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The prevalence of panic disorder is two to four times higher in women compared to that in men, and hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle play a role in the occurrence of panic attacks. Here, we investigated the effect of the estrous cycle on the ventilatory and behavioral responses to CO 2 in mice. Female mice in proestrus, estrus, metestrus, or diestrus were exposed to 20% CO 2 , and their escape behaviors, brain monoamines, and plasma levels of 17β-estradiol (E 2 ) and progesterone (P 4 ) were measured. Pulmonary ventilation (V̇ E ), oxygen consumption (V̇O 2 ), and body core temperature (T B ) were also measured during normocapnia followed by CO 2 . Females exposed to 20% CO 2 exhibited an escape behavior, but the estrous cycle did not affect this response. Females in all phases of the estrous cycle showed higher V̇ E and lower T B during hypercapnia. In diestrus, there was an attenuation of CO 2 -induced hyperventilation with no change in V̇O 2 , whereas in estrus, this response was accompanied by a reduction in V̇O 2 . Hypercapnia also increased the concentration of plasma P 4 and central DOPAC, the main dopamine metabolite, in all females. There was an estrous cycle effect on brainstem serotonin, with females in estrus showing a higher concentration than females in the metestrus and diestrus phases. Therefore, our data suggest that hypercapnia induces panic-related behaviors and ventilatory changes that lead to an increase in P 4 secretion in female mice, likely originating from the adrenals. The estrous cycle does not affect the behavioral response but interferes in the ventilatory and metabolic responses to CO 2 in mice., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethical approval: The experiments were conducted in accordance with the National Council of Control in Animal Experimentation (CONCEA-MCT-Brazil) guidelines and were approved by the local Animal Care and Use Committee (protocol no. 1594/21). Competing interest: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

It had long been considered that no new neurons are generated in the primate brain beyond birth, but recent studies have indicated that neurogenesis persists in various locations throughout the lifespan. The dentate gyrus of the hippocampus is of particular interest due to the postulated role played by neurogenesis in memory. However, studies investigating the presence of adult hippocampal neurogenesis (AHN) have reported contradictory findings, and no systematic review of the evidence has been conducted to date. We searched MEDLINE, Embase and PsycINFO on 27 th June 2023 for studies on hippocampal neurogenesis in adult primates, excluding review papers. Screening, quality assessment and data extraction was done by independent co-raters. We synthesised evidence from 112 relevant papers. We found robust evidence, primarily supported by immunohistochemical examination of tissue samples and neuroimaging, for newly generated neurons, first detected in the subgranular zone of the dentate gyrus, that mature over time and migrate to the granule cell layer, where they become functionally integrated with surrounding neuronal networks. AHN has been repeatedly observed in both humans and other primates and gradually diminishes with age. Transient increases in AHN are observed following acute insults such as stroke and epileptic seizures, and following electroconvulsive therapy, and AHN is diminished in neurodegenerative conditions. Markers of AHN correlate positively with measures of learning and short-term memory, but associations with antidepressant use and mood states are weaker. Heterogeneous outcome measures limited quantitative syntheses. Further research should better characterise the neuropsychological function of neurogenesis in healthy subjects., Competing Interests: Competing interests The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.)

This study aimed to detect alterations in interhemispheric interactions in patients with panic disorder (PD), determine whether such alterations could serve as biomarkers for the diagnosis and prediction of therapeutic outcomes, and map dynamic changes in interhemispheric interactions in patients with PD after treatment. Fifty-four patients with PD and 54 healthy controls (HCs) were enrolled in this study. All participants underwent clinical assessment and a resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging scan at (i) baseline and (ii) after paroxetine treatment for 4 weeks. A voxel-mirrored homotopic connectivity (VMHC) indicator, support vector machine (SVM), and support vector regression (SVR) were used in this study. Patients with PD showed reduced VMHC in the fusiform, middle temporal/occipital, and postcentral/precentral gyri, relative to those of HCs. After treatment, the patients exhibited enhanced VMHC in the lingual gyrus, relative to the baseline data. The VMHC of the fusiform and postcentral/precentral gyri contributed most to the classification (accuracy = 87.04%). The predicted changes were accessed from the SVR using the aberrant VMHC as features. Positive correlations (p < 0.001) were indicated between the actual and predicted changes in the severity of anxiety. These findings suggest that impaired interhemispheric coordination in the cognitive-sensory network characterized PD and that VMHC can serve as biomarkers and predictors of the efficiency of PD treatment. Enhanced VMHC in the lingual gyrus of patients with PD after treatment implied that pharmacotherapy recruited the visual network in the early stages., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany.)

