Despite the multitude of clinical manifestations of post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC), studies applying statistical methods to directly investigate patterns of symptom co-occurrence and their biological correlates are scarce.

We assessed 30 symptoms pertaining to different organ systems in 749 adults (age = 55 ± 14 years; 47% female) during in-person visits conducted at 6–11 months after hospitalization due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), including six psychiatric and cognitive manifestations. Symptom co-occurrence was initially investigated using exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and latent variable modeling was then conducted using Item Response Theory (IRT). We investigated associations of latent variable severity with objective indices of persistent physical disability, pulmonary and kidney dysfunction, and C-reactive protein and D-dimer blood levels, measured at the same follow-up assessment.

The EFA extracted one factor, explaining 64.8% of variance; loadings were positive for all symptoms, and above 0.35 for 16 of them. The latent trait generated using IRT placed fatigue, psychiatric, and cognitive manifestations as the most discriminative symptoms (coefficients > 1.5, p < 0.001). Latent trait severity was associated with decreased body weight and poorer physical performance (coefficients > 0.240; p ⩽ 0.003), and elevated blood levels of C-reactive protein (coefficient = 0.378; 95% CI 0.215–0.541; p < 0.001) and D-dimer (coefficient = 0.412; 95% CI 0.123–0.702; p = 0.005). Results were similar after excluding subjects with pro-inflammatory comorbidities.

Different symptoms that persist for several months after moderate or severe COVID-19 may unite within one latent trait of PASC. This trait is dominated by fatigue and psychiatric symptoms, and is associated with objective signs of physical disability and persistent systemic inflammation.

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a clinical condition defined as intentional, self-inflicted act causing pain or superficial damage without suicidal intents (12-35% of the adolescent community). Several findings show a high correlation between NSSI and impairments in the impulsivity control.

The goal of our study is to evaluate the role of impulsivity in NSSI adolescents, relatively to the inhibitory control, in order to investigate if it can represent a neurocognitive risk factor underlying maladaptive behaviours and which psychopathological dimensions can be associated with this neurobiological process.

30 NNSI inpatients (age range: 12 to 18 years), drug-free, were compared with an age-matched control group, using two behavioural paradigms for the study of inhibitory control: the Stop Signal task and the emotive go/Nogo. Psychopathological traits were evaluated by self-report questionnaires for impulsivity dimensions, suicidality and self-injurious acts. Statistical analyses were performed with SPSS program (p =0.05).

NSSI patients did not present impairments in the global inhibitory control but they had longer movement times in both paradigms and faster reaction times in the Go/no-go behavioural paradigm. Therefore, NSSI patients tended to be impulsive at an early stage of movement (rapid TR) and have to slow down in a second phase (TM slow) in order to have time to rework the cognitive processes underlying movement.

The impulsivity dimension is a complex construct that involves multiple interconnected factors. The study of neuro-cognitive and psychopathological aspects and how they are interconnected is necessary to draw new perspectives on the etiopathogenesis of NNSI.

Anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN) are complex psychiatric conditions, in which both psychological and metabolic factors have been implicated. Critically, the experience of stress can precipitate loss-of-control eating in both conditions, suggesting an interplay between mental state and metabolic signaling. However, associations between psychological states, symptoms and metabolic processes in AN and BN have not been examined.

Eighty-five women (n = 22 AN binge/purge subtype, n = 33 BN, n = 30 controls) underwent remote salivary cortisol sampling and a 2-day, inpatient study session to examine the effect of stress on cortisol, gut hormones [acyl-ghrelin, peptide tyrosine tyrosine (PYY) and glucagon-like peptide-1] and food consumption. Participants were randomized to either an acute stress induction or control task on each day, and plasma hormones were serially measured before a naturalistic, ad libitum meal.

Cortisol-awakening response was augmented in AN but not in BN relative to controls, with body mass index explaining the most variance in post-awakening cortisol (36%). Acute stress increased acyl-ghrelin and PYY in AN compared to controls; however, stress did not alter gut hormone profiles in BN. Instead, a group-by-stress interaction showed nominally reduced cortisol reactivity in BN, but not in AN, compared to controls. Ad libitum consumption was lower in both patient groups and unaffected by stress.

Findings extend previous reports of metabolic dysfunction in binge-eating disorders, identifying unique associations across disorders and under stress. Moreover, we observed disrupted homeostatic signaling in AN following psychological stress, which may explain, in part, the maintenance of dysregulated eating in this serious illness.

The functional neuroimaging studies of emotion processing in schizophrenia have revealed variable results attributed partly to differential symptomatology and sex of tested patients. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between cerebral activations during exposure to emotional material and schizophrenia symptoms in men versus women.

