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Aims The Craving Typology Questionnaire (CTQ) is a psychometric instrument used to assess alcohol craving in normal controls and subjects with alcohol use disorder (AUD). It allows a dimensional self-rating assessment of craving according to a three-pathway psychobiological model of craving distinguishing craving into a reward, relief and obsessive component. The aim of the present study is to evaluate psychometric properties of the CTQ-15, a revised version of CTQ with 15 items. Methods The CTQ-15 was firstly administered to two groups of control subjects, one (414 subjects) used for the exploratory factor analysis and the other one (415 subjects) for the confirmatory factor analysis. A three-factor model was assessed and compared to alternative models. Results The resulting structure was in line with the original scale CTQ. Obsessive craving accounted for 15.20% of the total variance, relief craving for the 13.99% and reward craving for 13.13% of the total variance. The three-factor model (M1) reached good fit indices (CFI = 0.96, TLI = 0.95, RMSEA = 0.06 and SRMR = 0.05) and was significantly better than other alternative models. Reliability showed good internal consistency for each scale, i.e. obsessive craving (α = 0.92), relief craving (α = 0.82) and reward craving (α = 0.81). Conclusions The CTQ-15 proved to be reliable and practical for identifying the three dimensions of craving in clinical practice. Craving plays a crucial role in the mechanisms of dependence and relapse; thus, characterizing the craving can be fundamental to a targeted drug therapy.

Longitudinal psychopathological predictors of relapse in alcohol use disorder are unclear.Relapses, sociodemographic and psychopathological risk factors were assessed in 171 alcohol use disorder outpatients within a 1-year follow up. Impulsivity and alexithymia were evaluated using the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale and the Toronto Alexithymia Scale, respectively.At endpoint, 39% of patients maintained abstinence, 30.9% relapsed at ≤1 month from detoxification (early), 30.1% at1 month (subsequent). Baseline Barratt Impulsiveness Scale score was predictive of early versus subsequent relapse (odds ratio 1.12, p = 0.005) and versus abstinence (odds ratio 1.17, p 0.001). Toronto Alexithymia Scale score was a risk factor for subsequent versus early relapse (odds ratio 1.13, p = 0.003) and versus abstinence (odds ratio 1.21, p 0.001).Impulsivity predicted relapse within the first 4-weeks; alexithymia showed delayed effects. Time-varying effects of specific relapse factors emphasise the need for preliminary careful assessment and personalised interventions to promote long-term abstinence.

Climate change can have various psychopathological manifestations which have been more actively addressed by scientific research only in recent years. Indeed, extreme weather events and environmental changes have been shown to be associated with a range of mental health problems. Following the destruction of ecosystems, biodiversity loss can cause mental distress and emotional responses, including so-called ‘psychoterratic’ syndromes arising from negatively felt and perceived environmental change. Studies investigating relationships between biodiversity and mental health reveal a complex landscape of scientific evidence, calling for a better understanding of this challenging issue.

Abstract: Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) are major public health concerns because of their high prevalence and clinical and functional severity. MDD and AUD commonly co-occur, but effective therapeutic approaches for comorbidity are still scarce. Available evidence on selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and tricyclic antidepressants held mixed results, and further pharmacological categories have been less investigated. Trazodone is an approved antidepressant drug for adults and has shown efficacy on symptoms like anxiety and insomnia ob- served in AUD patients as well. Thus, this study aims to evaluate the effect of extended-release trazo- done on clinical and functional features in MDD + AUD subjects. Methods: One hundred MDD + AUD outpatients were retrospectively evaluated at 1, 3, and 6 months of treatment with extended-release trazodone (150-300 mg/day, flexibly dosed). Improvement in de- pressive symptoms was the primary outcome measure. Changes in anxiety, sleep, functioning, quality of life, clinical global severity, and alcohol craving were also investigated. Results: Trazodone reduced depressive symptoms (p < 0.001) with 54.5% remission at the endpoint. Similar improvements were observed in all secondary outcomes, including anxiety, sleep alterations, and craving (p < 0.001). Only mild side effects were reported and disappeared over time. Conclusion: Extended-release trazodone displayed good antidepressant properties in MDD + AUD patients, ameliorating overall symptomatology, functioning, and quality of life, with a good safety/ tolerability profile. Further, it significantly improved sleep disturbances and craving symptoms, which are associated with drinking relapse and worse outcomes. Therefore, trazodone might represent a promising pharmacological option for MDD + AUD patients.