Background: Depression is among the leading causes of the global burden of disease and is associated with substantial morbidity in old age. The importance of providing timely intervention, particularly those with subclinical symptoms, has thus increasingly been emphasised. Despite their overall effectiveness, a small but notable subgroup tends to be less responsive to interventions. Identifying predictors of non-remission and non-response is critical to inform future strategies for optimising intervention outcomes. Methods: A total of 4153 older adults aged 60 years and above with subclinical depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire-9 [PHQ-9] = 5–19) were recruited from JC JoyAge, a large-scale collaborative stepped-care intervention service across Hong Kong. A wide range of clinical and modifiable risk and protective factors at baseline were assessed, including depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, loneliness, suicidal ideation, cognitive capacity, multimorbidity, chronic pain, need for informal care due to mental health reasons, history of abuse, and sociodemographic characteristics. Separate multivariable logistic regression models were applied to identify predictors of non-remission (PHQ-9 ≥ 5) and non-response (< 50% reduction in PHQ-9) following intervention. Results: The rates of non-remission and non-response were 18.9% (n = 784) and 23.0% (n = 956), respectively. Comorbid anxiety symptoms (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 2.08, CI = 1.72–2.51; 1.28, 1.05–1.57), loneliness (2.00, 1.66–2.42; 1.67, 1.38–2.01), need for informal care (1.86, 1.49–2.33; 1.48, 1.18–1.85), lower cognitive capacity (0.95, 0.93–0.97; 0.94, 0.92–0.96), and absence of chronic pain (0.59, 0.48–0.72; 0.76, 0.64–0.91) predicted both non-remission and non-response. Meanwhile, moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms predicted higher odds of non-remission (1.41, 1.18–1.69) and lower odds of non-response (0.28, 0.23–0.34), respectively. Subgroup analyses conducted separately in older adults with mild and moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms at baseline revealed that comorbid anxiety, loneliness, need for informal care, and absence of chronic pain were consistent predictors of non-remission. Those with non-remission and non-response showed more depression-related functional impairments and poorer health-related quality of life post-intervention. Conclusions: Older adults with subclinical depressive symptoms showing comorbid anxiety, higher loneliness, need for informal care, and chronic pain may be offered more targeted interventions in future services. A personalised risk-stratification approach may be helpful. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifiers: NCT03593889 (registered 29 May 2018), NCT04863300 (registered 23 April 2021). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients are vulnerable to anxiety and depression. This study aimed to assess the mental health burden among Egyptian ACS patients by assessing the prevalence and associates of these conditions. This study enrolled 212 patients who underwent coronary angiogram. Anxiety and depression were assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Demographic, psychosocial, and clinical data were collected. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses identified factors associated with anxiety and depression. Results: The mean age of the participants was 54.1 years, and 80.7% were males. More than half (58.1%) exhibited anxiety, depression, or both, with depression being more prevalent than anxiety (48.1% vs 38.2%). Past major depressive disorder was strongly correlated with both anxiety and depression. Higher anxiety scores increased the odds of depression (OR = 1.234, p < 0.001), and vice versa (OR = 1.55, p < 0.001). Hypertension and the use of antihypertensive medications were associated with increased depression. Significant associates of anxiety included increased heart rate, past use of furosemide and enoxaparin, and current polypharmacy. Conclusions: A substantial proportion of ACS patients experience comorbid anxiety and depression. Polypharmacy, past depression, and hypertension are key risk factors. Targeted interventions addressing these factors are essential for improving mental health in this vulnerable population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Emotional disorders such as depression and anxiety disorders share substantial similarities in their etiology and treatment. In recent decades, these commonalities have been increasingly recognized in classification systems and treatment programs crossing diagnostic boundaries. Methods: To examine the prospective effects of different transdiagnostic markers on relevant treatment outcomes, we plan to track a minimum of N = 200 patients with emotional disorders during their routine course of cognitive behavioral therapy at two German outpatient clinics. We will collect a wide range of transdiagnostic markers, ranging from basic perceptual processes and self-report measures to complex behavioral and neurobiological indicators, before entering therapy. Symptoms and psychopathological processes will be recorded before entering therapy, between the 20th and 24th therapy session, and at the end of therapy. Discussion: Our results could help to identify transdiagnostic markers with high predictive power, but also provide deeper insights into which patient groups with which symptom clusters are less likely to benefit from therapy, and for what reasons. Trial Registration: The trial was preregistered at the German Clinical Trial Register (DRKS-ID: DRKS00031206; 2023–05-09). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Standard antidepressant treatments often take weeks to reach efficacy and are ineffective for many patients. (R,S)-ketamine, an N -methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, has been shown to be a rapid-acting antidepressant and to decrease depressive symptoms within hours of administration. While previous studies have shown the importance of the GluN2B subunit of the NMDA receptor on interneurons in the medial prefrontal cortex, no study to our knowledge has investigated the influence of GluN2B-expressing adult-born granule cells. Methods Here, we examined whether (R,S)-ketamine's efficacy depends on adult-born hippocampal neurons using a genetic strategy to selectively ablate the GluN2B subunit of the NMDA receptor from Nestin+ cells in male and female mice, tested across an array of standard behavioral assays. Results We report that in male mice, GluN2B expression on 6-week-old adult-born neurons is necessary for (R,S)-ketamine's effects on behavioral despair in the forced swim test and on hyponeophagia in the novelty suppressed feeding paradigm, as well on fear behavior following contextual fear conditioning. In female mice, GluN2B expression is necessary for effects on hyponeophagia in novelty suppressed feeding. These effects were not replicated when ablating GluN2B from 2-week-old adult-born neurons. We also find that ablating neurogenesis increases fear expression in contextual fear conditioning, which is buffered by (R,S)-ketamine administration. Conclusions In line with previous studies, these results suggest that 6-week-old adult-born hippocampal neurons expressing GluN2B partially modulate (R,S)-ketamine's rapid-acting effects. Future work targeting these 6-week-old adult-born neurons may prove beneficial for increasing the efficacy of (R , S)-ketamine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a promising intervention for treatment-resistant psychiatric disorders. However, conventional TMS typically utilises a one-size-fits-all approach when determining stimulation targets. Recent retrospective brain circuit-based analyses using lesion network mapping have suggested that a left dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex target has a higher efficacy for alleviating depression symptoms, a dorsomedial prefrontal cortex target is more effective for anxiety symptoms, and a rostromedial prefrontal cortex target is effective for schizophrenia-associated psychiatric symptoms. Nonetheless, symptom-specific brain circuit targeting has not been tested prospectively. We conducted a narrative review of selected literature to investigate individualised targeting for TMS and discuss potential future directions to elucidate the efficacy of this approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mental health outcomes can be influenced by various factors, one of which has recently gained attention, namely food security. Food security is paramount to maintaining not only physical, but also mental health. There is an increasing need to understand the interplay between food insecurity (FI) and mental health outcomes, especially among vulnerable populations. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of FI on psychological health (anxiety and depression) as well as to examine the modifying effect of socioeconomic position on this relationship. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Maputo City, Mozambique, in 1,842 participants. Data were collected through structured interviews using a modified version of the US Department of Agriculture Household Food Security Module to measure FI, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale to measure anxiety and depression. A composite variable for psychological health was created. Propensity score matching and interaction effect analyses were employed to examine the effects of FI on psychological health and the moderating role of socioeconomic position. Results: Of the 1,174 participants randomly assigned to propensity score matching, 787 were exposed to FI while 387 were unexposed. The analysis revealed stark disparities in psychological health outcomes associated with FI. The risk of poor psychological health among those exposed to FI was 25.79%, which was significantly higher than the 0.26% in unexposed individuals. The risk difference was 25.54% points (95% CI: 22.44–28.63), with a risk ratio of 99.82. Our assessment of population attributable fractions indicated that nearly all the risk for poor psychological health in the exposed group could be ascribed to FI. The interaction effects analysis revealed that socioeconomic status modifies this relationship. Specifically, heads of food-insecure households with a lower socioeconomic position tended to report poor mental health compared to their food-secure counterparts with a higher position. Conclusions: The findings underscore the profound impact of FI on the mental health of household heads in Maputo City, socioeconomic position being a significant modifier. Addressing household FI along with the socioeconomic position of household heads could be pivotal to mental health promotion, especially among vulnerable populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When faced with the prospect of death, some people would prefer a form of long-term preservation that may allow them to be restored to healthy life in the future, if technology ever develops to the point that this is feasible and humane. Some believe that we may have the capacity to perform this type of experimental preservation today--although it has never been proven--using contemporary methods to preserve the structure of the brain. The idea is that the morphomolecular organization of the brain encodes the information required for psychological properties such as personality and long-term memories. If these structures in the brain can be maintained intact over time, this could theoretically provide a bridge to access restorative technologies in the future. To consider this hypothesis, we first describe possible metrics that can be used to assess structural brain preservation quality. We next explore several possible methods to preserve structural information in the brain, including the traditional cryonics method of cryopreservation, as well as aldehyde-stabilized cryopreservation and fluid preservation. We focus in-depth on fluid preservation, which relies on aldehyde fixation to induce chemical gel formation in a wide set of biomolecules and appears to be a cost-effective method. We describe two theoretical recovery technologies, alongside several of the ethical and legal complexities of brain preservation, all of which will require a prudent approach. We believe contemporary structural brain preservation methods have a non-negligible chance of allowing successful restoration in the future and that this deserves serious research efforts by the scientific community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Depressive disorders are leading contributors to the global mental health-related burden, and they represent a challenge for real-world clinicians, due to the low rates of remission despite the high availability of treatments. Often, depression shows in the context of multiple chronic comorbidities, thus requiring precise and accurate management of pharmacological treatments to avoid interactions and side effects. These criticalities call for the need for new strategies of treatment, which may include new insights into the pharmacological properties of currently available antidepressant drugs, to enhance their efficacy in the different contexts in which depression may arise. Trazodone is the prototype serotonin antagonist/reuptake inhibitor antidepressant (SARI). Due to the malleability granted by its multiple formulations, trazodone is frequently used to treat depression, both as an add-on to other antidepressants and as a monotherapy, with satisfying results. Moreover, its tolerability makes it one of the most prescribed antidepressants in patients with poly-treated comorbid medical illnesses, especially in the elderly. Herein, a case series is presented regarding the use of trazodone in patients with complex comorbid diagnoses or distressing side effects. Each of the three cases has been discussed in three specific Round Tables, involving expert clinicians in the fields of Psychiatry, Neurology, General Practice, and Geriatrics using the Nominal Group Technique. The ideas collected have been used to integrate the cases and the discussion with the intent of facilitating accessibility to the widest audience of physicians and clinical workers in different clinical practice contexts. The final aim of this paper is to promote an increasingly personalized use of trazodone in realworld patients with depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the years, the use of Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) has gained increasing acceptance as a viable treatment for managing treatment-resistant mental health conditions, and it is known to deliver more rapid therapeutic benefits than most treatment modalities in psychiatry. However, the practice of ECT exhibits significant variability both within and between countries. This review aimed to shed light on the status of ECT in the African context and its implications for mental health care in the region. In July 2023, databases (Ovid, PubMed, Web of Science, etc.) were searched for articles about ECT in Africa, following the PRISMA guidelines. Eligible studies reporting ECT practices in Africa and those about knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions were excluded. A total of 25 articles met the study criteria. The reviewed studies revealed that unmodified ECT continues to be used in some African countries due to resource limitations, while bilateral ECT is widely practiced across the continent. The primary diagnostic indications for ECT in Africa included severe depression and affective disorders. ECT usage and regulation vary significantly throughout Africa. The studies, primarily observational, detailed numerous challenges in employing the method, particularly concerning resource utilization in healthcare facilities. The review highlights the necessity for adaptable standards and local protocols to enhance ECT practices throughout Africa. It emphasizes the importance of conducting more evidence-based research to develop region-specific guidelines that ensure the safe and effective use of ECT. Policymakers and healthcare practitioners should prioritize