Aggressive Behavior and Psychiatric Inpatients: a Narrative Review of the Literature with a Focus on the European Experience
We examined the main factors associated with aggressive behaviors in the hospital setting, with a special focus on the European experience.Recent FindingsA number of variables, including individual, historical, and contextual variables, are significant risk factors for aggression among hospitalized people. Drug abuse can be considered a trans-dimensional variable which deserves particular attention.SummaryAlthough mental health disorders represent a significant component in the risk of aggression, there are many factors including drug abuse, past history of physically aggressive behavior, childhood abuse, social and cultur...
Source: Current Psychiatry Reports - April 7, 2021 Category: Psychiatry Source Type: research
The Evolutionarily Mismatched Impact of Urbanization on Insomnia Symptoms: a Short Review of the Recent Literature
AbstractPurpose of ReviewFor the most part of human existence, individuals have been living a rural lifestyle in a rural setting. However, such sleep-conducive conditions have largely been transformed dramatically by urbanization within a relatively short span of time in recent history, and the resulting evolved mechanisms-environment mismatch is theorized to bring about an increased risk for insomnia symptoms. This brief review of the recent literature is designed to evaluate the veracity of this proposition.Recent FindingsThe majority of recent findings have suggested that most proposed evolutionarily mismatched urban fa...
Source: Current Psychiatry Reports - April 2, 2021 Category: Psychiatry Source Type: research
Telemental Health and the Management of Psychosis
We present the contextual factors which make this approach to clinical care compelling, and review existing evidence about feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness.Recent FindingsThe use of telehealth with individuals that suffer from serious mental illness and psychosis has been demonstrated to be feasible and acceptable, with effectiveness that is comparable to in-person clinical care. Telehealth holds the additional promises of expanding access, connecting patients, families, and the general public to behavioral health resources, and reducing overall health care costs.SummaryWe provide two case examples which demon...
Source: Current Psychiatry Reports - March 24, 2021 Category: Psychiatry Source Type: research
Delivering Imagery Rescripting via Telehealth: Clinical Concerns, Benefits, and Recommendations
AbstractPurpose of the ReviewDelivery of psychological therapies via telehealth has increased with the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic. Therapists may be hesitant in moving to telehealth when delivering therapies targeting memories of traumatic experiences. This paper collates the clinical experiences of clinicians and clients who have delivered or received imagery rescripting, respectively, via telehealth across a range of clinical presentations, and describes key clinical considerations and recommendations.Recent FindingsIt is important to consider perceived and real safety; practical and technological issues; therape...
Source: Current Psychiatry Reports - March 16, 2021 Category: Psychiatry Source Type: research
Neuropsychiatric Complications of COVID-19
AbstractPurpose of ReviewTo describe the presentation, etiologies, and suggested management of post-acute COVID-19 neuropsychiatric symptoms.Recent FindingsOver 30% of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 may exhibit cognitive impairment, depression, and anxiety that persist for months after discharge. These symptoms are even more common in patients who required intensive care for severe effects of the virus. In addition to the pandemic-related psychological stress, multiple biological mechanisms have been proposed to understand the neuropsychiatric symptoms observed with COVID-19. Given limited research regarding effective...
Source: Current Psychiatry Reports - March 16, 2021 Category: Psychiatry Source Type: research
Correction to: Effects of Mass Shootings on the Mental Health of Children and Adolescents
A Correction to this paper has been published:https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-021-01241-z (Source: Current Psychiatry Reports)
Source: Current Psychiatry Reports - March 16, 2021 Category: Psychiatry Source Type: research
Social Determinants of Health: the Impact of Racism on Early Childhood Mental Health
This article reviews research from the past 5 years focusing on the impact of racism on infant and early childhood mental health and socioemotional development.Recent FindingsLongitudinal studies provide evidence that very young children are highly influenced by exposure to multiple and interconnecting levels of racism and discrimination. These forms of exposure (structural and personally mediated, which can be further divided into direct and indirect exposure) are particularly nefarious to young children ’s socioemotional development and have implications for adolescent and adult mental health with lasting sequelae. Fur...
Source: Current Psychiatry Reports - March 12, 2021 Category: Psychiatry Source Type: research
Understanding the Connection Between the Gut –Brain Axis and Stress/Anxiety Disorders
AbstractPurpose of ReviewWe review the association of the microbiota-gut-brain axis and anxiety disorder or stress.Recent FindingThe microbiota –gut–brain axis mechanism encompasses a bidirectional relationship between the brain and gastrointestinal organs. Dysregulation of the microbiota–gut–brain axis has been actively revealed in the context of various psychiatric diseases such as neurodevelopmental disorders, schizophrenia, anxi ety disorders, and depression.SummaryWe suggest that onset of anxiety disorders may be correlated with activation of a microbiota –gut–brain mechanism involving the immune system, n...
