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Background and Objectives: Neuropsychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depression, constitute a leading global public health challenge due to their high prevalence, chronicity, and profound cognitive and functional impact. This systematic review explores the role of electroencephalography (EEG)-based cognitive biomarkers in improving the understanding, diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of these conditions. It evaluates how EEG-derived markers can reflect neuro-cognitive dysfunction and inform personalized and scalable mental health interventions. Materials and Methods: A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. The databases searched included PubMed, Scopus, PsycINFO, and Web of Science for peer-reviewed empirical studies published between 2014 and 2025. Inclusion criteria focused on EEG-based investigations in clinical populations with neuropsychiatric diagnoses, emphasizing studies that assessed associations with cognitive function, symptom severity, treatment response, or functional outcomes. Of the 447 initially identified records, 132 studies were included in the final synthesis. Results: This review identifies several EEG markers—such as mismatch negativity (MMN), P300, frontal alpha asymmetry, and theta/beta ratios—as reliable indicators of cognitive impairments across psychiatric populations. These biomarkers are associated with deficits in attention, memory, and executive functioning, and show predictive utility for treatment outcomes and disease progression. Methodological trends indicate an increasing use of machine learning and multimodal neuroimaging integration to enhance diagnostic specificity. While many studies exhibit moderate risk of bias, the overall findings support EEG biomarkers’ reproducibility and translational relevance. Conclusions: EEG-based cognitive biomarkers offer a valuable, non-invasive means of capturing the neurobiological underpinnings of psychiatric disorders. Their diagnostic and prognostic potential, as well as high temporal resolution and portability, supports their use in clinical and public health contexts. The field, however, requires further standardization, cross-validation, and investment in scalable applications. Advancing EEG biomarker research holds promise for precision psychiatry and proactive mental health strategies at the population level.

Background and Objectives: The study aims to provide a comprehensive neuropsychological analysis of psychotic spectrum disorders, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression. It focuses on the critical aspects of cognitive impairments, diagnostic tools, intervention efficacy, and the roles of genetic and environmental factors in these disorders. The paper emphasizes the diagnostic significance of neuropsychological tests in identifying cognitive deficiencies and their predictive value in the early management of psychosis. Materials and Methods: The study involved a systematic literature review following the PRISMA guidelines. The search was conducted in significant databases like Scopus, PsycINFO, PubMed, and Web of Science using keywords relevant to clinical neuropsychology and psychotic spectrum disorders. The inclusion criteria required articles to be in English, published between 2018 and 2023, and pertinent to clinical neuropsychology’s application in these disorders. A total of 153 articles were identified, with 44 ultimately included for detailed analysis based on relevance and publication status after screening. Results: The review highlights several key findings, including the diagnostic and prognostic significance of mismatch negativity, neuroprogressive trajectories, cortical thinning in familial high-risk individuals, and distinct illness trajectories within psychosis subgroups. The studies evaluated underline the role of neuropsychological tests in diagnosing psychiatric disorders and emphasize early detection and the effectiveness of intervention strategies based on cognitive and neurobiological markers. Conclusions: The systematic review underscores the importance of investigating the neuropsychological components of psychotic spectrum disorders. It identifies significant cognitive impairments in attention, memory, and executive function, correlating with structural and functional brain abnormalities. The paper stresses the need for precise diagnoses and personalized treatment modalities, highlighting the complex interplay between genetic, environmental, and psychosocial factors. It calls for a deeper understanding of these neuropsychological processes to enhance diagnostic accuracy and therapeutic outcomes.

