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Although the widespread of trauma exposure, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) remains a prevalent and disabling mental disorder. Yet, access to appropriate care, particularly for individuals with more severe forms, remains limited. The expression 'severe PTSD' is widely used in clinical practice, yet no shared or psychometrically grounded definition has been established. Unlike other psychiatric disorders such as depression, validated instruments are still lacking to reliably determine the degree of severity of PTSD. Furthermore, relying solely on symptom scores may obscure key differences in functional impairment, or clinical relevance, as emphasized by the initiative. This lack of clarity may hinder the development of targeted therapeutic interventions. In this letter, we call for a shift toward a dimensional and integrative approach to assess PTSD severity. Instruments such as the Clinical Global Impression (CGI) scale could provide more ecologically valid and meaningful ways to capture the full spectrum of severity. Clarifying how severity is conceptualized may also support stepped-care approach by better identifying those who would benefit more from intensive trauma-focused interventions. Thus, reassessing how we define and measure PTSD severity requires moving away from counting symptoms toward a more nuanced, personalized understanding of the disorder.

The pathophysiology of major depressive disorder (MDD) encompasses an array of changes at molecular and neurobiological levels. As chronic stress promotes neurotoxicity there are alterations in the expression of genes and gene-regulatory molecules. The hippocampus is particularly sensitive to the effects of stress and its posterior volumes can deliver clinically valuable information about the outcomes of antidepressant treatment. In the present work, we analyzed individuals with MDD (N = 201) and healthy controls (HC = 104), as part of the CAN-BIND-1 study. We used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to measure hippocampal volumes, evaluated gene expression with RNA sequencing, and assessed DNA methylation with the (Infinium MethylationEpic Beadchip), in order to investigate the association between hippocampal volume and both RNA expression and DNA methylation. We identified 60 RNAs which were differentially expressed between groups. Of these, 21 displayed differential methylation, and seven displayed a correlation between methylation and expression. We found a negative association between expression of Brain Abundant Membrane Attached Signal Protein 1 antisense 1 RNA (BASP1-AS1) and right hippocampal tail volume in the MDD group (β = −0.218, p = 0.021). There was a moderating effect of the duration of the current episode on the association between the expression of BASP1-AS1 and right hippocampal tail volume in the MDD group (β = −0.48, 95% C.I. [−0.80, −0.16]. t = −2.95 p = 0.004). In conclusion, we found that overexpression of BASP1-AS1 was correlated with DNA methylation, and was negatively associated with right tail hippocampal volume in MDD.

Symptoms like tinnitus, autophony and hyperacusis in superior semicircular canal dehiscence may prompt patients to consult a psychiatrist and may be misinterpreted as psychiatric symptoms, such as auditory hallucinations.5 As in other somatic conditions, these symptoms can lead to a misdiagnosis of psychotic disorder, resulting in unnecessary prescription of antipsychotic medication and associated adverse effects.6 Patients may endure this for years before receiving an accurate diagnosis from an ENT specialist.7 8 Patient testimonies from the French Minor Syndrome Association highlight the lack of knowledge among healthcare professionals, which often leads to misdiagnosis.9 Therefore, we urge psychiatrists to consider Minor syndrome when encountering patients with atypical symptoms associated with anxiety, depression or psychotic-like symptoms. Similar to other somatic conditions that impair quality of life, delayed diagnosis and inadequate treatment can lead to depression and even suicidality.5 A recent retrospective case–control study of a cohort of 210 patients with Minor syndrome revealed significantly higher rates of anxiety disorders (31.4%) and depressive disorders (22.9%) compared with controls.11 Furthermore, members of the French Minor Syndrome Association reported that the impact of their symptoms, once diagnosed, prompted them to consult a psychiatrist.9 They developed anxiety, distress and depression due to the daily presence of these symptoms, resulting in lifestyle changes, such as avoiding sports, avoiding noisy places and reducing speech. Recent data also suggests that proactive psychological and psychiatric support can reduce distress in populations with chronic, debilitating organic conditions.12 13 Moreover, there is evidence supporting that surgical treatment for Minor syndrome can alleviate both its specific symptoms and associated depressive symptoms and other neurobehavioural functional impairments.14 The primary objective of this letter is to raise awareness of the superior semicircular canal dehiscence syndrome within the psychiatric community, as these patients often experience medical uncertainty7 and may, in their search for answers, be referred to a psychiatrist.

