Association between urbanization and Internet addiction
Purpose of review Understanding the association between urbanization and Internet addiction is essential to the design and implementation of Internet addiction prevention measures in urban areas. This epidemiological review explores the urbanization-Internet addiction association and its potential underlying factors. Recent findings Nine studies have reported that Internet addiction prevalence is higher in urban areas, but three studies have noted the opposite. Psychiatric disorders and stress are the most commonly mentioned factors underlying the association. The effects of urbanization on Internet availability...
Source: Current Opinion in Psychiatry - May 1, 2022 Category: Psychiatry Tags: THE IMPACT OF URBANISATION ON MENTAL HEALTH: Edited by Jair Mari Source Type: research

The impact of digital interventions on help-seeking behaviour for mental health problems: a systematic literature review
We examined the impact of identified interventions on actual and intended help-seeking and attitudes towards help-seeking. Recent findings We identified 35 interventions. About half (51%) of studies showed an improvement in at least one help-seeking outcome with the greatest number showing an improvement in help-seeking intentions and the fewest studies showing an improvement in actual behaviour (29%). Findings suggest that interventions that promote active participation and personal involvement through sharing one's own narrative seem to be promising practices to facilitate help-seeking. Summary Our findings...
Source: Current Opinion in Psychiatry - May 1, 2022 Category: Psychiatry Tags: THE IMPACT OF URBANISATION ON MENTAL HEALTH: Edited by Jair Mari Source Type: research

The mental health of children and young people living in big cities in a revolving postpandemic world
Purpose of review The world's population is increasingly urban, with most children and young people growing up and living in cities. Evidence suggests that urbanicity is linked to an increased risk for the development of mental health disorders. Rather than an accumulation of risk factors, urbanization is a complex process that profoundly structures living conditions. In this sense, it is timely to discuss what are the social and structural determinants of mental health of children and young people in such settings. Recent findings Three domains of determinants of mental health were selected for discussion: econ...
Source: Current Opinion in Psychiatry - May 1, 2022 Category: Psychiatry Tags: THE IMPACT OF URBANISATION ON MENTAL HEALTH: Edited by Jair Mari Source Type: research

Air pollution and mental health: associations, mechanisms and methods
This article reviews developments in the field over the past 12 months, highlighting the evidence for causation, associations between multiple air pollutants and mental health outcomes, and assesses the challenges of researching this topic. Recent findings Increasingly rigorous methods are being applied to the investigation of a broader range of mental health outcomes. These methods include basic science, neuroimaging, and observational studies representing diverse geographical locations. Cohort studies with linked high-resolution air pollutant exposure data are common, facilitating advanced analytic methods. To d...
Source: Current Opinion in Psychiatry - May 1, 2022 Category: Psychiatry Tags: THE IMPACT OF URBANISATION ON MENTAL HEALTH: Edited by Jair Mari Source Type: research

The impact of restorative green environment on mental health of big cities and the role of mental health professionals
Purpose of review To provide an update on insights into the effectiveness of the green environment and forest on the mental health of city dwellers; and the role of mental health professionals in advocating green restorative therapies. Recent findings The studies reviewed in this paper confirmed the mental health benefits on individuals who engaged in the green environment and forest. Results of studies showed that the participants reported significantly higher positive effects. However, it is difficult to compare studies because of marked differences in methodology and often lack of biological markers. With the...
Source: Current Opinion in Psychiatry - May 1, 2022 Category: Psychiatry Tags: THE IMPACT OF URBANISATION ON MENTAL HEALTH: Edited by Jair Mari Source Type: research

Unhealthy diet in schizophrenia spectrum disorders
Purpose of review The high mortality and prevalence of metabolic syndrome in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD) is maintained by poor diet. This narrative review summarizes recent literature to provide a reflection of current eating habits, dietary preferences, and nutritional status of SSD patients. Elucidating these factors provides new insights for potential lifestyle treatment strategies for SSD. Recent findings Only 10.7% of the SSD patients had a healthy dietary pattern, against 23% of the general population. The dietic component of the Keeping the Body in Mind Xtend lifestyle program inc...
Source: Current Opinion in Psychiatry - May 1, 2022 Category: Psychiatry Tags: SCHIZOPHRENIA AND RELATED DISORDERS: Edited by Lynn E. DeLisi and Iris E. C. Sommer Source Type: research

Psychopharmacology of agitation in acute psychotic and manic episodes
Purpose of review To provide updated guidance for the medication treatment of acute agitation in the setting of psychosis or mania on inpatient psychiatric units. Recent findings This topic presented challenges: studies are sparse, tend to be under-powered, and are difficult to compare. Though there have been few recent studies, there have been several recent meta-analyses, Cochrane reviews, and published guidelines that sift through the primarily older evidence as well as more recent trials. The reviewers often do not agree on what seems to have the best evidence for efficacy and safety. Summary We concl...
Source: Current Opinion in Psychiatry - May 1, 2022 Category: Psychiatry Tags: SCHIZOPHRENIA AND RELATED DISORDERS: Edited by Lynn E. DeLisi and Iris E. C. Sommer Source Type: research

