3 results
Decreased vitamin D levels in obsessive-compulsive disorder patients
- Donatella Marazziti, Filippo M. Barberi, Leonardo Fontenelle, Beatrice Buccianelli, Manuel G. Carbone, Elisabetta Parra, Stefania Palermo, Lucia Massa, Claudia Tagliarini, Alessandra Della Vecchia, Federico Mucci, Alessandro Arone, Liliana Dell’Osso
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- Journal:
- CNS Spectrums / Volume 28 / Issue 5 / October 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 23 September 2021, pp. 606-613
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Objective
The present paper compared vitamin D levels in adult patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and explored possible correlations with patients’ characteristics.
MethodsFifty outpatients with OCD, according to DSM-5 criteria, were included and assessed with the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) and the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRDS).
ResultsAll the patients except one showed lower vitamin D levels than normative values (>30 nm/L). Vitamin D values of the whole sample were negatively correlated with Y-BOCS total, compulsion subscale, and some items’ scores, specifically “interference from obsessions,” “distress associated with obsessions,” and “time spent on compulsions”. The same relationships were detected in men, while women showed negative correlations between vitamin D levels and Y-BOCS compulsion subscale and “resistance to compulsions,” “degree of control of compulsions,” “insight” item scores.
ConclusionsOur findings would indicate that vitamin D might be involved in the pathophysiology of OCD, and that it is possibly related to the severity of the disorder and to typical symptoms, with some sex-related peculiarities. Further studies are necessary to support or not our findings and to ascertain the effectiveness of vitamin D supplementation in patients with OCD.
Is there a relationship between morphological and functional platelet changes and depressive disorder?
- Claudia Tagliarini, Manuel Glauco Carbone, Giovanni Pagni, Donatella Marazziti, Nunzio Pomara
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- Journal:
- CNS Spectrums / Volume 27 / Issue 2 / April 2022
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 23 October 2020, pp. 157-190
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Background
Blood platelets, due to shared biochemical and functional properties with presynaptic serotonergic neurons, constituted, over the years, an attractive peripheral biomarker of neuronal activity. Therefore, the literature strongly focused on the investigation of eventual structural and functional platelet abnormalities in neuropsychiatric disorders, particularly in depressive disorder. Given their impact in biological psychiatry, the goal of the present paper was to review and critically analyze studies exploring platelet activity, functionality, and morpho-structure in subjects with depressive disorder.
MethodsAccording to the PRISMA guidelines, we performed a systematic review through the PubMed database up to March 2020 with the search terms: (1) platelets in depression [Title/Abstract]”; (2) “(platelets[Title]) AND depressive disorder[Title/Abstract]”; (3) “(Platelet[Title]) AND major depressive disorder[Title]”; (4) (platelets[Title]) AND depressed[Title]”; (5) (platelets[Title]) AND depressive episode[Title]”; (6) (platelets[Title]) AND major depression[Title]”; (7) platelet activation in depression[All fields]”; and (8) platelet reactivity in depression[All fields].”
ResultsAfter a detailed screening analysis and the application of specific selection criteria, we included in our review a total of 106 for qualitative synthesis. The studies were classified into various subparagraphs according to platelet characteristics analyzed: serotonergic system (5-HT2A receptors, SERT activity, and 5-HT content), adrenergic system, MAO activity, biomarkers of activation, responsivity, morphological changes, and other molecular pathways.
ConclusionsDespite the large amount of the literature examined, nonunivocal and, occasionally, conflicting results emerged. However, the findings on structural and metabolic alterations, modifications in the expression of specific proteins, changes in the aggregability, or in the responsivity to different pro-activating stimuli, may be suggestive of potential platelet dysfunctions in depressed subjects, which would result in a kind of hyperreactive state. This condition could potentially lead to an increased cardiovascular risk. In line with this hypothesis, we speculated that antidepressant treatments would seem to reduce this hyperreactivity while representing a potential tool for reducing cardiovascular risk in depressed patients and, maybe, in other neuropsychiatric conditions. However, the problem of the specificity of platelet biomarkers is still at issue and would deserve to be deepened in future studies.
Can the migration process influence the clinical expression of heroin use disorder in migrants to Italy?
- Icro Maremmani, Manuel G. Carbone, Claudia Tagliarini, Marina Ricci, Anna M. Lupi, Lucia Sarandrea, Angela Ceban, Angelo G.I. Maremmani, Pietro Casella
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- Journal:
- CNS Spectrums / Volume 26 / Issue 1 / February 2021
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 23 January 2020, pp. 62-70
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Background
For some time now, there has been a strong consensus that the migration process can influence the onset, course, development, outcome, and clinical aspects of psychiatric pathologies.
MethodsIn this study, we have analyzed the influence of the migration process on the clinical expression of heroin use disorder (HUD). In a naturalistic case–control study, we compared, both at univariate and multivariate level, 30 migrant HUD (M-HUD) patients with 30 age/gender-matched Italian HUD (IT-HUD) patients. We also analyzed demographic data, drug addiction history, psychopathological symptoms, addictive behavior, and emotional reactivity to life events.
ResultsCompared with IT-HUD pairs, at HUD Agonist Opioid Treatment, M-HUD patients were characterized by inadequate income and the presence of legal problems. They were more frequently at stage 3 of heroin addiction, with a concomitantly less frequent use of stimulants. Their age at the onset of heroin use was greater than that of subjects in the IT-HUD group. HUD post-traumatic stress disorder spectrum was present and was more severe in all M-HUD patients, but grief reactions and maladaptive behavior were the most discriminant traits. No differences were found in terms of addictive behaviors related to heroin craving or with respect to the severity/typology of psychopathology specific to HUD.
ConclusionsThe migratory process does not seem to be correlated with addictive behaviors or with psychopathology specific to HUD. It partly affects HUD history, and specifically correlates with emotional reactivity to loss and traumatic life events, so suggesting that in M-HUD individuals, the link between the migratory syndrome and HUD is very close.