complexity and poses significant challenges for diagnosis and treatment.

Perspectives on the impact of vortioxetine on the treatment armamentarium of major depressive disorder.

Introduction: Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a mental health issue that significantly affects patients' quality of life and functioning. Despite available treatments, many patients continue to suffer due to incomplete symptom resolution and side effects.

Areas Covered: This manuscript examines Vortioxetine's role in Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) treatment, highlighting its potential to reshape therapeutic strategies due to its unique Multimodal action and proven broad-spectrum efficacy in multiple depressive domains.

Non-Functional Trace Amine-Associated Receptor 1 Variants in Patients With Mental Disorders.

The G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) trace amine-associated receptor 1 (TAAR1) is expressed across brain areas involved in emotions, reward and cognition, and modulates monoaminergic and glutamatergic neurotransmissions. TAAR1 is stimulated with nanomolar affinity by 3-iodothyronamine (T1AM), an endogenous messenger considered a novel branch of thyroid hormone signaling. The human gene for TAAR1 maps to locus 6q23, within a region associated with major mental disorders.