The role of Memory Clinics in the assessment and management of dementia, now and into the future
Purpose of review
The diagnosis of dementia is often delayed and many individuals with the disorder go undiagnosed or receive an inadequate assessment. Specialist Memory Clinics have long been at the centre of such assessments. Recent developments in biomarkers and disease-modifying treatments are likely increase the need for specialist assessments. It is therefore timely to review the role of Memory Clinics internationally.
Recent findings
The timely diagnosis of dementia and cognitive decline is the main responsibility of Memory Clinics. These clinics can diagnose dementia up to 4 years earlier than primary ...
Source: Current Opinion in Psychiatry - February 2, 2022 Category: Psychiatry Tags: NEUROCOGNITIVE DISORDERS: Edited by Perminder S. Sachdev Source Type: research
Social health, social reserve and dementia
Purpose of review
There is increasing recognition of social health being protective against disease, including age-related cognitive decline and dementia. Many concepts around social health, reserve and connectedness are imprecise and without agreed definitions. The mechanisms by which social health is protective are not well understood.
Recent findings
Several observational studies suggest that social participation and connectedness are protective against cognitive decline whereas loneliness is a risk factor for dementia. The possible mechanisms include effects on inflammatory process and immune function, reduc...
Source: Current Opinion in Psychiatry - February 2, 2022 Category: Psychiatry Tags: NEUROCOGNITIVE DISORDERS: Edited by Perminder S. Sachdev Source Type: research
Novel treatments in autism spectrum disorder
Purpose of review
There are currently no approved medications for the core symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and only limited data on the management of co-occurring mental health and behavioural symptoms. The purpose of this review is to synthesize recent trials on novel treatments in ASD, with a focus on research trends in the past 2 years.
Recent findings
No new pharmacologic agents received regulatory approval for use in ASD. Several large randomized controlled trials (RCTs) had negative or ambiguous results (e.g. fluoxetine, oxytocin). A cross-over RCT of an oral cannabinoid suggested possible bene...
Source: Current Opinion in Psychiatry - February 2, 2022 Category: Psychiatry Tags: NEURODEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS: Edited by Roma Vasa Source Type: research
Towards equitable diagnoses for autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder across sexes and genders
Purpose of review
Sex/gender-related factors contribute to contextual issues influencing the recognition of autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and modulate how neurodevelopmental characteristics are manifested. This review summarizes the empirical literature to provide directions for improving clinical diagnostic practices.
Recent findings
Timing of autism and/or ADHD diagnosis, particularly in girls/women, is related to the individual's developmental characteristics and co-occurring diagnoses, and expectancy, alongside gender stereotype biases, of referral sources and clinicians. This i...
Source: Current Opinion in Psychiatry - February 2, 2022 Category: Psychiatry Tags: NEURODEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS: Edited by Roma Vasa Source Type: research
Neuropsychological and neuropsychiatric recovery from mild traumatic brain injury
Purpose of review
Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is a significant public health concern for children. This review summarizes recent literature on early symptoms and neuropsychiatric and neuropsychological outcomes following pediatric mTBI and highlights factors that predict prolonged recovery. Evidence-based recommendations for assessment and treatment are also discussed.
Recent findings
Whereas most children recover within 1 month after mTBI, 10–30% of children experience lingering neuropsychiatric or neuropsychological symptoms 3 months or more after injury. For the subset who experience prolonged recove...
Source: Current Opinion in Psychiatry - February 2, 2022 Category: Psychiatry Tags: NEURODEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS: Edited by Roma Vasa Source Type: research
Editorial introductions
No abstract available (Source: Current Opinion in Psychiatry)
Source: Current Opinion in Psychiatry - February 2, 2022 Category: Psychiatry Tags: EDITORIAL INTRODUCTIONS Source Type: research
Epidemiology of personality disorders in individuals with gender dysphoria
Purpose of review
Prevalence estimates of personality disorders (PD) in individuals with gender dysphoria (GD) are variable and heterogeneous, as psychiatric comorbidity and long-term follow-up data from gender-diverse samples are still limited. This review aims to assess prevalence rates across age groups and discuss potential reasons for variability in PD prevalence estimates among transgender people.
Recent findings
International epidemiological data from several countries indicate that the best available estimates of the prevalence of any PD diagnosis in transgender youth are around 20% for adolescents and t...
Source: Current Opinion in Psychiatry - December 11, 2021 Category: Psychiatry Tags: PERSONALITY DISORDERS: Edited by Aleksandar Janca and Charles Pull Source Type: research
Personality dimensions and disorders and coping with the COVID-19 pandemic
This article reviews research and scholarly work aiming to shed more light on personality-based factors that account for adjustment to the pandemic situation.
Recent findings
Most studies relied on a cross-sectional design and were conducted using personality dimensions based on the Big Five personality model. Findings suggest that high levels of neuroticism constitute a risk for pandemic-induced distress and poor overall coping. People with prominent extraversion, conscientiousness or agreeableness have generally demonstrated a good adjustment to the pandemic, including compliance with containment and mitigation me...
Source: Current Opinion in Psychiatry - December 11, 2021 Category: Psychiatry Tags: PERSONALITY DISORDERS: Edited by Aleksandar Janca and Charles Pull Source Type: research
Borderline personality disorder and ageing: myths and realities
This article aims to review the current state of knowledge about BPD in these age groups.