Law 180, also called ‘Basaglia’s law’, after Franco Basaglia, who inspired and promoted the revolution of mental health care in Italy. It was the result of a strong antipsychiatry movement and involved macroscopic changes in the management of the psychiatric patients. This was followed across borders, being widely studied by researchers in UK and USA. The main objective of the reform was to create a psychiatry movement, with a community-based perspective of care and therapeutic interventions. Contrary to what its detractors argued, deinstitutionalization was not linked to an increase in mandatory psychiatric admissions or suicide attempts, and it did not increase the number of crimes. In recent years, this process has also involved forensic psychiatry, considering a patient to be rehabilitated rather than an individual to be punished or incarcerated. This chapter provides an overview of the historical account of Basaglia’s reforms and their impact on psychiatric care in Italy.

Considering the importance of evidence on interventions to tackle mental health problems in healthcare workers (HCWs) during pandemics, we conducted a systematic review, aiming to identify and summarize the implemented interventions to deal with mental health issues of HCWs during infectious disease outbreaks and report their effectiveness. Web of Science, PubMed, Cochrane, Scopus, CINAHL and PsycInfo electronic databases were searched until October 2nd, 2020. Primary-data articles, describing any implemented interventions and their effectiveness were considered pertinent. Studies were screened according to the inclusion/exclusion criteria and subsequently data extraction was performed. Twenty-four articles, referring to SARS, Ebola, Influenza AH1N1 and COVID-19 were included. Interventions addressing mental health issues in HCWs during pandemics/epidemics were grouped into four categories: 1) informational support (training, guidelines, prevention programs), 2) instrumental support (personal protective equipment, protection protocols); 3) organizational support (manpower allocation, working hours, re-organization of facilities/structures, provision of rest areas); 4) emotional and psychological support (psychoeducation and training, mental health support team, peer-support and counselling, therapy, digital platforms and tele-support). These results might be helpful for researchers, stakeholders, and policymakers to develop evidence-based sustainable interventions and guidelines, aiming to prevent or reduce the immediate and long-term effect of pandemics on mental health status of HCWs.

There is evidence of genetic polymorphism influences on brain structure and function, genetic risk in bipolar disorder (BD), and neuroimaging correlates of BD. How genetic influences related to BD could be reflected on brain changes in BD has been efficiently reviewed in a 2017 systematic review. We aimed to confirm and extend these findings through a Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses-based systematic review. Our study allowed us to conclude that there is no replicated finding in the timeframe considered. We were also unable to further confirm prior results of the BDNF gene polymorphisms to affect brain structure and function in BD. The most consistent finding is an influence of the CACNA1C rs1006737 polymorphism in brain connectivity and grey matter structure and function. There was a tendency of undersized studies to obtain positive results and large, genome-wide polygenic risk studies to find negative results in BD. The neuroimaging genetics in BD field is rapidly expanding.