BackgroundUse of psychostimulants and relative drugs has increased worldwide in treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adolescents and adults. Recent studies suggest a potential association between use of psychostimulants and psychotic symptoms. The risk may not be the same between different psychostimulants.ObjectiveTo assess whether amphetamine or atomoxetine use is associated with a higher risk of reporting symptoms of psychosis than methylphenidate use in adolescents and adults, particularly in patients with ADHD.MethodsUsing VigiBase, the WHO’s pharmacovigilance database, disproportionality of psychotic symptoms reporting was assessed among adverse drug reactions related to methylphenidate, atomoxetine and amphetamines, from January 2004 to December 2018, in patients aged 13–25 years. The association between psychotic symptoms and psychostimulants was estimated through the calculation of reporting OR (ROR).FindingsAmong 13 863 reports with at least one drug of interest, we found 221 cases of psychosis with methylphenidate use, 115 with atomoxetine use and 169 with a prescription of an amphetamine drug. Compared with methylphenidate use, amphetamine use was associated with an increased risk of reporting psychotic symptoms (ROR 1.61 (95% CI 1.26 to 2.06)]. When we restricted the analysis to ADHD indication, we found a close estimate (ROR 1.94 (95% CI 1.43 to 2.64)). No association was found for atomoxetine.ConclusionOur study suggests that amphetamine use is associated with a higher reporting of psychotic symptoms, compared with methylphenidate use.Clinical implicationsThe prescription of psychostimulants should consider this potential adverse effect when assessing the benefit–risk balance.

Background Emergency psychiatry is an essential component in the training of psychiatry residents who are required to make patient-centred orientation decisions. This training calls for specific knowledge as well as skills and attitudes requiring experience. Kolb introduced a theory on experiential learning which suggested that effective learners should have four types of abilities: concrete experience, reflective observation, abstract conceptualisation and active experimentation. We aimed to evaluate a resident training programme that we designed for use in an emergency psychiatry setting based on the experimental learning theory. Methods We designed a four-step training programme for all first-year psychiatry residents: (i) theoretical teaching of psychiatric emergency knowledge, (ii) concrete experience of ability teaching involving an initial simulation session based on three scenarios corresponding to clinical situations frequently encountered in emergency psychiatry (suicidal crisis, hypomania and depressive episodes), (iii) reflective observation and abstract conceptualisation teaching based on videos and clinical interview commentary by a senior psychiatrist for the same three scenarios, (iv) active experimentation teaching during a second simulation session based on the same three frequently encountered clinical situations but with different scenarios. Training-related knowledge acquisition was assessed after the second simulation session based on a multiple-choice quiz (MCQ), short-answer questions and a script concordance test (SCT). The satisfaction questionnaire was assessed after the resident had completed his/her initial session in order to evaluate the relevance of teaching in clinical practice. The descriptive analyses were described using the mean (+/- standard deviation). The comparative analyses were conducted with the Wilcoxon or Student’s t tests depending on data distribution. Results The residents’ mean MCQ and short-answer question scores and SCT were 7.25/10 (SD = 1.2) 8.33/10 (SD = 1.4), 77.5/100 (SD = 15.8), respectively. The satisfaction questionnaire revealed that 67 % of residents found the teaching consistent. Conclusion We designed a blended learning programme that associated, classical theoretical learning to acquire the basic concepts, a learning with simulation training to experiment the clinical situations and a video support to improve learning of interview skills and memory recall. The residents indicate that this training was adequate to prepare them to be on duty. However, despite this encouraging point, this program needs further studies to attest of its efficiency.

Abstract Psychotic major depression (PMD) is hypothesized to be a distinct clinical entity from nonpsychotic major depression (NPMD). However, neurobiological evidence supporting this notion is scarce. The aim of this study is to identify gray matter volume (GMV) differences between PMD and NPMD and their longitudinal change following electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data from 8 independent sites in the Global ECT-MRI Research Collaboration (GEMRIC) database (n = 108; 56 PMD and 52 NPMD; mean age 71.7 in PMD and 70.2 in NPMD) were analyzed. All participants underwent MRI before and after ECT. First, cross-sectional whole-brain voxel-wise GMV comparisons between PMD and NPMD were conducted at both time points. Second, in a flexible factorial model, a main effect of time and a group-by-time interaction were examined to identify longitudinal effects of ECT on GMV and longitudinal differential effects of ECT between PMD and NPMD, respectively. Compared with NPMD, PMD showed lower GMV in the prefrontal, temporal and parietal cortex before ECT; PMD showed lower GMV in the medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) after ECT. Although there was a significant main effect of time on GMV in several brain regions in both PMD and NPMD, there was no significant group-by-time interaction. Lower GMV in the MPFC was consistently identified in PMD, suggesting this may be a trait-like neural substrate of PMD. Longitudinal effect of ECT on GMV may not explain superior ECT response in PMD, and further investigation is needed.

Background Attrition continues to be a major hurdle for addiction treatment. Through the prism of the attachment theory, this phenomenon can be understood as a manifestation of the patient’s insecure attachment style, needing a highly-responsive care delivery. We developed an electronic health mobile application, co-designed with patients, aimed at helping healthcare teams respond to their patients’ needs, and fostering adherence to care. This acceptability study evaluated patients everyday use of the application for eight weeks, assessing their satisfaction with the system, and its integration within professionals’ current practice in our center. Methods This single-center, prospective study was conducted between January 2022 and December 2022. 24 adult patients with any type of addiction were included. They were granted access to the application for eight weeks, and were invited to complete the System Usability Scale questionnaire regarding their satisfaction with application’s usability at the end of the study. The application uses active self-reports, which are later discussed with the healthcare team, and foster both the working alliance and the decision-making process. Results 17 patients out of 24 reached the primary endpoint. On average, over the eight-weeks period, patients logged in the application 38.2 times, and sent 5.9 messages to the healthcare team. Interestingly, 64.3% of the user logins were recorded outside of our center’s working hours (either from 5 p.m. to 9 a.m., or during week-ends and bank holidays), and 70.8% of the patients logged into the application at least one time between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. 18 patients completed the System Usability Scale questionnaire, which averaged a score of 81.8 out of 100. Healthcare professionals logged in the application’s messaging system 4.5 times a day on average. Conclusions This preliminary study shows promising results, as patients engaged well with various components of the application. It was moreover possible for healthcare workers in our center to integrate this tool in their daily activities. More work is needed to better understand the various patients’ needs regarding the application, further strengthen their adherence to the intervention, and understand professionals’ motivations to use the application. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, Identifier: NCT04659954. Registered 09 December 2020, https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04659954 .