resource allocation, training, and standardization to improve ECT delivery and outcomes on the continent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Anxiety and depression cause major detriment to the patient, family, and society – particularly in treatment-resistant (TR) cases, which are highly prevalent. TR prevalence may be due to current diagnoses being based not on biological measures but on symptom lists that suffer from clinical subjectivity, variation in symptom presentation, and comorbidity. Aims: Goal-conflict-specific rhythmicity (GCSR) measured using the Stop-Signal Task (SST) may provide the first neural biomarker for an anxiety process and disorder. This GCSR has been validated with selective drugs for anxiety. So, we proposed that GCSR could differ between TR and non-TR individuals and do so differently between those diagnoses normally sensitive to selective anxiolytics and those not. Methods: We recorded electroencephalograms (EEG) from 20 TR participants (4 GAD, 5 SAD and 11 MDD) and 24 non-TR participants (4 GAD, 5 SAD and 15 Comorbid GAD/MDD (GMD)) while they performed the SST. Results: There was significant positive GCSR in all groups except the GAD-TR group. GAD-TR lacked GCSR in the low-frequency range. However, TR had little effect in SAD or MDD/GMD populations with apparent increases not decreases. Conclusions: Overall, these results suggest that GAD may occur in two forms: one resulting from excessive GCSR and so being drug sensitive, and the other resulting from some other mechanism and so being TR. In SAD and MDD groups, heightened GCSR could be a consequence rather than the cause, driven by mechanisms that are normally more sensitive to non-selective panicolytic antidepressants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Light plays an essential role in a variety of physiological processes, including vision, mood, and glucose homeostasis. However, the intricate relationship between light and an animal's feeding behavior has remained elusive. Here, we found that light exposure suppresses food intake, whereas darkness amplifies it in male mice. Interestingly, this phenomenon extends its reach to diurnal male Nile grass rats and healthy humans. We further show that lateral habenula (LHb) neurons in mice respond to light exposure, which in turn activates 5-HT neurons in the dorsal Raphe nucleus (DRN). Activation of the LHb5-HTDRN circuit in mice blunts darkness-induced hyperphagia, while inhibition of the circuit prevents light-induced anorexia. Together, we discovered a lightresponsive neural circuit that relays the environmental light signals to regulate feeding behavior in mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of adopting enhanced beehive technology on the welfare of rural households engaged in beekeeping activities in Ethiopia. We examined the impact of adopting enhanced beehive technology on welfare outcomes in the Wonchi districts using a two-stage random selection process and propensity score matching (PSM) methodology. This research offers novel perspectives on the adoption of enhanced beehive technology and its influence on household welfare outcomes in the field of beekeeping. It employs a comprehensive analysis that takes into account several dimensions, such as income, welfare, and spending. Our research findings indicate that several characteristics have a favorable impact on the adoption of enhanced beehive technology. These factors include the gender of the household head, the size of the land, the marital status of the household head, as well as the availability of extension services, input and credit services, and the total number of animals owned. On the other hand, age, dependency ratio, and proximity to farmer training facilities negatively impact the adoption of technology. The analysis using Propensity Score Matching (PSM) methodology demonstrated that the adoption of technology had a favorable influence on the income, wealth, non-food expenditure, and food expenditure of households. However, it is important to acknowledge some limitations. As the study relied on cross-sectional data from a specific region, its findings may not be generalizable to other locations or time periods. Additionally, self-reported data is subject to biases. Other potential limitations are the omission of other factors that could influence welfare outcomes and limited assessment of long-term sustainability. Based on our research results, policymakers should prioritize efforts to understand the determinants that facilitate the acceptance and utilization of enhanced beehive technologies in order to enhance the overall well-being of rural households. Further research is needed to address the study limitations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hemodialysis is an important health problem that negatively affects psychosocial status and support systems. Through practices such as mandala coloring, individuals transfer the unknowns they experience to the outside and make them visible. This study was conducted to examine the effects of mandala coloring on fatigue, psychological well‐being, and factors associate with coping with stress in patients receiving hemodialysis treatment. Methods: The design was a prospective, parallel‐group controlled trial. The study was conducted in the dialysis unit of a university hospital in eastern Turkey between April 4 and October 31, 2022, with a total of 60 patients, 30 in the intervention group, and 30 in the control group. The patients in the intervention group colored mandala once a week for 2 h, for a total of 8 weeks. The data were collected face‐to‐face using a patient information form, a Fatigue Severity Scale, a Psychological Well‐Being Scale, and a Ways of Coping Questionnaire. Results: There were improvements in fatigue severity and psychological well‐being over the 8‐week study period in both the intervention and control groups. Scores were similar at baseline in the control and intervention groups, but better in the intervention groups compared to controls at 4 and 8 weeks for both metrics (p < 0001). Five factors from the Ways of Coping Questionnaire (self‐confident approach, optimistic approach, seeking social support, helpless approach, and submissive approach) each improved during the 8‐week period in the intervention group (p < 0.001). Three of these five factors improved in the control group as well. Scores for each of the five coping factors were better in the intervention group compared to controls at 4 and 8 weeks (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Mandala coloring improved fatigue and psychological well‐being and was associated with improved patient coping strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Panic disorder is a psychiatric disorder characterized by recurrent panic attacks, with a prevalence of ~ 4% in the general population, causing heavy personal and socioeconomic burdens. The similarities of animal defense responses to clinical panic attack symptoms in humans make it possible to translate neuroanatomical pathways identified in animal studies to panic disorder in humans. Therefore, in this review we first present a basic overview of panic disorder in humans including the main subtypes, models commonly used to trigger panic attacks, related hypotheses, the neurotransmitter systems that may be involved, and the current clinical treatments to give the reader a comprehensive understanding of panic disorder. The animal section introduces the models that trigger panic-like behavior in animals and the brain regions that may be involved, providing insights for future elucidation of the neural circuit mechanisms behind panic attacks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Anxious depression (AD) is a common, distinct depression subtype. This exploratory subgroup analysis aimed to explore the effects of acupuncture as an add-on therapy of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) for patients with AD or non-anxious depression (NAD). Patients and Methods: Four hundred and sixty-five patients with moderate-to-severe depression from the AcuSDep pragmatic