Lumateperone (ITI-007) is a tosylate salt with binding affinities to receptors implicated in the therapeutic actions of antipsychotic medications, including the serotonin 5HT2A receptors, dopamine D2 and D1 receptors and the serotonin transporter. It has a unique mechanism of action because it simultaneously modulates serotonin, dopamine, and glutamate neurotransmission, implicated in serious mental illness. It can be considered a multi-target-directed ligand and a multifunctional modulator of serotoninergic system with possible precognitive, antipsychotic, antidepressant and anxiolytic properties. Lumateperone has been investigated as a novel agent for the treatment of schizophrenia, but it represents a new potential option for other psychiatric and neurological diseases, such as behavioural symptoms of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, sleep disturbances, bipolar depression. Besides, it has demonstrated a favourable safety profile without significant extrapyramidal side effects, hyperprolactinemia or changes in cardiometabolic or endocrine factors versus placebo. Additional studies are warranted to confirm and examine the benefit of lumateperone and possible therapeutic targets. This paper is a comprehensive and thorough summary of the most important findings and potential future role of this particular compound in personalized treatments.

BackgroundMajor depressive disorder (MDD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) are highly comorbid, with greater clinical complexity and psychosocial impairment. Several antidepressants have been used in this population, with mixed results. This preliminary study aims to investigate the effects of the multimodal antidepressant vortioxetine in MDD + AUD subjects.MethodsWe retrospectively evaluated 57 MDD + AUD and 56 MDD outpatients, matched for baseline characteristics. Patients were assessed after 1, 3, and 6 months treatment with vortioxetine (10-20 mg/d, flexibly dosed) in combination with continuous psychosocial support. The primary outcome was improvement in depressive symptoms measured by the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale. We also investigated changes in anxiety, anhedonia, cognition, functioning, quality of life, and clinical global severity using the following instruments: Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale, Digit Symbol Substitution Test, Perceived Deficits Questionnaire-Depression, Functioning Assessment Short Test, Quality of Life Index, and Clinical Global Impression-Severity Scale.ResultsVortioxetine significantly improved mood in MDD + AUD patients (P P = .36). A substantial rate (45.6%) of comorbid subjects obtained clinical remission at endpoint (P = .36 vs MDD). We additionally observed baseline to endpoint improvements on all secondary outcomes (P ConclusionsGiven its effectiveness on mood, cognition, and functioning, its good safety and tolerability profile, and low potential for abuse, vortioxetine could represent a valid pharmacological intervention in MDD + AUD patients as part of an integrated therapeutic-rehabilitation program.

Objective Genetic variations in the gene encoding zinc finger protein 804A gene (ZNF804A) have been associated with major depression and bipolar disorder. In this work we focused on the potential influence of ZNF804A variations on the risk of developing specific sub-phenotypes as well as the individual response to available treatments. Methods We used two samples of different ethnic origin: a Korean sample, composed by 242 patients diagnosed with major depression and 132 patients diagnosed with bipolar disorder and 326 healthy controls; an Italian sample composed 151 major depression subjects, 189 bipolar disorder subjects and 38 outpatients diagnosed for a primary anxiety disorder. Results Our analyses reported an association of rs1344706 with psychotic phenotype in the cross-diagnostic pooled sample (geno p = 4.15 × 10-4, allelic p = 1.06 × 10-4). In the cross-diagnosis Italian sample but not in the Korean one, rs7597593 was involved with depressive symptoms improvement after treatment (geno p = 0.025, allelic p = 0.007). Conclusion The present study evidenced the role of ZNF804A alterations in symptoms improvement after treatment. Both manic and depressive symptoms seem to be modulated by ZNF804A, though the latter was observed in the bipolar pooled sample only. The role of this factor is likely related to synaptic development and maintenance; however, further analyses will be needed to better understand the molecular mechanics involved with ZNF804A.

Mixed affective states occur in approximately 40% of patients with mood disorders and are burdened with a significant rate of comorbidities, including addictive disorders (AD). The co-occurrence of mixed features and AD represents a challenge for clinicians because the reciprocal, negative influence of these conditions leads to a worse course of illness, treatment resistance, unfavorable outcome, and higher suicide risk. This article discusses clinical presentation, possible common pathogenetic pathways, and treatment options. Further investigations are required to clarify the determinants and the implications of this co-occurrence, and to detect suitable approaches in clinical management.