Clozapine is the gold standard for treatment-resistant schizophrenia. Serious and even life-threatening adverse effects, mostly granulocytopenia, myocarditis, and constipation, are of great clinical concern and constitute a barrier to prescribing clozapine, thus depriving many eligible patients of a lifesaving treatment option. Interestingly, clozapine presents variable pharmacokinetics affected by numerous parameters, leading to significant inter- and intra-individual variation. Therefore, therapeutic drug monitoring of plasma clozapine levels confers a significant benefit in everyday clinical practice by increasing the confidence of the prescribing doctor to the drug and the adherence of the patient to the treatment, mainly by ensuring effective treatment and limited dose-related side effects. In the present systematic review, we aimed at identifying how a full range of adverse effects relates to plasma clozapine levels, using the Jadad grading system for assessing the quality of the available clinical evidence. Our findings indicate that EEG slowing, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, heart rate variability, hyperinsulinemia, metabolic syndrome, and constipation correlate to plasma clozapine levels, whereas QTc, myocarditis, sudden death, leucopenia, neutropenia, sialorrhea, are rather unrelated. Rapid dose escalation at the initiation of treatment might contribute to the emergence of myocarditis, or leucopenia. Strategies for managing adverse effects are different in these conditions and are discussed accordingly.

Although self-rating mania scales have been developed, a lack of such instruments validated for the Greek population is noted. This study aims to examine the validity, reliability and psychometric properties of the Altman Self Rating Mania Scale (ASRM) adapted in Greek (G-ASRM). A sample of 86 consecutive inpatient and outpatient bipolar patients diagnosed by the DSM-5 criteria and 37 healthy controls were assessed by using the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) and the Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), and self-administered the G-ASRM. Factor analysis, test-retest analysis, measurement invariance tests, mean differences, Pearson's Correlation analysis and ROC analysis were used to confirm the validity of G-ASRM as a scale, test its reliability, study its psychometric properties in different subgroups and establish a cut-off value for indicating the presence of (hypo)mania in BD patients. Also, regression models were built to expose dependencies between YMRS and G-ASRM items. Monofactoriality of the scale was verified, based on Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA). Cronbach's alpha was 0.895. G-ASRM is highly correlated with YMRS (r = 0.856, p < 0.0005) and uncorrelated with MADRS (r = −0.051, p = 0.623). Test- retest r-coefficient was calculated at 0.85. The optimal cut-off score, set at ≥6 for (hypo)mania assessment, is in agreement with the results reported for the original version. Limitations of the study are that the scale was not normed on diagnostic groups other than bipolar, nor was it administered longitudinally, so as to assess its sensitivity to symptom changes overtime. The G-ASRM can be validly and reliably used in the Greek population for the assessment of (hypo)mania in bipolar patients. •The Greek version of the Altman Self Rating Mania Scale is reliable and valid.•The monofactorial structure of the original scale is replicated in the Greek version.•A role of sleep as a trait or core feature of the illness is supported.

The implementation of quarantine measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic presented challenges linked to adverse psychological effects, notably affecting individuals' eating patterns. This study aimed to investigate the eating patterns of individuals during lockdowns compared across sex, age, and income levels, and examine the influence of positive and negative emotions, as well as loneliness, on these patterns. A cross-sectional online study was conducted with 450 participants (aged 18-74 years old). One questionnaire about demographics, the Demographic Questionnaire, and three validated self-report scales (Eating Attitudes Test, comprising the Dieting, Bulimia, and Food Preoccupation, and Oral Control subscales, the Modified Differential Emotions Scale, and the UCLA Loneliness Scale) were employed. Convenience and snowball sampling were used. The data were collected between April and May 2021, primarily through social media platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. The survey questionnaire was shared via these platforms and users could answer if they wanted. Also, they were asked to send the questionnaire to their close contacts. Additionally, the survey questionnaire was distributed face-to-face to 80 participants. The statistical analyses included linear regression and mediation analyses.  Abnormal eating patterns e.g. eating behaviors that tend to have signs of diet such as constant avoidance of fattening foods, the individual's involvement with becoming leaner, extreme control or preoccupation with food, overeating and purging methods  were identified in 25% of the 450 participants participated in this survey, aged 18-74 years. Moderate levels of negative/positive emotions and loneliness were predominantly reported. Female sex was significantly associated with abnormal eating patterns (p=0.010), particularly dietary behaviors (p=0.029). Negative emotions (p=0.032) and loneliness (p=0.001) emerged as predictive factors for overall eating patterns and bulimic behaviors. Negative emotions exhibited a direct correlation with eating patterns, while loneliness played a significant mediating role (p=0.032). Furthermore, the association between negative emotions and bulimia was partially mediated by loneliness (p=0.018). This study underscores the pivotal roles of negative emotions and loneliness in shaping eating patterns during quarantine. Multilevel public health interventions are needed to address the negative effects of quarantine and pandemics in general. Screening tests for mental health in the school and job environments could highlight the need for shaping interventions, such as counseling, group empowerment, and family support in order to mitigate the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on eating behaviors and mental health in general.

