brain-morphology-cannabis-users-with-or-without-psychosis-pilot-mri

Brain Morphology of Cannabis Users With or Without Psychosis: A Pilot MRI Study

Cannabis is the illicit drug most commonly used worldwide, and its consumption can both induce psychiatric symptoms in otherwise healthy subjects and ...

Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico

The short version of the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI-125) has been employed for the study of personality traits in both clinical and normal populations. However, to the best of our knowledge, no studies explored the psychometric properties of this instrument in healthy individuals across the lifespan. We here provide the Italian normative data and present the personality features according to age and gender in a sample of healthy individuals.

Normative data and effects of age and gender on temperament and character dimensions across the lifespan in an Italian population: A cross-sectional validation study.

The assessment of schizotypy allows to identify people at risk to develop psychosis. For this purpose, psychometric tools have been developed, such as the Magical Ideation Scale (MIS). This scale investigates attenuated forms of thought transmission experiences, thought withdrawal and aberrant beliefs, related to positive schizotypy. This study aims at providing an Italian version of the MIS and its normative data in the general population from childhood to adulthood, being the first study evaluating subjects under 17year-old. The Italian MIS version was translated by three independent operators and administered to 1378 non-clinical participants, stratified into four age groups (i.e., 8-13, 14-17, 18-24 and 25-34). The unidimensionality of the scale was supported, and its internal consistency was satisfactory (i.e., ordinal Cronbach's αs ranging from 0.86 to 0.90 in different age groups), as well as test-retest reliability (i.e., 1-month ICC of 0.82 in a retested sub-sample). Normative data for the age groups were provided. Specific gender and age-related differences in MIS score were found, i.e. females scored higher than males in the 25-34 age group, which in general, as a group, scored lower than all the other age groups. This study provided evidence of reliability for the Italian version of the MIS in childhood and adolescence, for the first time, as well as in adulthood, showing specific gender and age effects in the early adult cohort.

Normative data of the Magical Ideation Scale from childhood to adulthood in an Italian cohort.

Among emerging treatments for depressive disorders several studies suggested that n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3PUFAs) supplementation can be used. However, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) differ in terms of biochemistry, metabolism and therapeutic effects. Therefore, a clear picture of their specific and different role on affective disorders has not yet emerged.

The role of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3PUFAs) in affective disorders.

Breastfed infants follow a peculiar growth fashion characterized by a rapid weight gain in the first weeks of life, then followed by a fast decrease in growth rates, a capacity to self-regulate the sense of hungry and satiety, and a minor propensity towards overweight and obesity later on, in parallel with a better neurodevelopmental performance.

The first model of keeping energy balance and optimal psycho affective development: Breastfed infants.

In this systematic review, we will consider and debate studies that have explored the effects of ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in three major, and somehow related, developmental psychiatric disorders: Autism, Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity disorder and Psychosis. The impact of ω-3 PUFAs on clinical symptoms and, if possible, brain trajectory in children and adolescents suffering from these illnesses will be reviewed and discussed, considering the biological plausibility of the effects of omega-3 fatty acids, together with their potential perspectives in the field. Heterogeneity in study designs will be discussed in the light of differences in results and interpretation of studies carried out so far.

The Role of Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Developmental Psychopathology: A Systematic Review on Early Psychosis, Autism, and ADHD.

Structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies reported gray matter (GM) loss in bipolar disorder (BD) in cingulate cortices, key regions subserving emotional regulation and cognitive functions in humans. The aim of this study was to further explore cingulate GM volumes in a sizeable group of BD patients with respect to healthy controls, particularly investigating the impact of gender and clinical variables. 39 BD patients (mean Age = 48.6 ± 9.7, 15 males and 24 females) and 39 demographically matched healthy subjects (mean Age = 47.9 ± 9.1, 15 males and 24 females) underwent a 1.5T MRI scan. GM volumes within the cingulate cortex were manually detected, including anterior and posterior regions. BD patients had decreased left anterior cingulate volumes compared with healthy controls (F = 6.7, p = 0.01). Additionally, a significant gender effect was observed, with male patients showing reduced left anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) volumes compared to healthy controls (F = 5.1, p = 0.03). Furthermore, a significant inverse correlation between right ACC volumes and number of hospitalizations were found in the whole group of BD patients (r = - 0.51, p = 0.04) and in male BD patients (r = - 0.88, p = 0.04). Finally, no statistically significant correlations were observed in female BD patients. Our findings further confirm the putative role of the ACC in the pathophysiology of BD. Interestingly, this study also suggested the presence of gender-specific GM volume reductions in ACC in BD, which may also be associated to poor outcome.

Cingulate abnormalities in bipolar disorder relate to gender and outcome: a region-based morphometry study [corrected].

Relevant factors involved in the creation of some children's food preferences and eating behaviours have been examined in order to highlight the topic and give paediatricians practical instruments to understand the background behind eating behaviour and to manage children's nutrition for preventive purposes. Electronic databases were searched to locate and appraise relevant studies. We carried out a search to identify papers published in English on factors that influence children's feeding behaviours. The family system that surrounds a child's domestic life will have an active role in establishing and promoting behaviours that will persist throughout his or her life. Early-life experiences with various tastes and flavours have a role in promoting healthy eating in future life. The nature of a narrative review makes it difficult to integrate complex interactions when large sets of studies are involved. In the current analysis, parental food habits and feeding strategies are the most dominant determinants of a child's eating behaviour and food choices. Parents should expose their offspring to a range of good food choices while acting as positive role models. Prevention programmes should be addressed to them, taking into account socioeconomic aspects and education.

Factors Influencing Children's Eating Behaviours.

Depression is one of the most important health problems worldwide. Women are 2.5 times more likely to experience major depression than men. Evidence suggests that some women might experience an increased risk for developing depression during “windows of vulnerability”, i.e., when exposed to intense hormone fluctuations, such as the menopause transition. Indeed, this period is associated with different symptoms, including vasomotor, depressive, and cognitive symptoms, which have all been shown to worsen as women approach menopause. Even though hormonal therapy represents the most effective treatment, side effects have been reported by several studies. Therefore, an increased number of women might prefer the use of alternative medicine for treating menopausal symptoms. N-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 LCPUFAs) are included among these alternative treatments. We here provide a review of studies investigating the effects of n-3 LCPUFAs on hot flashes and depressive and cognitive disorders in menopausal women. The reported results are scattered and heterogeneous. In conclusion, a beneficial role of n-3 LCPUFAs in hot flashes, and depressive and cognitive symptoms related to menopausal transition is still far from conclusive.

N-3 Polyunsatured Fatty Acids in Menopausal Transition: A Systematic Review of Depressive and Cognitive Disorders with Accompanying Vasomotor Symptoms.

In the original publication of the article, the title was incorrect. The correct title should read as given below.

Correction to: Cingulate abnormalities in bipolar disorder relate to gender and outcome: a region-based morphometry study.

Psychotic symptoms are a common feature in bipolar disorder (BD), especially during manic phases, and are associated with a more severe course of illness. However, not all bipolar subjects experience psychosis during the course of their illness, and this difference often guides assessment and pharmacological treatment. The aim of the present study is to elucidate, for the first time, the FDG uptake dysfunctions associated with psychosis in BD patients with and without a history of past psychotic symptoms, through a positron emission tomography (PET) approach.

The metabolic basis of psychosis in bipolar disorder: A positron emission tomography study.

Cognitive impairment is strongly associated with functional outcomes in psychiatric patients. Involvement of -3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (-3 LC-PUFA), in particular docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), in brain functions is largely documented. DHA is incorporated into membrane phospholipids as structural component, especially in the central nervous system where it also has important functional effects. The aim of this review is to investigate the relationship between DHA and cognitive function in relation to mental disorders. Results from few randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the effects of DHA (alone or in combination) in psychotic, mood and neurodevelopmental disorders, respectively, suggest that no conclusive remarks can be drawn.