The aim of this paper is to describe the direction of the link between stress, depression, increased inflammation and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) reduction. We hypothesize that severe stress or prolonged stress can be the driving factor that promote the onset of depression. Both stress and depression, if not resolved over time, activate the production of transcription factors that will switch on pro-inflammatory genes and translate them into cytokines. This cascade fosters systemic chronic inflammation and reduced plasma BDNF levels. Since people with depression have a 60% increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes (T2D) and show high levels of inflammation and low levels of BDNF, we hypothesize possible reasons that might explain why T2D, depression and dementia are often associated in the same patient.

Aims Common Psychiatric Disorders (CPDs) are associated with the development of overweight and obesity, the strongest risk factors for the onset and maintenance of Type 2 Diabetes mellitus (T2D). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to assess the prevalence of CPDs in patients with T2D in Italy. Methods This is a monocentric cross-sectional study; n = 184 T2D patients were screened for CPDs using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ). Primary outcome was to evaluate the prevalence of CPDs. To assess association between CPDs and risk factors, we have utilized univariable logistic regression models. Results 64.1% were men, median age was 67 (59–64) and median BMI 27 (25–30) kg/m2. The 42.9% tested positive for one or more mental disorders, 25.6% for depression. Patients with higher BMI (p = 0.04) had an increased likelihood of testing positive to the PHQ. Patients who had implemented lifestyle changes (p p = 0.07) had a reduction in the likelihood of testing positive. Conclusions Prevalence of CPDs in T2D patients is higher than in the general population. Since CPDs favor the onset and subsistence of T2D, integrated diabetic-psychiatric therapy is required for improvement or remission of T2D in patients with comorbid CPDs.

Pregnancy is a unique experience in women’s life, requiring a great ability of adaptation and self-reorganization; vulnerable women may be at increased risk of developing depressive symptoms. This study aimed to examine the incidence of depressive symptomatology during pregnancy and to evaluate the role of affective temperament traits and psychosocial risk factors in predicting them. We recruited 193 pregnant women, collected data regarding sociodemographic, family and personal clinical variables, social support and stressful life events and administered the Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ), the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San Diego-Autoquestionnaire (TEMPS-A). In our sample, prevalence of depressive symptomatology was 41.45% and prevalence of depression was 9.85% (6.75% mild and 3.10% moderate depression). We have chosen a cutoff >4 on PHQ-9 to identify mild depressive symptoms which may predict subsequent depression. Statistically significant differences between the two groups were found in the following factors: gestational age, occupation, partner, medical conditions, psychiatric disorders, family psychiatric history, stressful life events, and TEMPS-A mean scores. In our sample mean scores on all affective temperaments but the hyperthymic, were significantly lower in the control group. Only depressive and hyperthymic temperaments were found to be, respectively, risk and protective factors for depressive symptomatology. The current study confirms the high prevalence and complex aetiology of depressive symptomatology during pregnancy and suggests that affective temperament assessment seems to be a useful adjunctive instrument to predict depressive symptomatology during pregnancy and postpartum.

Psychosis is a multifactorial condition that typically involves delusions, hallucinations, and disorganized thought, speech or behavior. The observation of an association between infectious epidemics and acute psychosis dates back to the last century. Recently, concerns have been expressed regarding COVID-19 and the risk for the development of new-onset psychosis. This article reviewed the current evidence of a possible link between SARS-CoV-2 and risk of psychosis as an acute or post-infectious manifestation of COVID-19. We here discuss potential neurobiological and environmental factors as well as a number of challenges in ascribing a causal pathogenic relationship between SARS-CoV-2 infection and new-onset psychosis.