Background Recently, cognitive deficits occurring in rheumatic diseases have attracted scientific attention. Cognitive symptoms in patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) have not been thoroughly studied. This study aimed to assess cognitive function and its relationship with depressive symptoms in RA and SSc and compare it to mild neurocognitive disorder due to Alzheimer’s disease (MiND) and to individuals without cognitive impairment. Methods Cognitive function and depressive symptoms were tapped with the Cognitive Telephone Screening Instrument plus (COGTEL+), the Serial Seven Test (SST), the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Geriatric Depression scale-15 (GDS), respectively. Statistical analyses included between groups-, correlation- and regression analyses. Demographic characteristics were considered in the regression models. Results The study included 30 individuals with RA, 24 with SSc, 26 adults without cognitive impairment and 33 individuals with MiND. Lower performance in verbal short-term memory, concentration/attention, verbal fluency and MMSE in patients with RA compared to individuals without cognitive impairment was detected. Of note, performance on verbal fluency, concentration/attention, inductive reasoning and MMSE was lower in RA compared to MiND. Individuals with SSc performed worse in verbal fluency and in MMSE in comparison to adults without cognitive deficits. Verbal fluency deficits in SSc exceeded that in MiND. Performance on MMSE, COGTEL+, prospective memory, working memory, verbal fluency and concentration/attention was related to GDS scores, which did not vary across the groups. Conclusions Patients with RA and SSc encountered cognitive dysfunction, which partially pertains to depressive symptoms. Of note, the severity of cognitive dysfunction in many cases exceeded that of MiND.

Recent research has fueled a debate concerning the role of nicotine in the emergence of schizophrenia. The three main hypotheses are: (a) the self-medication effect, (b) the causal relationship hypothesis, or (c) the shared diathesis hypothesis. To explore this role, the study of nicotine consumption during the initial prodromal phase of schizophrenia offers important opportunities. In the present work, 10 relevant studies are reviewed, out of 727 retrieved citations, in order to address questions regarding the prevalence of smoking in the prodromal period, the time of smoking initiation, existing patterns of tobacco use in relation with the escalation of prodromal symptoms into first psychotic episode, and potential differences in symptomatology between smokers and nonsmokers. Even though there was considerable heterogeneity among studies, relevant findings are discussed. Prevalence of nicotine use during the prodromal period was reported to be 16.6-46%. Tobacco use was found to be taken up most often before or during the prodromal period of schizophrenia. Even though a protective role of smoking has been reported by one study, other studies report an increased risk for psychosis, with hazard ratios 2.77 (95% CI: 2.34-3.43) and 2.21 (95% CI: 1.11-4.42) for female and male heavy smokers (11-20 and >20 cigarettes/day), respectively. In a different study, the risk of onset was associated with the progressive use of cannabis and tobacco prior to onset, particularly with rapid escalation to the highest levels of use. Also, nicotine use in ultra high risk (UHR) for developing psychosis subjects is associated with elevated cognitive performance, namely better processing speed, visual learning, and spatial working memory. As a conclusion, it appears that evidence accumulates supporting a possible etiologic role of smoking, in the emergence of schizophrenia along with diverse effects on patients' symptomatology, already demonstrable at the prodromal phase. Future research employing better-defined criteria should further explore the patterns of use and effects of nicotine during the schizophrenia prodrome.