What happens after early intervention in first-episode psychosis? Limitations of existing service models and an agenda for the future
Purpose of review Early intervention in first-episode psychosis (FEP) improves symptomatic and functional outcomes while programs last. However, these gains may not be sustained over time and not all individuals benefit equally from such programs. This review examines the efficacy of FEP programs, as well as step-down practices and long-term outcomes to identify ways to extend the gains made in FEP programs. Recent findings FEP programs improve outcomes while services last, but effects diminish over time. Step-down and discharge practices vary widely with little randomized evidence guiding practice. Extending th...
Source: Current Opinion in Psychiatry - May 1, 2022 Category: Psychiatry Tags: SCHIZOPHRENIA AND RELATED DISORDERS: Edited by Lynn E. DeLisi and Iris E. C. Sommer Source Type: research

Serious mental illness in women
Purpose of review Psychiatric illnesses are very prevalent in the United States and impact women and men differently. In this review, we will explore some gender differences in the expression of psychopathology, discuss the most common serious mental illnesses (SMI) affecting women, and review treatment options according to specific life stages. We hope to raise awareness of these issues and consequently improve outcomes for women with serious mental illness. Recent findings SMI have different rates and are manifested differently in women and men because of biological, psychological, social, and cultural factors...
Source: Current Opinion in Psychiatry - May 1, 2022 Category: Psychiatry Tags: SCHIZOPHRENIA AND RELATED DISORDERS: Edited by Lynn E. DeLisi and Iris E. C. Sommer Source Type: research

Brain vasculature disturbance in schizophrenia
Purpose of review The vascular hypothesis of schizophrenia (SZ) postulates that brain endothelial dysfunction contributes to brain pathophysiology. This review discusses recent evidence for and against this hypothesis, including data related to blood–brain barrier (BBB), brain endothelium, and brain blood supply, to provide a critical weighed update. Recent findings Different studies report a consistent proportion of SZ patients showing increased BBB permeability, reflected by higher levels of albumin in the cerebral spinal fluid. Of note, this was not a result of antipsychotic medication. The high inflammator...
Source: Current Opinion in Psychiatry - May 1, 2022 Category: Psychiatry Tags: SCHIZOPHRENIA AND RELATED DISORDERS: Edited by Lynn E. DeLisi and Iris E. C. Sommer Source Type: research

Psychotic disorders amid the COVID-19 pandemic: a consideration of risks and impacts
Purpose of review The COVID-19 pandemic has had a severe and widespread global impact but particularly for those with psychosis. This review summarizes recent evidence on the relationship between the COVID-19 pandemic and psychotic disorders, highlighting the risks faced by these individuals including the negative impacts on treatment services, complications from contracting COVID-19, and the acceptability of digital interventions. Recent findings Mortality, morbidity, and infection outcomes are among the worst for individuals with psychotic disorders. Presentation rates for psychotic disorders are elevated at e...
Source: Current Opinion in Psychiatry - May 1, 2022 Category: Psychiatry Tags: SCHIZOPHRENIA AND RELATED DISORDERS: Edited by Lynn E. DeLisi and Iris E. C. Sommer Source Type: research

Editorial: Precision psychiatry and the clinical care for people with schizophrenia: sex, race and ethnicity in relation to social determinants of mental health
No abstract available (Source: Current Opinion in Psychiatry)
Source: Current Opinion in Psychiatry - May 1, 2022 Category: Psychiatry Tags: SCHIZOPHRENIA AND RELATED DISORDERS: Edited by Lynn E. DeLisi and Iris E. C. Sommer Source Type: research

Editorial introductions
No abstract available (Source: Current Opinion in Psychiatry)
Source: Current Opinion in Psychiatry - May 1, 2022 Category: Psychiatry Tags: EDITORIAL INTRODUCTIONS Source Type: research

Current directions in digital interventions for mood and anxiety disorders
Purpose of review The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the current scope of digital interventions for anxiety and mood disorders, with a focus on smartphone apps, for clinicians and mental healthcare providers. Recent findings Of the 11 randomized controlled trials analyzed, 7 showed evidence that guided digital interventions (those supported by humans) were effective in improving anxiety and mood symptoms, and 3 showed evidence that unguided (those not supported by humans) interventions were effective. Psychoeducation was the most popular feature of both guided and unguided interventions. Att...
Source: Current Opinion in Psychiatry - February 2, 2022 Category: Psychiatry Tags: SPECIAL COMMENTARY Source Type: research

Machine learning, artificial intelligence and the prediction of dementia
This article presents an overview of the application of artificial intelligence in dementia research. Recent findings Machine learning and its branch Deep Learning are widely used in research to support in diagnosis and prediction of dementia. Deep Learning models in certain tasks often result in better accuracy of detection and prediction of dementia than traditional machine learning methods, but they are more costly in terms of run times and hardware requirements. Both machine learning and Deep Learning models have their own strengths and limitations. Currently, there are few datasets with limited data available t...
Source: Current Opinion in Psychiatry - February 2, 2022 Category: Psychiatry Tags: NEUROCOGNITIVE DISORDERS: Edited by Perminder S. Sachdev Source Type: research