Fifteen men and 10 women with schizophrenia, equivalent in terms of age, medication and experienced symptomatology, underwent functional MRI during viewing sad and neutral film excerpts. Data were analyzed using Statistical Parametric Mapping Software (SPM2).

Across all the patients there was a significant inverse relationship between negative symptoms and activations in the right prefrontal cortex during processing of sad versus neutral stimuli. In men, activations during sad versus neutral stimuli in the prefrontal, temporal and anterior cingulate cortex, as well as the caudate and cerebellum, were positively correlated with negative symptoms. In women, there were inverse correlations between positive symptoms and activations in the hippocampus, parietal and occipital cortex during the same condition.

Present results confirmed association of prefrontal hypofunction with negative symptoms in schizophrenia. More interestingly, the results revealed a diametrically different pattern of symptom-correlated brain activity in men and women with schizophrenia, suggesting that the processing of sadness is mediated via neurophysiological mechanism related to negative symptoms in men and the mechanism related to positive symptoms in women.

Up to today, there are experimental evidences pointing out the usefulness of cognitive-behavioral interventions for the treatment of children with Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), including the Parent Training, classified as’empirically validated treatment’ and mainly suitable to build specific parenting skills (Pelham, Wheeler e Chronis, 1998; SINPIA, 2006).

This study examines a process of Parent Training carried out with a group of parents of children with ADHD.

Improving the parenting knowledge and skills in the strategies of management of children's problematic behaviors; encouraging the expression of emotions and managing parental stress.

The training takes place in 12 meetings, the group is formed by 4 couples of parents of children diagnosed with ADHD.

Evaluation of the effectiveness of the treatment: subjective criterion, concerning the degree of satisfaction expressed by parents in using the educational intervention techniques, learned and experienced in the group work, and objective criterion through the use of standardized pre-and post-treatment assessment tools: Parent Stress Index (PSI -RR Abidin, 2008) and Alabama Parent Questionnaire (APQ - Frick, 1991).

Acquisition of a specific knowledge of the Attention Deficit Disorder / Hyperactivity, of the strategies to manage the child's behavior, development of a parental attitude oriented toward problem-solving, becoming thus positive models of behavior, in order to promote family relationships.

This intervention adds to the management of the problems related to ADHD, the support and the management of the emotional aspects related to parental competence.

Anxiety disorders and Cardiovascular (CV) diseases, among the most common disorders in Western World, are often comorbid. A chronic systemic inflammatory state might be a shared underlining pathophysiological mechanism.

To investigate the association between anxiety symptoms, CV risks factors and inflammatory markers in an outpatient sample.

Cross-sectional study. Inclusion criteria: outpatients aged ≥40 years, attending colonoscopy after positive faecal occult blood test, negative medical history for cancer. Collected data: blood pressure, glycaemia, lipid profile, waist circumference, BMI, PCR (C Reactive Protein), LPS (bacterial Lipopolysaccharide). Psychometric tests: HADS, TCI, IMSA, SF36. Statistical analysis performed with STATA13.

Fifty four patients enrolled (27 males, 27 females). Sixteen patients (30.19%) were positive for anxiety symptoms. Thirty-three patients (61.11%) had hypertension, 14 (25.93%) hyperglycaemia and 64.81% were overweight, with frank obesity (BMI≥ 30) in 11 subjects (20.37%). Anxiety symptoms were associated with low hematic HDL values (OR = 0.01; P = 0.01) and high concentration of triglycerides (OR = 0.023; P = 0.02) at the multiple regression model. At the univariate logistic analysis, anxiety was associated with LPS (OR = 1.06; P = 0.04).

Further evidence over the epidemiological link between common mental disorders and CV diseases was collected, with possible hints on pathophysiology and causative mechanisms related to inflammation. The importance of screening for anxiety and depression in medical populations is confirmed. Suggestions on future availability of screening tools based on inflammatory-related indicators should be the focus of future research.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Polydrug abuse seems to be especially popular in Ibiza, an important market for new psychoactive substances (NPS). The misuse of psychoactive substances can lead to serious psychiatric symptoms.

To evaluate symptoms induced by NPSs and other club drugs, correlating with the main classes of drugs.

Ninety subjects (M/F 59/31) admitted in the Psychiatric Unit of Can Misses Hospital (Ibiza) referring a recent intake of substances were enrolled. The following scales were administered: TLFB (Timeline follow-back); Positive and Negative Symptoms Scale (PANSS); Symptom checklist-90 (SCL-90) ; Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) ; Hamilton Depression Scale (HAM-D); Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAM-A); Modified Overt Aggression Scale (MOAS); Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS).