The Role of Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) on Cognitive Functions in Psychiatric Disorders.

Bipolar disorder (BD) is a severe mental disorder with a wide range of cognitive deficits, both in the euthymic and acute phase of the disease. Interestingly, in recent years, there has been a growing interest in investigating the impact of ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on cognition in BD. In this context, the aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6 ω-3, DHA) supplementation on cognitive performances in euthymic BD patients. This is an exploratory, single-centre, double-blind randomized controlled trial evaluating 12 weeks DHA supplementation (1250 mg daily) vs. a placebo (corn oil) in 31 euthymic BD patients compared to 15 healthy controls (HCs) on cognitive functions, assessed by the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Affective Disorder (BAC-A). Plasma levels of DHA were measured. After 12 weeks of treatment, no significant group differences were observed in all neuropsychological tests between the four groups, except for the emotion inhibition test, where HCs with DHA had higher scores compared to either BD with DHA ( = 3.9,  = 0.003) or BD with placebo ( = 3.7,  = 0.005). Although our results showed that DHA could be effective for ameliorating cognition in healthy subjects, future studies are still needed to clarify the impact of DHA on cognition in BD.

The Effect of DHA Supplementation on Cognition in Patients with Bipolar Disorder: An Exploratory Randomized Control Trial.

Magnesium is an essential cation involved in many functions within the central nervous system, including transmission and intracellular signal transduction. Several studies have shown its usefulness in neurological and psychiatric diseases. Furthermore, it seems that magnesium levels are lowered in the course of several mental disorders, especially depression.

Article	Year
Normative data and effects of age and gender on temperament and character dimensions across the lifespan in an Italian population: A cross-sectional validation study. Journal of affective disorders\| PubMed ID: 27341424	2016
Normative data of the Magical Ideation Scale from childhood to adulthood in an Italian cohort. Comprehensive psychiatry\| PubMed ID: 27423348	2016
The role of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3PUFAs) in affective disorders. Journal of affective disorders\| PubMed ID: 28089169	2017
The first model of keeping energy balance and optimal psycho affective development: Breastfed infants. Journal of affective disorders\| PubMed ID: 28094019	2017
The Role of Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Developmental Psychopathology: A Systematic Review on Early Psychosis, Autism, and ADHD. International journal of molecular sciences\| PubMed ID: 29207548	2017
Cingulate abnormalities in bipolar disorder relate to gender and outcome: a region-based morphometry study [corrected]. European archives of psychiatry and clinical neuroscience\| PubMed ID: 29594394	2019
Factors Influencing Children's Eating Behaviours. Nutrients\| PubMed ID: 29857549	2018
N-3 Polyunsatured Fatty Acids in Menopausal Transition: A Systematic Review of Depressive and Cognitive Disorders with Accompanying Vasomotor Symptoms. International journal of molecular sciences\| PubMed ID: 29937484	2018
Correction to: Cingulate abnormalities in bipolar disorder relate to gender and outcome: a region-based morphometry study. European archives of psychiatry and clinical neuroscience\| PubMed ID: 29948252	2019
The metabolic basis of psychosis in bipolar disorder: A positron emission tomography study. Bipolar disorders\| PubMed ID: 30506616	2019
The Role of Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) on Cognitive Functions in Psychiatric Disorders. Nutrients\| PubMed ID: 30986970	2019
The Effect of DHA Supplementation on Cognition in Patients with Bipolar Disorder: An Exploratory Randomized Control Trial. Nutrients\| PubMed ID: 32155883	2020
The Role and the Effect of Magnesium in Mental Disorders: A Systematic Review. Nutrients\| PubMed ID: 32503201	2020

Valentina Ciappolino

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