Climate change is one of the biggest challenges of our times. Its impact on human populations is not yet completely understood. Many studies have focused on single aspects with contradictory observations. However, climate change is a complex phenomenon that cannot be adequately addressed from a single discipline’s perspective. Hence, we propose a comprehensive conceptual framework on the relationships between climate change and human responses. This framework includes biological, psychological, and behavioural aspects and provides a multidisciplinary overview and critical information for focused interventions. The role of tipping points and regime shifts is explored, and a historical perspective is presented to describe the relationship between climate evolution and socio-cultural crisis. Vulnerability, resilience, and adaptation are analysed from an individual and a community point of view. Finally, emergent behaviours and mass effect phenomena are examined that account for mental maladjustment and conflicts.

Social isolation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has drastically affected lifestyles: from sedentary behaviors to reduced physical activity, from disrupted sleep patterns to altered dietary habits. As a consequence, serious mental and emotional responses have been registered. There was a significant decline in physical and other meaningful activities of daily living, leisure, social activity, and education. In children, collateral effects of the pandemic include inadequate nutrition with a risk of both overweight and underweight, addiction to screens, lack of schooling, and psychosocial difficulties. Older adults are frequently unable to adapt to lockdown measures and suffer from depression and cognitive complaints. Recent studies focusing on changes in lifestyle during the Covid-19 pandemic and consequences on mental health have been identified in PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Embase, and ScienceDirect. All the available literature has been retrospectively reviewed. The results of the present narrative review suggest that mental distress caused by social isolation seems to be linked not only to personality characteristics but also to several lifestyle components (sleep disruption, altered eating habits, reduced physical activity). This review aims to explore major changes in the lifestyle and quality of life and the impact of these changes on mental health, and to inform clinicians and policymakers about elements that may reduce the negative psychological effects of the quarantine period imposed during this worldwide crisis. There is an urgent need for tailored preventive, diagnostic, and therapeutic mental health interventions for the general population and for higher risk groups.

Introduction: This study aims to evaluate napping in patients with insomnia compared with two control groups and to investigate the relationships between psychometric measures and napping habitude....

Introduction:Mental health in indigenous communities is a relevant issue for the World Health Organization (WHO). These communities are supposed to live in a pure, clean and intact environment. Their real condition is far different from the imaginary; they are vulnerable populations living in difficult areas, exposed to pollution, located far from the health services, exposed to several market operations conducted to extract natural resources, facing criminal groups or illegal exploitation of land resources. These factors may have an impact on mental health of indigenous population.Methods:We reviewed all papers available on PubMed, EMBASE and The Cochrane Library until December 2018. We focused on those factors affecting the changes from a traditional to a post-modern society and reviewed data available on stress-related issues, mental distress affecting indigenous/aboriginal communities and the role of Traditional Medicine (TM). We reviewed articles from different countries hosting indigenous communities.Results:The incidence of mental distress and related phenomena (e.g. collective suicide, alcoholism and violence) among indigenous populations is affected by political and socio-economic variables. The mental health of these populations is poorly studied and described even if mental illness indicators are somewhat alarming. TM still seems to have a role in supporting affected people and may reduce deficiencies due to poor access to medical insurance/coverage, psychiatry and psychotherapy. It would be helpful to combine TM and modern medicine in a healthcare model to face indigenous populations’ health needs.Conclusion:This review confirms the impact of societal changes, environmental threats and exploitation of natural resources on the mental health of indigenous populations. Global Mental Health needs to deal with the health needs of indigenous populations as well as psychiatry needs to develop new categories to describe psychopathology related to social variance as recently proposed by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.; DSM-5).

Background: Previous evidence suggested the possible association of FK506 binding protein 5 (FKBP5) gene variants in bipolar disorder (BPD). Objective: Given the need of refinement of the findings obtained in large but poorly phenotyped samples, this study investigated the possible role of variants within FKBP5 in a small but deeply phenotyped BPD sample. Methods: A sample (N = 131) of bipolar patients were investigated with 10 polymorphisms within the FKBP5 gene. A control sample (N = 65) was also used for the analyses. Treatment response and remission of symptoms were evaluated using of the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HARS), and Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS). The same analyses were also performed on the depressive subsample of BPD (D.BPD). Results: rs3800373 was associated with disorder risk in the depressive BPD subsample with the G allele being more frequent in subjects with a D.BPD phenotype. This was the only association that survived statistical correction. Conclusions: rs3800373 FKBP5 may increase the risk of developing predominantly depressed BPD, probably through the creation of an enhancer consensus sequence in the 3′UTR of the gene, thus potentially increasing its expression. This finding seems to be partially supported by literature data, which evidenced increased levels of FKBP5 in psychiatric subjects.