trial were included in analysis. Patients were randomly assigned to receive MA+SSRIs, EA+SSRIs, or SSRIs alone (1:1:1) for six weeks. AD was defined by using dimensional criteria. The measurement instruments included 17-items Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD-17), Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), Clinical Global Impression (CGI), Rating Scale for Side Effects (SERS), and WHO Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF). Comparison between AD and NAD subgroups and comparisons between groups within either AD or NAD subgroups were conducted. Results: Eighty percent of the patients met the criteria for AD. The AD subgroup had poorer clinical manifestations and treatment outcomes compared to those of the NAD subgroup. For AD patients, the HAMD response rate, remission rate, early onset rate, and the score changes on each scale at most measurement points on the two acupuncture groups were significantly better than the SSRIs group. For NAD patients, the HAMD early onset rates of the two acupuncture groups were significantly better than the SSRIs group. Conclusion: For AD subtype patients, either MA or EA add-on SSRIs showed comprehensive improvements, with small-to-medium effect sizes. For NAD subtype patients, both the add-on acupuncture could accelerate the response to SSRIs treatment. The study contributed to the existing literature by providing insights into the potential benefits of acupuncture in combination with SSRIs, especially for patients with AD subtypes. Due to its limited nature as a post hoc subgroup analysis, prospectively designed, high-quality trials are warranted. Clinical Trials Registration: ChiCTR-TRC-08000297. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that is associated with anxiety and depression. Few studies have addressed interventions for symptoms of anxiety and depression in this population. To determine the efficacy of interventions for anxiety and depression in patients with AD. PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and PsycINFO were searched from inception to November 2023. English-language studies published in peer-reviewed journals evaluating the effect of interventions on anxiety and/or depression using validated assessment tools on patients with AD were included. Titles, abstracts, and articles were screened by at least two independent reviewers. Of 1410 references that resulted in the initial search, 17 studies were included. Fourteen of these studies are randomized controlled trials, while the other 3 studies are prospective controlled trials with pre and post-test designs. Data were extracted using a standardized extraction form, and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed. To accommodate trials with multiple interventions (each compared to a control group), we conducted a mixed-effects meta-analysis with the trial as a random effect. Prespecified outcomes were changes in symptoms of anxiety and depression in patients with AD as evaluated using standardized assessment tools. Of the 17 studies included in this systematic review, 7 pharmacological intervention studies with 4723 participants examining 5 different medications were included in a meta-analysis. Of these studies, only 1 study evaluated medications prescribed to treat anxiety and/or depression; the rest evaluated medications prescribed to treat AD. Meta-analysis of all the pharmacological interventions resulted in significant improvement in anxiety, depression, and combined anxiety-depression scale scores (standardized mean difference [95% CI]: − 0.29 [− 0.49 to − 0.09], − 0.27 [− 0.45 to − 0.08], − 0.27 [− 0.45 to − 0.08]) respectively. The 10 non-pharmacological studies with 2058 participants showed general improvement in anxiety but not depression. A meta-analysis of the non-pharmacological interventions was not conducted due to variable approaches and limited data. Pharmacological interventions designed to improve AD were found to improve anxiety and depression in patients with moderate-severe disease. More comprehensive studies on non-pharmacological and pharmacological interventions that primarily target anxiety and depression are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) is commonly defined as the failure of at least two trials with antidepressant drugs, given at the right dose and for an appropriate duration. TRD is associated with increased mortality, compared to patients with a simple major depressive episode. This increased rate was mainly attributed to death from external causes, including suicide and accidents. The aim of our study is to identify socio-demographic and psychopathological variables associated with suicidal attempts in a sample of outpatients with TRD. Material and methods: We performed a monocentric observational study with a retrospective design including a sample of 63 subjects with TRD referred to an Italian outpatient mental health centre. We collected socio-demographic and psychopathological data from interviews and clinical records. Results: 77.8% of the sample (N=49) were females, the mean age was 49.2 (15.9). 33.3% (N=21) of patients had attempted suicide. 54% (N=34) of patients had a psychiatric comorbidity. Among the collected variables, substance use (p=0.031), psychiatric comorbidities (p=0.049) and high scores of HAM-D (p=0.011) were associated with the occurrence of suicide attempts. In the regression model, substance use (OR 6.779), psychiatric comorbidities (OR 3.788) and HAM-D scores (OR 1.057) were predictive of suicide attempts. When controlling for gender, only substance use (OR 6.114) and HAM-D scores (OR 1.057) maintained association with suicide attempts. Conclusion: The integrated treatment of comorbidities and substance abuse, which involves different mental health services, is fundamental in achieving the recovery of these patients. Our study supports the importance of performing a careful clinical evaluation of patients with TRD in order to identify factors associated with increased risk of suicide attempts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early life adversity (ELA) is a major risk factor for mental illness, but the neurobiological mechanisms by which ELA increases the risk for future psychopathology are still poorly understood. Brain development is particularly malleable during prenatal and early postnatal life, when complex neural circuits are being formed and refined through an interplay of excitatory and inhibitory neural input, synaptogenesis, synaptic pruning, myelination, and neurogenesis. Adversity that influences these processes during sensitive periods of development can thus have long-lasting and pervasive effects on neural circuit maturation. In this review, we will discuss clinical and preclinical evidence for the impact of ELA on neural circuit formation with a focus on the early postnatal period, and how long-lasting impairments in these circuits can affect future behavior. We provide converging evidence from human and animal studies on how ELA alters the functional development of brain regions, neural circuits, and neurotransmitter systems that are crucial for cognition and affective behavior, including the hippocampus, the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, neural networks of fear responses and cognition, and the serotonin (5-HT) system. We also discuss how gene-by-environment (GxE) interactions can determine individual differences in susceptibility and resilience to ELA, as well as molecular pathways by which ELA regulates neural circuit development, for which we emphasize epigenetic mechanisms. Understanding the molecular and neurobiological mechanisms underlying ELA effects on brain function and psychopathology during early postnatal sensitive periods may have great potential to advance strategies to better treat or prevent psychiatric disorders that have their origin early in life., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Neuron-specific enolase (NSE) is a biomarker indicative of neuronal cell damage. The aim of this study is to assess the NSE levels in patients diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depressive