Recent findings
Studies have consistently reported decreasing prevalence rates of BPD among ageing individuals. This may be attributed to the ageing process itself and/or different clinical features due to which meeting the diagnostic criteria for BPD becomes more difficult. Ageing individuals with BPD often present in a way that makes them look ‘atypical’ compared to younger individuals with the same condition. In particular, this pertains to somewhat attenuated and less overt manifestations of impulsivity. However, the ba...
Source: Current Opinion in Psychiatry - December 11, 2021 Category: Psychiatry Tags: PERSONALITY DISORDERS: Edited by Aleksandar Janca and Charles Pull Source Type: research
Conceptualization and management of personality disorders in Russian psychiatry
This article aims to present the current picture on conceptualization, diagnosis and care provision of personality disorders (PD) in modern Russia. These issues are highly relevant to Russian psychiatry, which has a rich historical tradition of analysing psychopathic constitution, personality types and dynamics.
Recent findings
This narrative review covers the main tendencies in the recent Russian academic literature devoted to PD. PD are most frequently investigated in the frames of forensic psychiatry, in which expert conclusions and assessment of the risk factors for socially dangerous behaviour are particularly ...
Source: Current Opinion in Psychiatry - December 11, 2021 Category: Psychiatry Tags: PERSONALITY DISORDERS: Edited by Aleksandar Janca and Charles Pull Source Type: research
The association between personality traits and hoarding behaviors
Purpose of review
Hoarding is a behavior that occurs across a variety of disorders, including hoarding disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and schizophrenia. Hoarding is also a normative human behavior within certain contexts, including the recent coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, when individuals became panicked about the availability of products such as toilet paper and antibacterial wipes. Previous research suggests that personality traits and personality disorder symptoms may be linked with hoarding behaviors. The purpose of this review is to provide a snapshot of recent research on hoarding and persona...
Source: Current Opinion in Psychiatry - December 11, 2021 Category: Psychiatry Tags: PERSONALITY DISORDERS: Edited by Aleksandar Janca and Charles Pull Source Type: research
The prevalence of personality disorder in mental state disorder
Purpose of review
This review examines the prevalence of personality disorder in those with mental state disorder. Some challenges disentangling these psychopathologies are delineated and advances in understanding broadly are reviewed.
Recent findings
Recent taxonomic changes to a dimensionally based classification system in the ICD-11 and DSM of mental disorders-V's alternative model of personality disorder include requiring cut offs to examine clinical outcomes akin to those in hypertension. These new criteria affect personality disorder prevalence where it is comorbid with mental state disorder, although more...
Source: Current Opinion in Psychiatry - December 11, 2021 Category: Psychiatry Tags: PERSONALITY DISORDERS: Edited by Aleksandar Janca and Charles Pull Source Type: research
Sociodemographic and cultural determinants of mood disorders
Purpose of review
The present review aims to examine, summarize and update information on the sociodemographic and cultural determinants of mood disorders.
Recent findings
Known sociodemographic and cultural determinants continue to be good predictors of the risk of developing a mood disorder over the lifetime. Polygenic risk scores do not appear to offer any advantages over these determinants at present. There is also new and emerging understanding of the role of lifestyle and environmental factors in mediating vulnerability to mood disorder. The influence of ethnicity and migration, on the other hand, is far m...
Source: Current Opinion in Psychiatry - December 11, 2021 Category: Psychiatry Tags: MOOD AND ANXIETY DISORDERS: Edited by Santosh K. Chaturvedi, Michael Berk and Wolfgang Marx Source Type: research
Neurofilament light protein as a biomarker in depression and cognitive function
This article examines the emerging evidence implicating neurofilament light protein in depression and cognitive function.
Recent findings
Preliminary cross-sectional and case–control studies in cohorts with depression have yielded inconsistent results regarding the association between neurofilament light protein and symptomatology. However, these studies had methodological limitations, requiring further investigation. Importantly, neurofilament light protein concentrations may be a marker of progression of cognitive decline and may be associated with cognitive performance within cognitively intact cohorts.
Summ...
Source: Current Opinion in Psychiatry - December 11, 2021 Category: Psychiatry Tags: MOOD AND ANXIETY DISORDERS: Edited by Santosh K. Chaturvedi, Michael Berk and Wolfgang Marx Source Type: research
Psychedelic medicines for mood disorders: current evidence and clinical considerations
Purpose of review
Despite advances in treatment modalities for mood disorders over recent decades, further therapeutic options are still required. Increased research is occurring, with the pursuit of psychedelic-based pharmacotherapies for a range of mood disorders and other conditions.
Recent findings
Serotonergic psychedelics have been found to modulate brain networks underlying various psychiatric disorders, as well promoting neurogenesis and neuroplasticity. Randomized placebo-controlled trials have found psilocybin with psychological support effective at treating depression, including treatment-resistant de...
Source: Current Opinion in Psychiatry - December 11, 2021 Category: Psychiatry Tags: MOOD AND ANXIETY DISORDERS: Edited by Santosh K. Chaturvedi, Michael Berk and Wolfgang Marx Source Type: research