Polydrug abuse was reported by 67.4% of the sample; the sample was grouped by the main preferred substance in THC-, stimulants-, and depressors-users. The majority of patients reported a previous psychiatric history. Positive symptoms resulted to be higher among THC-users (P < .05). Anxiety evaluated by SCL-90 was prevalent in the group of Depressors-users (P < .05). The scores of MOAS and SCL-90 subscale for hostility/aggression resulted to be significantly (P < .01) greater in the THC-users group.

Some specific psychiatric symptoms are characteristic of some classes of substances and may help to identify them when a urine sample is not available. The possibility to develop psychiatric symptoms after a recent drug use is more common in two situations: (1) patients with a previous psychiatric history; (2) subjects with a history of very strong substance use.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Pro-inflammatory states of the large bowel have a multifactorial aetiology, including metabolism, atherogenesis, and psychological determinants. Inflammation plays a role in depressive and anxiety disorders, is tightly associated with early pro-atherogenetic alterations and metabolic dysregulation, and is also a key factor for the development of colorectal cancer.

To investigate the association between pro-atherogenetic factors, metabolic status, psychological assessment and presence of colorectal adenomas.

Case-control study, approved by the local Ethic Committee. Patients aged 40 or more and undergoing colonoscopy for positive faecal blood test and/or abdominal symptoms, with a negative history for neoplasia or inflammatory bowel diseases, were enrolled. For each patient the following data were collected: waist and hip circumferences, BMI, arterial pressure, fasten serum glycemia, current medications. Beside colonoscopy, carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) was assessed by means of echographic evaluation. Psychometric assessment included HADS, TCI, IMSA, SF-36. Statistics performed with SigmaPlot v.12 Platform.

Preliminary results are available for 18 patients (male/female 8/10) Mean age 62.6 ± 8.4. Ten patients had at least one adenoma, 8 patients had no lesions. The following differences were noticeable: HADS-depression (mean ± SD) adenoma vs. no-adenoma: 4.9 ± 3.2 vs. 1.7 ± 1.8 (P < .01); IMT median value adenoma vs. no-adenoma: 793 vs. 638 micrometers (P = .04); Body weight (mean ± SD) adenoma vs. no-adenoma: 66.4 ± 8.7 kg vs. 80.9 ± 15.3 kg (P = .03); waist circumference (mean ± SD) adenoma vs. no-adenoma: 105.2 ± 13.4 cm vs. 89.5 ± 4.7 cm (P < .01).

Preliminary data from PNEI-MO Research Group support the relation between systemic inflammation, psychological status and development of precancerous colorectal cancer lesions. Depression seems associated with the presence of colorectal adenomas.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

The purpose of this study was to investigate cognitive functioning in Borderline Personality Disorder subjects, with particular reference to the Working Memory functioning. The Working Memory seems to be relate to core features of the disturb. The final aim was to better understand the disorder and to implement a cognitive training to improve the deficits.

A literature search was conducted in April 2015. Pubmed and Scopus databases were used to find studies to include in the systematic review. The keywords used for the literature search were: “borderline personality disorder”, “borderline personality”, “working memory”, “executive functioning”. In each search, the keywords were used together with the logical operator “and”.

Three studies were included in this systematic review (Table 1). In each study, the working memory was investigated using N-back test. In two of those studies significantly differences were found between patients and healthy group in N-back task. In the third study, which used more tests to investigate working memory domain, no differences were found between the two groups.

Borderline personality disorder patients performed significantly worse on the N-back test compared to healthy controls and the impairment increased with increasing working memory load. In the third study the working memory domain was investigated using four different tests and single scores were not included therefore it was impossible to compare N-back data.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Growing evidence has been collected over the complex, intertwined pathophysiological connection among subclinical cardiovascular (CV) disease, i.e. atherosclerosis, systemic low pro-inflammatory states and psychiatric disorders/symptomatology (anxiety, depression), with controversial results.

Aim of this study was to investigate the possible link between subclinical CV risk factors (atherosclerosis), depressive symptoms, and inflammation.

Cross-sectional study. Inclusion criteria: outpatients aged ≥40 years, attending colonoscopy after positive faecal occult blood test, negative medical history for cancer. Collected data: blood pressure, glycaemia, lipid profile, waist circumference, BMI, PCR (C reactive protein), LPS (bacterial lipopolysaccharide), ultrasound carotid intima-media thickness (c-IMT). Psychometric tests: HADS, TCI, IMSA, SF36. Statistical analysis performed with STATA13.

The 54 patients enrolled were equally distributed by gender. CV risk factors were common in the study population, with 33 patients (61.11%) with hypertension, 14 (25.93%) with hyperglycaemia, 20 (37.4%) with hypertriglyceridemia, 19 (35.19%) with low HDL and 64.81% with overweight. High levels of PCR were found in 24 subjects (44.44%). Right c-IMT was increased in 26.41% of the sample, and 11.32% had an atheromatous plaque. Left c-IMT was increased in 24.53% of patients, with a plaque in 7.55% of them. Clinically relevant depressive symptoms were found in the 18.87% of the sample and were statistically significantly associated with PCR (OR = 28.63; P = 0.01).