disorder (MDD). Blood samples were collected from 43 individuals with PTSD (age range 11-17), 43 individuals with MDD (age range 10-17), and 40 age- and gender-matched healthy controls. The NSE levels were analyzed, and participants completed the Post-traumatic Stress Reaction Index, the Children's Depression Inventory, and the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Disorders. Additionally, the Clinical Global Impressions Scale was filled out by the researcher. Results indicated that the NSE levels in the PTSD group were significantly higher than those in both the MDD group and the healthy control group. No significant difference in NSE levels was observed between the MDD group and the healthy control group., Conclusions: The findings suggest that elevated NSE levels in PTSD may be indicative of stress-related neuronal damage, distinguishing PTSD from MDD and healthy controls. These results underline the need for further research to explore the potential of NSE as a biomarker for PTSD and its implications for diagnosis and intervention strategies., What Is Known: • Neuron-specific enolase (NSE) is a biomarker indicative of neuronal cell damage. • Elevated NSE levels have been observed in certain neuropsychiatric and neurological conditions, reflecting neuronal damage or stress., What Is New: • NSE levels in adolescents with PTSD are significantly higher than those in both MDD patients and healthy controls, suggesting a specific association with trauma-related neuronal damage. • No significant difference in NSE levels was observed between MDD patients and healthy controls, highlighting the distinct neurobiological impact of trauma compared to depressive disorders., Competing Interests: Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Objective: Panic disorder (PD) may cause serious cardiac arrhythmias by causing electrical abnormalities. Abnormal P-wave axis (aPwa), presence of fragmented QRS (fQRS), wide frontal QRS-T angle (fQRSTa), QRS duration corrected (QRSdc) and log/ logQRS duration/RR interval (log/logQRS/RR) have been correlated with increased risk of serious supraventricular and ventricular cardiac arrhythmias in a general population. The purpose of this study was to compare these newly explored atrial and ventricular arrhythmia indicators in patients with PD and in healthy subjects. Method: A total of 169 newly diagnosed PD patients and 128 healthy subjects were included in the study. The Panic and Agoraphobia Scale (PAS) was administered, and 12-lead electrocardiography (ECG) measurements were obtained. Electrocardiographic parameters including aPwa, fQRSTa, presence of fQRS, QRS duration corrected (QRSdc), and log/logQRS duration/RR distance (log/logQRS/RR) were compared between the two groups. Results: aPwa and fQRS, in addition to fQRSTa, QRSdc, and log/ logQRS/RR ratio values, were significantly increased in the PD group compared to healthy controls. Correlation analyses revealed that wider fQRSTa, number of fQRS derivation, number of total fQRS, wider QRSdc, and log/logQRS/RR ratio significantly correlated with PAS score. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that fQRSTa and the number of total fQRS were independently associated with PD. Conclusion: PD is associated with wider fQRSTa, QRSdc, and log/logQRS/RR in addition to the increased abnormal aPwa and presence of fQRS. These findings suggest that untreated PD patients may be susceptible to supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmia, indicating that ECG should be routinely obtained in the management of PD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consistent individual preferences for specific reinforcers and adherence to specific regulators could be observed in behaviour from a very early age. The neurochemical framework Functional Ensemble of Temperament (FET) identified neurochemical biomarkers for these consistent patterns in behavioural orientation as specific temperament traits. The FET uses the activity-specific approach: this approach differentiates between the traits related to physical, social and mental (probabilistic) aspects of behaviour. This study investigated the validity of such activity-specific differentiation, the discriminant and concurrent validity of the orientation-related scales (Sensation Seeking, Empathy, Probabilistic Processing, Neuroticism, dispositional Satisfaction) of the Structure of Temperament Questionnaire (STQ-77) that uses the FET structure. Using a healthy adult sample (N = 296, M/F = 152/144) the study examined the association of the twelve STQ-77 scales with 34 other scales representing the Sensation Seeking Scales, Questionnaire of Cognitive & Affective Empathy, Locus of Control, Big Five Inventory, Polymathic Orientation Scale, Interest in Games, Grit scale, and Schutte's Emotional Intelligence Scale. The results showed that the pattern of correlations supports the activity-specific approach and the divergent and concurrent validity of the STQ-77 scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cortisol awakening response (CAR) refers to the dynamic change of cortisol concentration within 1 h after awakening. Trait anxiety is a general risk marker of anxiety disorders. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of trait anxiety on CAR using R30 (change in cortisol level at 30 min after awakening) and AUCi (the area under the curve with respect to the increase) as indicators. 133 college students were divided into high trait anxiety (HTA) and low trait anxiety (LTA) group according to the median score of the trait version of State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Saliva samples were collected immediately upon awakening, 30 min, 45 and 60 min on two consecutive mornings. The results showed that, (1) decreased CAR was found for the male than female participants. (2) Compared to the LTA group, the HTA group showed decreased R30 and AUCi. (3) Both R30 and AUCi were negatively correlated with trait anxiety scores. These results demonstrated that trait anxiety might weaken the CAR, and both R30 and AUCi can be used as CAR indicators in detecting trait anxiety. Future research on CAR should consider the moderating effect of trait anxiety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The human brain undergoes metabolic adaptations in obesity, but the underlying mechanisms have remained largely unknown. We compared concentrations of often reported brain metabolites measured with magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS, 3 T MRI) in the occipital lobe in subjects with obesity and lean controls under different metabolic conditions (fasting, insulin clamp, following weight loss). Brain glucose uptake (BGU) quantified with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (18F-FDG-PET)) was also performed in a subset of subjects during clamp. In dataset A, 48 participants were studied during fasting with brain 1H-MRS, while in dataset B 21 participants underwent paired brain 1H-MRS acquisitions under fasting and clamp conditions. In dataset C 16 subjects underwent brain 18F-FDG-PET and 1H-MRS during clamp. In the fasting state, total N-acetylaspartate was lower in subjects with obesity, while brain myo-inositol increased in response to hyperinsulinemia similarly in both lean participants and subjects with obesity. During clamp, BGU correlated positively with brain glutamine/glutamate, total choline, and total creatine levels. Following weight loss, brain creatine levels were increased, whereas increases in other metabolites remained not significant. To conclude, insulin signaling and glucose metabolism are significantly coupled with several of the changes in brain metabolites that occur in obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anxiety disorders (AD) are associated with altered connectivity in large-scale intrinsic brain networks. It remains uncertain how much these signatures overlap across different phenotypes due to a lack of well-powered cross-disorder comparisons. We used resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rsfMRI) to investigate differences