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Introduction: Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) affects 2-3% of the general population. The neurobiology of OCD has been linked to dysfunction of cortico-striatal circuits connecting the orbitofrontal (OFC) to the striatum. Recently, this loop has become an approved target for non-invasive neuromodulatory treatment of OCD. Objectives: To explore structural and functional connectivity of the OFC in OCD subjects and healthy controls. Methods: 14 OCD patients and 12 age/sex-matched controls underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (3T-Philips scanner) for diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and resting state functional connectivity (rsFC). DTI images were brain extracted and corrected for movement and eddy currents. A diffusion tensor model was fitted to each voxel and used to generate Fractional Anisotropy (FA) maps. Voxel-wise statistical analysis of FA was performed using Tract-Based Spatial Statistics. RsFC images were preprocessed and seed-based correlation (SBC) analysis was performed using Data Processing Assistant for Resting-State fMRI. Results:Wefound decreased values of FA in the body of the Corpus Callosum bilaterally (MNI_coordinates: x= 16, y= -16, z= 33 and x= -19, y= -16, z= 42) and left superior longitudinal fasciculus in OCD patients (fig 1, left), as well as decreased rsFC of the right superior orbitofrontal seed with the left inferior frontal gyrus and left middle occipital gyrus (fig 2, right). Conclusions: Using an exploratory multimodal approach we found evidence of abnormal structural and functional long-range connectivity of the OFC in OCD. If confirmed in a larger sample these connectivity abnormalities could be explored as potential predictors of response to OFC-targeted non-invasive neuromodulatory interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is an incapacitating Neuropsychiatric condition characterized by the presence of obsessions and/or compulsions. Although the disorder's phenotype is well described, its pathophysiology remains elusive (Aouizerate et al, 2004). Over the last decade, techniques to noninvasively study the brain's neurophysiology, such as TranscranialMagnetic Stimulation (TMS), have found widespread use in psychiatric research. For OCD, single- and paired-pule TMS protocols have been used to explore abnormalities inmotor cortex excitability and cortical neuroplasticity. Here we propose to systematically review and, where possible, metanalyse existing casecontrol studies that compared such measures in patients and healthy subjects. Objectives: To systematically review and meta-analyse published case-control studies comparing cortical excitability measures, as measured by single- or paired-pulse TMS, in subjects with OCD and healthy controls. Methods: We have conducted a systematic review of published literature (PROSPERO registration CRD42020201764) reporting measures of cortical excitability as measured by single or pairedpulse TMS, in patients with OCD and healthy controls. We searched 4 different electronic libraries (PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, PsycINFO). The resulting list of articles was reviewed, separately, by two researchers. Disagreements were discussed and resolved by consensus, until a final list of eligible articles was obtained. Results: 13 studies reporting motor cortex excitability measures were included in our final list. The total number of participants included in our analyses is 615 (349 OCD; 180 healthy subjects; 86 other conditions) Conclusions: A sufficient number of studies was found to allow for metanalyses, currently ongoing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Primary focal dystonia (PFD) is an idiopathic movement disorder that manifests as involuntary, sustained muscle contractions, leading to abnormal postures. Its pathophysiology probably involves a functional disorder of the basal ganglia and their frontal cortical connections. The hypothetical association with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) has raised particular interest, as both disorders seem to involve frontal cortical-basal dysfunction. Anyway, evidence supporting this association is scarce and contradictory. Objectives: To address the next two questions: (1) Do primary dystonia patients have high obsessive-compulsive symptom scores? (2) Are these symptoms more severe in dystonia than in controls with equivalent peripheral neurological disorders? Methods: We’ve conducted a cross-sectional, descriptive, controlled study comprising 45 consecutive patients with PFD (i.e., blepharospasm, spasmodic torticollis, or writer''s cramp), 46 consecutive patients with hemifacial spasm, cervical spondylarthropathy, or carpal tunnel syndrome, and 30 healthy volunteers. Assessment included the DSM-IV based psychiatric interview, Symptom Check- list 90R, Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale and Checklist, and the Unified Dystonia Rating Scale. Results: Dystonia patients had higher Yale-Brown scores than both control groups. Major depression and generalized anxiety disorder were the most frequent psychiatric diagnoses in PFD. Obsessive-compulsive disorder frequency was 6.7%. PFD patients have higher obsessive-compulsive symptom scores than individuals with similar functional disabilities resulting from other neurological disorders, suggesting that obsessive-compulsive symptoms in dystonia are not reactive to chronic disability. Conclusions: Dystonic muscle contractions and obsessive-compulsive symptoms may share a common neurobiological basis related to cortical-basal dysfunction. Psychopathology, especially obsessive-compulsive symptoms, should be actively explored and treated in primary focal dystonia. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Prevalence of depression and other common psychiatric disorders in autoimmune diseases has been extensively documented. The association between subclinical autoimmunity and behavioural or psychiatric syndromes remains less studied. The best known example is raised titres of autoantibodies with high affinity for the basal ganglia in some obsessive compulsive spectrum syndromes (e.g. Paediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal infections). The possible role of autoimmunity in impulse control disorders remains understudied. We proposed to study the relation between autoimmunity, affective bipolarity and impulsive psicopathology. Methods: 14 bipolar, 10 cluster B personality disorder inpatients. Titres for rheumatoid factor (RA), antithyroglobulin (ATG), antiperoxidase (APO) antinuclear (ANA), anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic (ANCA) and antistreptolysin (ASO) antibodies were measured in all subjects. Psychiatric assessment: non-structured psychiatric interview, MINI International Neuropsychiatric Interview and Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-II. Results: 21,4% of bipolar patients had positive ATG titre vs 11,1% in the cluster B personality group. 28,6% of bipolar patients had positive APO titre vs 22,2% in the cluster B personality group. 16,7% of bipolar patients had positive ASO titre vs 30,0% in the cluster B personality group. None of this differences reached significance. ASO titre correlated significantly with antisocial (rho=0,435, p=0,043) and autodestructive (rho=0,461, p=0,031) ratings and almost significantly with borderline (rho=0,420, p=0,052) ratings. Conclusions: The results obtained partly agree with the existing studies. As far as we know a possible correlation between ASOs and impulsive behaviour has not been previously described. The results obtained call for further investigation in the subject. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Introduction: Inmates present higher prevalence of mental and physical disorders and are subject of some kind of social exclusion than the general population. The assessment of unmet needs is crucial for care planning. Objectives: To assess and compare the need for care between male and female inmates undergoing psychiatric treatment. Aims: Delivery of health and social care in prisons. Methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive study of a non-probabilistic convenience sample of inmates referenced to a forensic psychiatric clinic in Lisbon region, during a year, was performed. The research protocol, besides a specific questionnaire, includes MINI; BPRS; GAF and Camberwell Assessment of Need, Forensic Version (CANFOR). Results: Seventy nine males (median age 36) and 35 females (median age 32) were receiving psychiatric treatment at the time of the study. Anti-social personality disorder in men (62%) and major depression in women (62.9%) were the most frequent disorders found. Males more often present moderate to high suicide risk (36.7%) than females (28.6%). The number of unmet needs was significantly increased in males (average 6±2.2) than females (4.3±2.2; p< o.oo1). For males, the more frequent unmet needs concerns sexual expression (79.7%), social benefits (77.2%) and psychological distress (63.3%) and for females it was psychological distress, social benefits (62.9% each) and company (51.4%). Conclusion: The results indicate that male inmates have higher behavioral risk and more unmet needs than female inmates. The assessment of needs in prisons is important for the development of strategies concerning care, social integration and prevention of criminal recidivism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is evidence that the prevalence of common mental disorders varies across Europe., Aims: To compare prevalence of common mental disorders in general practice attendees in six European countries., Method: Unselected attendees to general practices in the UK, Spain, Portugal, Slovenia, Estonia and The Netherlands were assessed for major depression, panic syndrome and other anxiety syndrome. Prevalence of DSM-IV major depression, other anxiety syndrome and panic syndrome was compared between the UK and other countries after taking account of differences in demographic factors and practice consultation rates., Results: Prevalence was estimated in 2,344 men and 4,865 women. The highest prevalence for all disorders occurred in the UK and Spain, and lowest in Slovenia and The Netherlands. Men aged 30-50 and women aged 18-30 had the highest prevalence of major depression; men aged 40-60 had the highest prevalence of anxiety, and men and women aged 40-50 had the highest prevalence of panic syndrome. Demographic factors accounted for the variance between the UK and Spain but otherwise had little impact on the significance of observed country differences., Conclusions: These results add to the evidence for real differences between European countries in prevalence of psychological disorders and show that the burden of care on general practitioners varies markedly between countries.