Evidence contributing to the so-called “inflammation theory” of depression and supporting the association between mood and CV disorders was here collected, supporting the need for a multidisciplinary approach to the diagnosis and treatment of such conditions, assuming a clinically-translated PNEI (psycho-neuro-endocrino-immunological) perspective.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Inflammatory state of the large bowel is a key factor for the development of colorectal cancer (CRC). It has multifactorial aetiology, including psychological determinants. Physical activity may have a protective function against CRC via anti-inflammatory properties; on the contrary, personality traits correlate with an unhealthy and dangerous lifestyle.

To measure the association between personality traits, lifestyle and colonoscopy outcome.

Cross sectional study. Patients undergoing colonoscopy aged 40 or more, with a negative history for cancer or inflammatory bowel disease, were enrolled. Data collected: colonoscopy outcome, smoke, alcohol, physical activity, presence/absence of Metabolic Syndrome, personality traits assessed by the Temperament & Character Inventory (TCI).

In a sample of 53 subjects (females = 24, 45.3%), the mean age was 60.66 ± 9.08. At least one adenoma was found to 23 patients (43.3%). Twenty patients were smokers (37.74%), 36 (67.92%) drank alcohol at least weekly; approximately 60% reported regular physical activity. At the multivariate regression, the outcome was associated to: TCI Self Transcendence domain (ST) (OR = 1.36, P = 0.04) and physical activity (OR = 0.14, P = 0.03).

People with ST's characteristic personality traits and sedentary life style are more likely to have precancerous colorectal lesions. This confirms the protective role of physical activity, and suggests to further explore the role of personality in cancerogenesis.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

To examine timing of eating across ten European countries.

Cross-sectional analysis of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) calibration study using standardized 24 h diet recalls collected during 1995–2000. Eleven predefined food consumption occasions were assessed during the recall interview. We present time of consumption of meals and snacks as well as the later:earlier energy intake ratio, with earlier and later intakes defined as 06.00–14.00 and 15.00–24.00 hours, respectively. Type III tests were used to examine associations of sociodemographic, lifestyle and health variables with timing of energy intake.

Ten Western European countries.

In total, 22 985 women and 13 035 men aged 35–74 years (n 36 020).

A south–north gradient was observed for timing of eating, with later consumption of meals and snacks in Mediterranean countries compared with Central and Northern European countries. However, the energy load was reversed, with the later:earlier energy intake ratio ranging from 0·68 (France) to 1·39 (Norway) among women, and from 0·71 (Greece) to 1·35 (the Netherlands) among men. Among women, country, age, education, marital status, smoking, day of recall and season were all independently associated with timing of energy intake (all P<0·05). Among men, the corresponding variables were country, age, education, smoking, physical activity, BMI and day of recall (all P<0·05).

We found pronounced differences in timing of eating across Europe, with later meal timetables but greater energy load earlier during the day in Mediterranean countries compared with Central and Northern European countries.

Distinguishing temporal patterns of depressive symptoms during pregnancy and after childbirth has important clinical implications for diagnosis, treatment, and maternal and child outcomes. The primary aim of the present study was to distinguish patterns of chronically elevated levels of depressive symptoms v. trajectories that are either elevated during pregnancy but then remit after childbirth, v. patterns that increase after childbirth.

The report uses latent growth mixture modeling in a large, population-based cohort (N = 12 121) to investigate temporal patterns of depressive symptoms. We examined theoretically relevant sociodemographic factors, exposure to adversity, and offspring gender as predictors.

Four distinct trajectories emerged, including resilient (74.3%), improving (9.2%), emergent (4.0%), and chronic (11.5%). Lower maternal and paternal education distinguished chronic from resilient depressive trajectories, whereas higher maternal and partner education, and female offspring gender, distinguished the emergent trajectory from the chronic trajectory. Younger maternal age distinguished the improving group from the resilient group. Exposure to medical, interpersonal, financial, and housing adversity predicted membership in the chronic, emergent, and improving trajectories compared with the resilient trajectory. Finally, exposure to medical, interpersonal, and financial adversity was associated with the chronic v. improving group, and inversely related to the emergent class relative to the improving group.

There are distinct temporal patterns of depressive symptoms during pregnancy, after childbirth, and beyond. Most women show stable low levels of depressive symptoms, while emergent and chronic depression patterns are separable with distinct correlates, most notably maternal age, education levels, adversity exposure, and child gender.