in functional connectivity (FC) in a cross-disorder sample of AD patients and healthy controls (HC). Before treatment, 439 patients from two German multicenter clinical trials at eight different sites fulfilling a primary diagnosis of panic disorder and/or agoraphobia (PD/AG, N = 154), social anxiety disorder (SAD, N = 95), or specific phobia (SP, N = 190) and 105 HC underwent an 8 min rsfMRI assessment. We performed categorical and dimensional regions of interest (ROI)-to-ROI analyses focusing on connectivity between regions of the defensive system and prefrontal regulation areas. AD patients showed increased connectivity between the insula and the thalamus compared to controls. This was mainly driven by PD/AG patients who showed increased (insula/hippocampus/amygdala-thalamus) and decreased (dorsomedial prefrontal cortex/periaqueductal gray-anterior cingulate cortex) positive connectivity between subcortical and cortical areas. In contrast, SAD patients showed decreased negative connectivity exclusively in cortical areas (insula-orbitofrontal cortex), whereas no differences were found in SP patients. State anxiety associated with the scanner environment did not explain the FC between these regions. Only PD/AG patients showed pronounced connectivity changes along a widespread subcortical-cortical network, including the midbrain. Dimensional analyses yielded no significant results. The results highlighting categorical differences between ADs at a systems neuroscience level are discussed within the context of personalized neuroscience-informed treatments. PROTECT-AD's registration at NIMH Protocol Registration System: 01EE1402A and German Register of Clinical Studies: DRKS00008743. SpiderVR's registration at ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03208400., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Abstract: Understanding the development of chronic pain (CP) is challenging due to its multifactorial etiology. Child maltreatment (CM), encompassing various types of neglect and abuse affecting more than one-third of the population, is a critical aspect of early-life adversity with long-lasting impacts. It is increasingly recognized for its role in altering biopsychosocial processes, potentially increasing vulnerability to CP. However, the exact path connecting CM to CP is not fully elucidated, primarily attributable to limitations in prior research, including insufficient sample sizes, inadequate consideration of comprehensive mediative variables, and a lack of longitudinal data. To address these gaps, our study utilizes a large-scale dataset (n = 150,989) comprising both cross-sectional and longitudinal data, along with an extensive range of biopsychosocial variables. Our findings reveal that all types of CMs, except physical neglect, significantly increase the risk of CP, and all types of CPs, except headache, were affected by CM. Furthermore, we demonstrate that individuals with CM histories are more predisposed to comorbid CP conditions. Importantly, biopsychosocial factors are found to explain over 60% of the association between CM and CP, with psychological factors playing a key role. This study not only characterizes the relationship between CM and CP but also underscores the influence of psychosocial elements in this dynamic interplay. These findings offer important insights into the long-term impacts of CM and provide a foundation for developing targeted therapeutic and preventive strategies for CP., (Copyright © 2024 International Association for the Study of Pain.)

Abstract: Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a promising intervention for treatment-resistant psychiatric disorders. However, conventional TMS typically utilises a one-size-fits-all approach when determining stimulation targets. Recent retrospective brain circuit-based analyses using lesion network mapping have suggested that a left dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex target has a higher efficacy for alleviating depression symptoms, a dorsomedial prefrontal cortex target is more effective for anxiety symptoms, and a rostromedial prefrontal cortex target is effective for schizophrenia-associated psychiatric symptoms. Nonetheless, symptom-specific brain circuit targeting has not been tested prospectively. We conducted a narrative review of selected literature to investigate individualised targeting for TMS and discuss potential future directions to elucidate the efficacy of this approach., (Copyright © 2024 Copyright: © 2024 Singapore Medical Journal.)

Trait social anxiety may predict differences in the cognitive control of emotional distraction when emotional face discrimination is required. This effect can be investigated using an emotional face flanker task. This study addresses an important research gap, as previous studies did not separate the effects of trait social interaction anxiety from the effects of trait social phobia upon emotional face flanker task performance. In this laboratory based behavioural experiment, the 87 participants (mean age 24.3) were university students or staff recruited via departmental adverts. We used an emotional (happy versus fearful) face flanker task, and assessed sub-clinical social anxiety with the SIAS/SPS. Elevated trait social phobia was related to an increased reaction time (RT) congruency effect, whereas trait social interaction anxiety was not. Elevated trait social interaction anxiety was related to a decreased happy face RT advantage for central target faces, but the effect of trait social phobia was very weak. Trait social interaction anxiety and trait social phobia may predict subtle differences when the cognitive control of reactions to emotional facial expressions is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This paper aims to examine the frequency and significance of diagnostic comorbidity of psychiatric disorders and somatic diseases in a sample of patients with depression as well as present current psychopharmacological treatment of the patients in the sample. Methods: The subjects in this study sample were 489 patients from the four Western Balkan countries with current primary diagnosis of major depression according to ICD 10. Comorbid psychiatric disorders and non-psychiatric illnesses were noted according to ICD 10 criteria during the diagnostic interview and analysed later. Additionally, the pharmacological treatment (existing and newly introduced) for each patient was noted and analysed later. Results: At least one comorbid psychiatric disorder was present in 72.5% of patients. The most frequent were anxiety disorders (53.6%), specifically generalized anxiety disorder (20.2%); non-organic sleep disorders (50.7%), specifically insomnia (48.4%); and sexual dysfunctions (21.4%), specifically lack of sexual desire (20.2%). Comorbidity with any non-psychiatric illness was present in 80.3% of patients. The most frequent were circulatory system diseases (55.9%), specifically hypertension (45.9%); endocrine, nutritional and metabolic disorders (51.3%), specifically hyperlipidaemia (24.0%); and other non-psychiatric disorders (60.7%), specifically low back pain (22.7%). All patients received pharmacological treatment with different medications. Most patients received monotherapy or combination therapy of antidepressants, anxiolytics, antipsychotics and antiepileptics. The most frequently used antidepressants were escitalopram, sertraline, and duloxetine. The most frequently used anxiolytics were alprazolam and diazepam, the most used antiepileptic was pregabalin, and the most used antipsychotics were olanzapine, quetiapine, and aripiprazole. Conclusion: The results of the study confirm the results of previous research studies about the high prevalence of psychiatric and non-psychiatric comorbidities in patients with depression that were conducted in the past. It would be important if future studies could prove the importance of those comorbidities on clinical severity, choice of treatment, and its outcome in patients with depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Subcortical brain regions play essential roles in the