Source: Current Psychiatry Reports - March 12, 2021 Category: Psychiatry Source Type: research
Beyond Burnout: Responding to the COVID-19 Pandemic Challenges to Self-care
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThis paper is a review of the self-care challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic on the physical and emotional health and well-being of healthcare providers. New self-care practices are presented.Recent FindingsGlobally, thousands of health care practitioners and staff have been infected; many have died. Research studies reveal that this pandemic has threatened the health of healthcare staff, their families, and communities in many unique ways, such as fear of infecting family (lack of safety at home), moral injury, witnessing the suffering of the “innocent,” coping with a problem too big to solve (...
Source: Current Psychiatry Reports - March 9, 2021 Category: Psychiatry Source Type: research
How Does COVID-19 Affect the Neurobiology of Suicide?
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThe aim of this review was to analyze COVID-19 effect on the biological features of suicidal vulnerability and its interaction with suicide-related biological pathways. We carried out a narrative review of international publications on the interactions of COVID-19 with the biological bases of suicide.Recent FindingsWe hypothesize that SARS-CoV-2 interacts with multiple biological processes that underlie suicidal behavior, such as the renin-angiotensin system, nicotinic receptors, and central and systemic inflammation. Social distancing measures may also worsen subjective or objective social disconn...
Source: Current Psychiatry Reports - March 3, 2021 Category: Psychiatry Source Type: research
The Relationship Between Anxiety Disorders and Parkinson ’s Disease: Clinical and Therapeutic Issues
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThis paper seeks to describe anxiety ’s different symptomatologic presentations in Parkinson’s disease (PD), its longitudinal course and predictors, as well as its motor and non-motor correlates. It also reviews the available screening tools and different treatment modalities.Recent FindingsIn PD, longitudinal predictors of anxiety are mostly non-motor non-dopaminergic symptoms. The longitudinal course of anxiety is mainly a stable one. The Parkinson Anxiety Scale and the Geriatric Anxiety Scale are the 2 recommended screening tools.SummaryA third of PD patients suffer from an anxiety disorder ...
Source: Current Psychiatry Reports - March 3, 2021 Category: Psychiatry Source Type: research
Cannabis Legalization and College Mental Health
AbstractPurpose of ReviewTo assess how the changing landscape of marijuana use affects the developing brain and mental health of college students.Recent FindingsLegalization of cannabis may facilitate use in the college population, with 38% of college students, whose brains are still maturing, regularly using marijuana products. Earlier and increased use, higher potency, pre-existing issues, and genetic predispositions increase negative outcomes by precipitating or worsening mental illness and ultimately impacting academic success.SummaryIn the USA, the sharpest increase in cannabis users following legalization has been in...
Source: Current Psychiatry Reports - March 3, 2021 Category: Psychiatry Source Type: research
COVID Stress Syndrome: Clinical and Nosological Considerations
AbstractPurpose of ReviewTo review the current state of knowledge on the newly proposed COVID Stress Syndrome.Recent FindingsThe syndrome consists of five inter-correlated elements: (a) fear of SARSCoV2 infection and fear of coming into contact with objects or surfaces contaminated with the coronavirus; (b) fear of socio-economic impacts of the pandemic; (c) fear of foreigners for fear that they are infected; (d) pandemic-related compulsive checking and reassurance-seeking; and (e) pandemic-related traumatic stress symptoms. A severe form of the syndrome, characterized by clinically significant distress and impairment in f...
Source: Current Psychiatry Reports - March 3, 2021 Category: Psychiatry Source Type: research
Increasing Cybercrime Since the Pandemic: Concerns for Psychiatry
AbstractPurpose of ReviewSince the pandemic, the daily activities of many people occur at home. People connect to the Internet for work, school, shopping, entertainment, and doctor visits, including psychiatrists. Concurrently, cybercrime has surged worldwide. This narrative review examines the changing use of technology, societal impacts of the pandemic, how cybercrime is evolving, individual vulnerabilities to cybercrime, and special concerns for those with mental illness.Recent FindingsHuman factors are a central component of cybersecurity as individual behaviors, personality traits, online activities, and attitudes to ...
Source: Current Psychiatry Reports - March 3, 2021 Category: Psychiatry Source Type: research
Sensation-Seeking and Impulsivity in Athletes with Sport-Related Concussion
AbstractPurpose of ReviewSport-related concussion (SRC) is a significant public health problem. Understanding the behavioral and personal factors that influence risk and incidence of SRC is critically important for appropriate care and management. Sensation-seeking and impulsivity have been posited to be two such factors that may be significantly associated with SRC. We performed a focused review of recent evidence of the relationships between sensation-seeking and impulsivity in athletes with SRC.Recent FindingsWhile the research is relatively limited, extant findings demonstrate a significant relationship between sensati...
Source: Current Psychiatry Reports - March 2, 2021 Category: Psychiatry Source Type: research