Background Improving quality of life (QoL), is an important factor for patients diagnosed with non-melanoma cell cancer (NMSC). NMSC is the most common and widespread cancer in the European population. Methods To measure QoL, several tools have been created, which try to capture and evaluate it both before and after treatment. The factors that contribute to the evaluation and the degree of impact on the patients' QoL are numerous and sometimes overlap or interact with each other. In the present study, the questionnaire used was the General Health Questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28). Aims and objectives The aim of this study is to map and highlight the population groups whose QoL is affected to a greater extent than others. The final sample of the population consisted of 103 patients (63 men and 40 women) with proven NMSC (via biopsy), who presented to the Dermatology Clinic of the University General Hospital of Patras during the period 2022-2023. Results Of the final study sample, 72 (69.9%) patients had one tumor, 23 (22.3%) patients had two tumors, 6 (5.8%) patients had three tumors, and 2 (1.9%) patients had more than three tumors. In 74.8%, the diameter of the tumor was less than 2 cm, while in 25.2%, it was greater than or equal to 2 cm. Conclusion Our results showed that, in general, the QoL of the female population, in all its aspects (psychology, bodily functions, appearance, etc.), is more affected compared to the corresponding male population, in cases diagnosed with NMSC. The effect may be due to multifaceted factors, such as the outcome of the treatment, the size of the tumor itself, aesthetic interventions, and the change in the patient's daily activities.

The present work aims at evaluating the concept of trait Emotional Intelligence (EI) and the correlation between EI variables and mental health problems in freshman year Greek medical students. Furthermore, we aim to reveal possible connections between these findings regarding gender and intended choice of medical specialty. A total of 206 first year students (81 males and 125 females) enrolled in the University of Patras School of Medicine in 2017, were invited voluntarily to complete on paper the TEIQue-LF for assessing trait EI, the Zung Self-Rating Anxiety and Depression Scale, as well as a demographic questionnaire. Male medical students did not differ from females in global trait EI (p = 0.292), however they scored significantly higher on self-esteem (p = 0.019), emotion regulation (p = 0.013), social awareness (p = 0.046), stress management (p = 0.050) and sociability (p = 0.050). Female medical students (n = 125) reported significantly higher levels of anxiety (p < 0.001) and depression (p < 0.004), compared to males (n = 81). Students aiming to specialize in psychiatry, had significantly lower scores in Happiness (p < 0.003), Optimism (p < 0.002) and Well-being (p < 0.0011), and also scored significantly higher in anxiety (p < 0.029). Male medical students reported being significantly more self-confident, more socially competent and better regulating their stress and emotions compared to females, who seemed to have more anxiety and depression at the beginning of their studies. Students who aimed to pursue psychiatry as specialty had more anxiety symptoms, less self-esteem and were less happy. The findings support the need for enhancing EI attributes and remediating students’ mental health problems, particularly in students of a certain emotional profile.

Purpose The present study aims to investigate the course of psychological symptoms through chemotherapy in a sample of primary caregivers of patients with cancer and to examine all possible correlations between psychological distress and demographic characteristics. Methods In this prospective study, 112 primary family caregivers of cancer patients were evaluated. Symptom checklist 90 revised (SCL-90-R) was administered to assess their pathological symptoms, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) to assess depression and anxiety. There was an evaluation at the beginning of chemotherapy and a second at the end of the patients’ intravenous chemotherapy treatment (EOT). Results A total of 112 primary caregivers were initially enrolled in the study, and 99 (88.4%) completed it. Caregivers’ psychopathology was low to moderate at both points of time (baseline and EOT). However, a considerable decrease in the Global Severity Index (GSI) emerged over time. Conclusions At EOT, participants reported statistically significant decreases in five aspects of SCL 90, namely Depression, phobic anxiety, obsessive–compulsive symptoms, somatization, and psychoticism. A notable finding was that female caregivers were significantly more distressed, especially when providing care to a male recipient.