Intellectual disability (ID) occurs in approximately 1% of the population. Over the last years, broad sequencing approaches such as whole exome sequencing (WES) substantially contributed to the definition of the molecular defects underlying nonsyndromic ID. Pathogenic variants in HIVEP2, which encodes the human immunodeficiency virus type I enhancer binding protein 2, have recently been reported as a cause of ID, developmental delay, behavioral disorders, and dysmorphic features. HIVEP2 serves as a transcriptional factor regulating NF-ĸB and diverse genes that are essential in neural development. To date, only 8 patients with pathogenic de novo nonsense or frameshift variants and 1 patient with a pathogenic missense variant in HIVEP2 have been reported. By WES, we identified 2 novel truncating HIVEP2 variants, c.6609_6616delTGAGGGTC (p.Glu2204*) and c.6667C>T (p.Arg2223*), in 2 young adults presenting with developmental delay and mild ID without any dysmorphic features, systemic malformations, or behavioral issues.

Background. Since the identification of Couvade syndrome in the late 1950s, little attention has been dedicated to the issue of depression in expecting fathers. Objective. To quantify the extent of depression in expecting fathers and find out if they match their pregnant partners’ depression. Methods. We conducted a PubMed and ClinicalTrials.gov search using paternal depression and all its variants as terms. We used the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 statement to include eligible studies. Results. We identified a grand total of 1443 articles, of which 204 were eligible. The total number of fathers/expecting fathers involved was 849,913. Longitudinal studies represented more than half of the included studies; more than three-quarters of the studies used the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). The average occurrence of paternal depression was around 5%, which confers the entity some clinical dignity. Depression tends to occur more in expecting women and new mothers than in expecting partners or new fathers, while the co-occurrence in the same couple is quite low. Limitations. The methodological heterogeneity of the included studies prevents us from meta-analyzing the obtained data. The validity of the instruments used is another issue. Conclusions. Paternal depression is distinct from maternal depression and occurs at lower rates (about half). The very existence of a paternal depression clinical entity is beyond any doubt. Future research should address methodological heterogeneity.

Interpersonal violence in the perinatal period is frequent and should be considered a prominent health issue due to the risk of escalation of violence and the significant impact on mothers’ parenting after childbirth. Domestic violence during pregnancy can be associated with fatal and non-fatal adverse health outcomes due to the direct trauma to a pregnant woman’s body and to the effect of stress on fetal growth and development. Emotional violence is a risk factor for prenatal and/or postpartum depression. Recent studies focusing on abusive situations during peripartum and possible preventive strategies were identified in PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Embase, and ScienceDirect. All of the available literature was retrospectively reviewed with a special attention to peer-reviewed publications from the last ten years. Results of the present narrative review suggest that perinatal health care professionals (general practitioners, gynecologists, obstetricians, psychologists, psychiatrists) should promptly detect interpersonal violence during and after pregnancy and provide health care for pregnant women. It seems pivotal to guarantee psychological care for abused women before, during, and after pregnancy in order to prevent the risk of depressive symptoms, other mental or physical sequelae, and mother-to-infant bonding failure. There is an urgent need for multifaceted interventions: programs should focus on several risk factors and should design tailored care pathways fitted to the specific needs of women and finalized to support them across the lifespan.