Background: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with dissociative symptoms is now a full-fledged subtype of this disorder. The dissociative subtype is associated with a greater number of psychiatric comorbidities. To date, the impact of dissociation on the efficacy of PTSD treatment remains unclear. Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of a traumatic memory reactivation procedure with the administration of propranolol or a placebo once a week for six consecutive weeks in reducing PTSD and MDE symptoms between PTSD subjects with or without high dissociative symptoms. Method: For that, we conducted a randomized clinical trial in 66 adults diagnosed with longstanding PTSD and measured the SCID PTSD module, the PTSD Checklist (PCL-S), Beck's Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), and the Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES). Results: Patients with and without high dissociative experience had significant improvement in their PCL-S scores over the 6 treatment sessions, and PCL-S scores continued to decline in all patients during the post-treatment period. However, there was no correlation between the presence/absence of high dissociative experiences and no specific effect of propranolol treatment. We found exactly the same results for MDE symptoms. Interestingly, patients with high dissociative experiences before treatment exhibited very significant improvement in their DES scores after the 6 treatment sessions, and patients maintained this improvement 3 months post-treatment. Conclusions: The traumatic memory reactivation procedure is an effective way to treat dissociative symptoms in patients with PTSD, and improvement of these dissociative symptoms was associated with a decrease in both PTSD and depression severity. Traumatic memory reactivation procedure is an effective way to treat dissociative symptoms in patients with PTSD. The improvement of these dissociative symptoms was associated to a decrease of both PTSD and depression severity. Dissociative symptoms do not seem to mitigate the efficacy of traumatic memory reactivation during the treatment of PTSD.

Introduction: Few studies have examined the psychopathological consequences for parents of children who were survivors of a motor vehicle crash (MVC). This study assessed the impact of dissociation and peritraumatic distress on the severity of PTSD and post-traumatic major depressive episode (MDE) symptoms in mothers during the first years after the MVC and the role that cortisol response might play in this association. Methods: 125 mothers were included. Peritraumatic distress and dissociation were assessed. Morning salivary cortisol was tested at the baseline. Participants were assessed for a probable diagnosis of PTSD and MDE at 5 weeks, 6 months and 12 months. Results: At 5 weeks, 12 (13.6%) mothers exhibited probable PTSD. During the first year, the PCL score was higher when the (i) Peritraumatic Distress Inventory (PDI) score increased and (ii) the Peritraumatic Dissociation Experience Questionnaire (PDEQ) score increased. Cortisol levels were lower when the PDI score increased. Conclusion: This is the first study to assess the mothers of MVC survivors for one year following the trauma. We confirm that peritraumatic responses are useful for predicting the severity of PTSD symptoms. These results could encourage the implementation of follow-up programmes not only for survivors but also for their mothers. HIGHLIGHTS Mothers of children involved in motor vehicle accident are at risk for developing PTSD. Peritraumatic responses (distress and dissociation) are associated to the severity of PTSD symptoms. Low salivary cortisol levels were associated with high peritraumatic distress.

Although clinical pharmacy is a discipline that emerged in the 1960s, the question of precisely how pharmacists can play a role in therapeutic optimization remains unanswered. In the field of mental health, psychiatric pharmacists are increasingly involved in medication reconciliation and therapeutic patient education (or psychoeducation) to improve medication management and enhance medication adherence, respectively. However, psychiatric pharmacists must now assume a growing role in team-based models of care and engage in shared expertise in psychopharmacology in order to truly invest in therapeutic optimization of psychotropics. The increased skills in psychopharmacology and expertise in psychotherapeutic drug monitoring can contribute to future strengthening of the partnership between psychiatrists and psychiatric pharmacists. We propose a narrative review of the literature in order to show the relevance of a clinical pharmacist specializing in psychiatry. With this in mind, herein we will address: (i) briefly, the areas considered the basis of the deployment of clinical pharmacy in mental health, with medication reconciliation, therapeutic education of the patient, as well as the growing involvement of clinical pharmacists in the multidisciplinary reflection on pharmacotherapeutic decisions; (ii) in more depth, we present data concerning the use of therapeutic drug monitoring and shared expertise in psychopharmacology between psychiatric pharmacists and psychiatrists. These last two points are currently in full development in France through the deployment of Resource and Expertise Centers in PsychoPharmacology (CREPP in French).