pathology of social anxiety disorder (SAD). While adolescence is the peak period of SAD, the relationships between altered development of the subcortical regions during this period and SAD are still unclear. This study investigated the age-dependent alterations in structural co-variance among subcortical regions and between subcortical and cortical regions, aiming to reflect aberrant coordination during development in the adolescent with SAD. High-resolution T1-weighted images were obtained from 76 adolescents with SAD and 67 healthy controls (HC), ranging from 11 to 17.9 years. Symptom severity was evaluated with the Social Anxiety Scale for Children (SASC) and the Depression Self Rating Scale for Children (DSRS-C). Structural co-variance and sliding age-window analyses were used to detect age-dependent group differences in inter-regional coordination patterns among subcortical regions and between subcortical and cortical regions. The volume of the striatum significantly correlated with SAD symptom severity. The SAD group exhibited significantly enhanced structural co-variance among key regions of the striatum (putamen and caudate). While the co-variance decreased with age in healthy adolescents, the co-variance in SAD adolescents stayed high, leading to more apparent group differences in middle adolescence. Moreover, the striatum's mean structural co-variance with cortical regions decreased with age in HC but increased with age in SAD. Adolescents with SAD suffer aberrant developmental coordination among the key regions of the striatum and between the striatum and cortical regions. The degree of incoordination is age-dependent, which may represent a neurodevelopmental trait of SAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale: Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a common and burdensome illness with a poorly understood pathophysiology, though many of the characteristic symptoms are likely to be of brain origin. The use of high-field proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) enables the detection of a range of brain neurochemicals relevant to aetiological processes that have been linked to CFS, for example, oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction., Methods: We studied 22 CFS patients and 13 healthy controls who underwent MRS scanning at 7 T with a voxel placed in the anterior cingulate cortex. Neurometabolite concentrations were calculated using the unsuppressed water signal as a reference., Results: Compared to controls, CFS patients had lowered levels of glutathione, total creatine and myo-inositol in anterior cingulate cortex. However, when using N-acetylaspartate as a reference metabolite, only myo-inositol levels continued to be significantly lower in CFS participants., Conclusions: The changes in glutathione and creatine are consistent with the presence of oxidative and energetic stress in CFS patients and are potentially remediable by nutritional intervention. A reduction in myo-inositol would be consistent with glial dysfunction. However, the relationship of the neurochemical abnormalities to the causation of CFS remains to be established, and the current findings require prospective replication in a larger sample., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Background: Anxiety and depression are psychopathological states frequently co‐occurring with severe alcohol use disorder (SAUD). These symptoms generally disappear with abstinence but may persist in some patients, increasing the relapse risk. Methods: The cerebral cortex thickness of 94 male patients with SAUD was correlated with symptoms of depression and anxiety, both measured at the end (2–3 weeks) of the detoxification treatment. Cortical measures were obtained using surface‐based morphometry implemented with Freesurfer. Results: Depressive symptoms were associated with reduced cortical thickness in the superior temporal gyrus of the right hemisphere. Anxiety level was correlated with lower cortical thickness in the rostral middle frontal region, inferior temporal region, and supramarginal, postcentral, superior temporal, and transverse temporal regions of the left hemisphere, as well as with a large cluster in the middle temporal region of the right hemisphere. Conclusions: At the end of the detoxification stage, the intensity of depressive and anxiety symptoms is inversely associated with the cortical thickness of regions involved in emotions‐related processes, and the persistence of the symptoms could be explained by these brain deficits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Pain is frequently accompanied by enhanced arousal and hypervigilance to painful sensations. Here, we describe our findings in an experimental vigilance task requiring healthy participants to indicate when randomly timed moderately painful stimuli occur in a long train of mildly painful stimuli.Methods: During a continuous performance task with painful laser stimuli (CPTpain), 18 participants rated pain intensity, unpleasantness, and salience. We tested for a vigilance decrement over time using classical metrics including correct targets (hits), incorrectly identified non-targets (false alarms), hit reaction time, and false alarm reaction time. We measured state anxiety and tense arousal before and after the task.Results: We found a vigilance decrement across four 12.5-minute blocks of painful laser stimuli in hits [F3,51=2.91; p=0.043; time block 1>block 4 (t=2.77; p=0.035)]. Both self-report state anxiety (tpaired,17=3.34; p=0.0039) and tense arousal (tpaired,17=3.20; p=0.0053) increased after the task. We found a vigilance decrement during our laser pain vigilance task consistent with vigilance decrements found in other stimulus modalities. Furthermore, state anxiety positively correlated with tense arousal.Discussion: CPTpain acutely increased tense arousal and state anxiety, consistent with previous results implicating the reciprocal interaction of state anxiety and acute painful sensations and the role of pain in augmenting tense arousal. These results may indicate a psychological process which predisposes the hypervigilant to developing greater acute pain, resulting in positive feedback, greater pain and anxiety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim: was to assess the level of subjective control of emotional states among patients treated for dermatological and gastrointestinal somatic diseases compared to those with depressive and anxiety disorders. The results were related to the analyzed dimensions of emotion regulation in healthy subjects. Materials and methods: The reports of the conducted studies were compiled for a total of 310 people, including 120 patients diagnosed with a somatic disease (psoriasis, rosacea, irritable bowel syndrome, and gastroesophageal reflux), as well as 96 patients diagnosed with depressive disorders and 30 patients with anxiety disorders. The control group consisted of healthy subjects (64 individuals). To assess the psychological variables analyzed, the subjects completed the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire developed by J. Brzeziński. Results: The study showed that the patients suffering from a chronic somatic symptom disorder, similarly to those treated for depression and anxiety disorders, differed from the healthy individuals in most aspects of emotional control. The patients with dermatological and gastrointestinal diseases differed statistically significantly from the patients with depression and the patients with anxiety disorders in relation to three dimensions of emotional control. Patients with a somatic disease are characterized by higher emotional and rational motivation, lower emotional resilience and lower emotional arousal. Conclusions: A chronic disease co-occurs with the emotional sphere of a person's daily functioning. Regardless of the diagnosis in terms of somatic disorders and mental illnesses, the way in which emotional states are controlled can be an important factor in the onset of the disease, coping with it as well as the treatment process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]