Background: early onset is frequent in Bipolar Disorders (BDs), and it is characterised by the occurrence of mixed states (or mixed features). In this systematic review, we aimed to confirm and extend these observations by providing the prevalence rates of mixed states/features and data on associated clinical, pharmacological and psychopathological features. Methods: following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, we searched from inception to 9 February 2021 for all studies investigating mixed states/mixed features in paediatric BD. Data were independently extracted by multiple observers. The prevalence rates of mixed states/features for each study were calculated. Results: eleven studies were included in our review, involving a total patient population of 1365 individuals. Overall, of the patients with paediatric age BD, 55.2% had mixed states/features (95% CI 40.1–70.3). Children with mixed states/features presented with high rates of comorbidities, in particular, with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Evidences regarding the psychopathology and treatment response of mixed states/features are currently insufficient. Conclusions: our findings suggested that mixed states/features are extremely frequent in children and adolescents with BD and are characterised by high levels of comorbidity. Future investigations should focus on the relationship between mixed states/features and psychopathological dimensions as well as on the response to pharmacological treatment.

Background and aims Gambling Disorder (GD) entails maladaptive patterns of decision-making. Neurophysiological research points out the effect of parasympathetic arousal, including phasic changes in heart rate variability (HRV), and interoceptive accuracy (IA, i.e., the ability to track changes in bodily signals), on decision-making. Nevertheless, scarce evidence is available on their role in GD. This is the first study exploring the impact in GD of respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), an index of HRV, and IA on decision-making, as measured by the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT). Methods Twenty-two patients experiencing problems with slot-machines or video lottery terminals gambling and 22 gender- and age-matched healthy controls (HC) were recruited. A resting ECG was performed before and after the completion of the IGT. IA was assessed throughout the heartbeat detection task. We conducted a MANCOVA to detect the presence of significant differences between groups in RSA reactivity and IA. A linear regression model was adopted to test the effect of factors of interest on IGT scores. Results Patients with GD displayed significantly decreased RSA reactivity (P = 0.002) and IA (P = 0.024) compared to HCs, even after controlling for affective symptoms, age, smoking status, and BMI. According to the linear regression model, cardiac vagal reactivity and IA significantly predict decision-making impairments on the IGT (P = 0.008; P = 0.019). Discussion and conclusions Although the exact pathways linking HRV and IA to impaired decision-making in GD remain to be identified, a broader exploration relying upon an embodiment-informed framework may contribute to shed further light on the clinical phenomenology of the disorder.

Purpose Anorexia nervosa-restrictive subtype (AN-R) is a life-threatening disorder relying on behavioural abnormalities, such as excessive food restriction or exercise. Such abnormalities may be secondary to an “objectified” attitude toward body image and self. This is the first study exploring the impact of anomalous self-experience (ASEs) on abnormal body image attitude and eating disorder (ED) symptomatology in individuals with AN-R at onset. Methods We recruited Italian female participants, 40 with AN-R (mean age 18.3 ± 2.3) and 45 age and educational level-matched healthy controls (HCs) (mean age 18.2 ± 2.6). ASEs, body image attitude, and ED symptom severity were assessed through the examination of anomalous self-experience (EASE), the body uneasiness test (BUT), and the eating disorder examination questionnaire (EDE-Q), respectively. We conducted multivariate analysis of variance to investigate distribution patterns of variables of interest, and mediation analysis to test the effect of ASEs and body image on ED symptomatology. Results Individuals with AN-R scored higher than HCs on the EASE (p p = 0.009; bootstrapped LLCI = 0.067, ULCI = 0.240) was found in AN-R. After modelling the effect of abnormal body image attitude, the relationship between EASE total score and ED symptomatology was significantly mediated by BUT (p = 0.002; bootstrapped LLCI = 0.001, ULCI = 0.172). Conclusion Although the exact pathways linking AN-R to self-disorder remain to be identified, a broader exploration of transdiagnostic features in AN, including explorations of different dimensions of self-experience and intersubjectivity, may shed further light on the clinical phenomenology of the disorder. Level of evidence Level III, case–control analytic study.

