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Topic Review
Social Isolation and Loneliness during the COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a predominantly global quarantine response that has been associated with social isolation, loneliness, and anxiety. Notwithstanding the efficacy of quarantine as a tool to limit the spread of disease, it also creates social isolation. Social isolation is an objective state in which an individual is alone, and is a sufficient, but not necessary, condition to produce the subjective feeling of loneliness. More specifically, some individuals may be socially isolated but experience this as a natural and healthy state in normal conditions; however, the prolongation of social isolation, particularly in unnatural conditions (e.g., in response to a global pandemic) can become a hazardous state to individual health. Loneliness is a similar yet distinct case: it is a subjective state in which a person feels that their social connections are inadequate (even though they may have a substantial social network). Both of these concepts relate to social connections and the maintenance of a healthy support network. The health implications of social isolation and loneliness during quarantine have a heterogenous and comorbid nature and, as a result, form a link to anxiety.
  • 414
  • 28 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Circulating Cell-Free DNA Levels in Psychiatric Diseases
The cell-free DNA (cfDNA) levels are known to increase in biological fluids in various pathological conditions. However, the data on circulating cfDNA in severe psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder (BD), and depressive disorders (DDs), is contradictory. The meta-analysis showed that the levels of total cfDNA and genomic cfDNA in patients with schizophrenia are significantly higher than in healthy donors (SMD values of 0.61 and 0.6, respectively; p < 0.00001). Data on mitochondrial cfDNA in schizophrenia were scarce. Meta-analysis in BD and DDs found no significant differences in the level of mitochondrial cfDNA. However, further research on mitochondrial and genomic cfDNA levels in psychiatric disorders is needed due to the data heterogeneity.
  • 407
  • 08 Mar 2023
Topic Review
Overgeneral Autobiographical Memory
Overgeneral autobiographical memory (OGM) is an inability to retrieve specific memories from one's autobiographical memory. Instead, general memories are recalled, such as repeated events or events occurring over broad periods. For example, when asked to recall a happy event, a person who exhibits OGM may say, "when I was on vacation last month" instead of remembering a single incident, such as, "my high school graduation." Research shows a correlation between OGM and certain mental illnesses, such as major depressive disorder (MDD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
  • 342
  • 08 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Considerations about PD Treatment
The treatment of PD starts when motor signs are developed. Current treatments include pharmacologic therapy, physical therapy, rehabilitating therapy and surgery. Physical therapy and exercise are beneficial in PD patients for both motor and non-motor symptoms. The activities include speech therapy, nutrition, physiotherapy, and support groups.
  • 329
  • 20 Apr 2021
Topic Review
Application of Antipsychotic Drugs in Mood Disorders
Since their first application in psychiatry seventy years ago, antipsychotic drugs, besides schizophrenia, have been widely used in the treatment of mood disorders. First-generation antipsychotics (FGAs), such as phenothiazines and haloperidol, were mainly applied for the treatment of acute mania, as well as psychotic depression when combined with antidepressants. The second-generation, so-called atypical antipsychotics (SGAs), such as clozapine, risperidone, olanzapine, and quetiapine, have antimanic activity and are also effective for the maintenance treatment of bipolar disorder. Additionally, quetiapine exerts therapeutic action in bipolar depression. Among third-generation antipsychotics (TGAs) aripiprazole and cariprazine have antimanic activity, lurasidone, cariprazine, lumateperone exert a significant antidepressant effect in bipolar depression; while there is evidence for the efficacy of aripiprazole and lurasidone in the prevention of recurrence in bipolar disorder.
  • 328
  • 08 Mar 2023
Topic Review
Status of Oxidative Stress in Alcohol Dependence
Alcohol-induced oxidative stress (OS) plays a pivotal role in the pathophysiology of alcohol dependence (AD). The opposite trends in the level of SOD and GPx activities in serum/plasma and erythrocytes of male patients could be used as the biomarker of alcohol-induced OS injury, and the synergistic changes of MDA, vitamin B12, albumin, bilirubin, and homocysteine levels should also be considered.
  • 321
  • 25 Oct 2022
Topic Review
Structural Diversity of Secondary Metabolites from Marine-Derived Bacillus
The marine is a highly complex ecosystem including various microorganisms. Bacillus species is a predominant microbialflora widely distributed in marine ecosystems. Bacillus species can grow rapidly and tolerate extremely adverse environmental conditions such as extreme ambient temperature, salinity and pH, high pressure and nutrient deficiency. B. subtilis can adopt several responses when faced with the depletion of essential nutrients, including motility, secretion of extracellular enzymes, genetic transformation, antibiotic production, and finally sporulation. The genus Bacillus is a prolific producer of bioactive metabolites, including more than 350 kinds of rod-shaped and Gram-positive bacteria. 
  • 320
  • 08 Oct 2022
Topic Review
Biological Alterations Underlying Suicidal Behaviour
Suicidal behaviour is a complex, multi-factorial, polygenic and independent mental health problem caused by a combination of alterations and dysfunctions of several biological pathways and disruption of normal mechanisms in brain regions that remain poorly understood and need further investigation to be deciphered. Suicide complexity and unpredictability gained international interest as a field of research. Several studies have been conducted at the neuropathological, inflammatory, genetic, and molecular levels to uncover the triggers behind suicidal behaviour and develop convenient and effective therapeutic or at least preventive procedures.
  • 281
  • 03 Apr 2023
Topic Review
Microglia in Immunological Dysfunction in Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a complex psychiatric condition that may involve immune system dysregulation. Microglia are the resident brain innate immune cells that have been implicated in host defense against neurotropic pathogens, brain development, and neurodegenerative disorders.
  • 262
  • 23 Aug 2023
Topic Review
Genetic Factors Related to N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptors Dysfunction
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders, although the aetiology of ADHD is not yet understood. One proposed theory for developing ADHD is N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) dysfunction. NMDARs are involved in regulating synaptic plasticity and memory function in the brain. Abnormal expression or polymorphism of some genes associated with ADHD results in NMDAR dysfunction.
  • 250
  • 23 Aug 2023
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