Background: Psychopathological dimensions contributing to suicidal ideation in young age are poorly understood. We aimed to investigate the involvement of emotional dysregulation and temperament in suicide risk in a sample of accurately selected young patients with mood disorders and a matched sample of healthy controls (HC). Methods: We assessed 50 young patients (aged 14–25 years) with DSM-5 bipolar or depressive disorders for clinical and psychopathological characteristics and 82 age and sex, educational level, and smoking habits-matched HC. Emotional dysregulation and temperament were assessed using the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) and the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San Diego-Autoquestionnaire (TEMPS-A-39), respectively. We tested their associations with suicidal ideation, using standard univariate/bivariate methods, preceded by overall multivariate analysis. Results: In the group of patients, 24 (48%) reported lifetime suicide ideation (LSI). Patients with LSI scored higher on emotional dysregulation (p &lt, 0.001) and cyclothymic (p &lt, 0.001), irritable (p = 0.01), and hyperthymic temperaments (p = 0.003) than HC. Patients with LSI specifically presented with more emotional dysregulation (p &lt, 0.001) and cyclothymic temperament (p = 0.001), than patients without LSI (N = 26). Conclusions: Temperamental features, in particular cyclothymic temperament, and emotion dysregulation may represent independent factors for increased vulnerability to lifetime suicidal ideation in young adults with mood disorders.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic represents an unprecedented traumatic stressor to mental health. Psychological distress is considered a reliable proxy for psychopathology and can be negatively influenced by childhood trauma through sensitization effects. Emotion dysregulation has been proposed as a potential mediator of this mechanism. We aimed to test this hypothesis in a national Italian sample assessed in the early phase of the coronavirus disease 2019 outbreak. Methods: We investigated the relationship between psychological distress and childhood trauma in 500 healthy participants assessed through a survey-based study, after the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic lockdown in Italy. Levels of psychological distress and history of childhood trauma were obtained using the Kessler-10 (K10) and the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, respectively. We used bootstrapped mediation analysis to test the mediator role of emotional dysregulation, measured through the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale, on the effect of childhood trauma on psychological distress. Results: In total, 190 (38%) reported psychological distress related to the coronavirus disease 2019 outbreak. Individuals with psychological distress experienced more childhood trauma, specifically emotional abuse ( F = 23.51, df = 1, p Conclusion: Childhood trauma is associated with increased vulnerability to the stressful effect of the coronavirus disease 2019 outbreak. Our data suggest that emotional dysregulation may represent a dimension mediating the impact of childhood trauma on coronavirus disease 2019-related psychological distress and may be considered as specific target for interventions aiming at empowering resilience.

(1) Background: During the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic, cannabis use increased relative to pre-pandemic levels, while forced home confinement frequently caused sleep/wake cycle disruptions, psychological distress, and maladaptive coping strategies with the consequent appearance of anxiety symptoms and their potential impact on substance use problems. (2) Aim: Long-acting trazodone (150 mg or 300 mg daily) has a potential benefit as monotherapy in patients with cannabis use disorder. The present work aims to investigate the effectiveness of trazodone in optimizing the condition of people with cannabis dependence under pandemic conditions. (3) Methods: All cases with cannabis use disorder were uniformly treated with long-acting trazodone 150 mg or 300 mg/day; their craving and clinical status were monitored through appropriate psychometric scales. Side effects were recorded as they were reported by patients. We described the cases of three young patients—one man and two women—who were affected by chronic cannabis use disorder and who experienced lockdown-related psychological distress and sought psychiatric help. (4) Results: The described cases highlight that the once-a-day formulation of trazodone seems to have a therapeutic role in patients with cannabis use disorder and to guarantee tolerability and efficacy over time. No significant side effects emerged. (5) Conclusions: The use of long-acting trazodone (150 mg or 300 mg daily) has a potential benefit as monotherapy in patients with cannabis use disorder. Trazodone deserves to be studied in terms of its efficacy for cannabis use disorder.