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Background: Long COVID-19 is an emerging chronic illness of significant public health concern due to a myriad of neuropsychiatric sequelae, including increased suicidal ideation (SI) and behavior (SB). Methods: This review provides a concise synthesis of clinical evidence that points toward the dysfunction of astrocytes, the most abundant glial cell type in the central nervous system, as a potential shared pathology between SI/SB and COVID-19. Results: Depression, a suicide risk factor, and SI/SB were both associated with reduced frequencies of various astrocyte subsets and complex proteomic/transcriptional changes of astrocyte-related markers in a brain-region-specific manner. Astrocyte-related circulating markers were increased in depressed subjects and, to a less consistent extent, in COVID-19 patients. Furthermore, reactive astrocytosis was observed in subjects with SI/SB and those with COVID-19. Conclusions: Astrocyte dysfunctions occurred in depression, SI/SB, and COVID-19. Reactive-astrocyte-mediated loss of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) integrity and subsequent neuroinflammation—a factor previously linked to SI/SB development—might contribute to increased suicide in individuals with long COVID-19. As such, the formulation of new therapeutic strategies to restore astrocyte homeostasis, enhance BBB integrity, and mitigate neuroinflammation may reduce SI/SB-associated neuropsychiatric manifestations among long COVID-19 patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Early diagnosis and treatment concerning bipolar disorder (BD) are related to a better functioning over the long-term period. Although pharmacotherapy is indicated for approximately all youths with BD, nearly one-third of patients do not receive adequate medications for their condition. Areas covered: The authors discuss the available scientific evidence from the current literature about the management of BD in both children and adolescents, giving particular focus to the efficacy and tolerability of the available pharmacological agents. Studies were identified searching MEDLINE and retrieved from reference listings of relevant articles and through consultation with experts in the field. Expert opinion: Many D2-blockers, approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) based on their antimanic properties in youths, are related to both short- and long-term side effects. Lurasidone was found to be effective for the treatment of acute juvenile bipolar depression, while lithium for the treatment and recurrence prevention of manic/mixed episodes. The most common anticonvulsants were found to be most useful as adjunctive antimanic agents in non-responders to first-line monotherapies. No data was found to support the use of antidepressants in juvenile BD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition provides precise diagnostic criteria to differentiate between bipolar disorder (BD) type I and II; nevertheless, it can be challenging to come up with the right diagnosis. The aim of this study is to evaluate the sociodemographic differences, clinical features, comorbidities, and pharmacological pattern between patients with BD type I and II. Methods: A total of 680 patients with BD type I and II were consecutively recruited to our psychiatry department. A semi-structured interview was used to collect several information. Results: Patients with BD type I were mostly males, single, with a lower current age, and unemployed compared to patients with BD type II. Furthermore, patients with BD type I showed an earlier age at onset and a significant higher prevalence of psychotic and residual symptoms, a higher number of hospitalizations, and involuntary admissions. On the other hand, patients with BD type II were associated with a significant higher prevalence of lifetime suicide attempts, psychiatric comorbidities, and use of alcohol. Finally, antidepressant drugs were prescribed more often to patients with BD type II, while antipsychotics and mood stabilizers were mostly prescribed in patients with BD type I. Conclusion: the differentiation of the 2 nosologic bipolar diagnosis is in line with the current scientific interest, confirming the existence of a markedly different profile between BD type I and II. This differentiation could reduce the heterogeneity of bipolar presentation in research, optimize clinical assessment, and increase the interest in developing more precise and individualized therapeutic strategies, also implementing psychosocial therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The efficacy of trazodone for several psychopathologic dimensions of depression has been shown in the literature. Trazodone has been widely used in some clinical contexts (e.g. for insomnia and depression in the elderly). However, the role of trazodone in several aspects of depression is not well known. Eight experts from academic and medical centers across Italy met to identify the difficulties and barriers faced in daily clinical practice in the assessment and management of major depressive disorder and how the use of trazodone could address some unmet needs. The objective of the expert meetings and the present document was to increase knowledge of particular areas of treatment with trazodone. Evidence of the role of trazodone in patients affected by major depressive disorder with anxiety symptoms, insomnia, agitation, cognitive deficits, alcohol use disorders, physical comorbidities, and suicide risk has been identified, showing the effectiveness of trazodone in different presentations of major depressive disorder. The main characteristics of patients with depression for whom trazodone seems to be most effective have been identified, providing clinicians with information on possible uses of this drug in such population of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Few studies have focused on changes in health and social services access due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We aimed to describe changes in the use of selected health and social home services due to the pandemic and to investigate potential associated factors, including socio-demographic characteristics, number of chronic diseases and mental health indicators, among older Italian individuals. Methods: We analysed data from the LOST in Lombardia cross-sectional study conducted in November 2020 on a large representative sample of 4400 individuals aged ⩾65 years. To identify potential factors associated with the increased use of three selected health and social home services, we estimated odds ratios (OR) and confidence intervals (CI) using multivariable logistic regression models. Results: Compared to the year before, 5.0% of older adults increased help from domestic workers (vs. 6.9% reducing) during the pandemic, 4.4% increased help from non-familiar caregivers (vs. 1.3% decreasing) and 4.7% increased medical home visits (vs. 1.0% decreasing). An increase in the use of these services was more frequent among participants with co-morbidities (p for trend <0.001), especially with diabetes (for caregivers: OR=12.2, 95% CI 6.0–24.8), and worse mental health (for caregivers and for those with a GAD-2 score ⩾3 vs. <3: OR=10.6, 95% CI 5.8–19.4). Conversely, people living in more crowded households less frequently increased health and social services use during the pandemic. Conclusions: Our results should inform targeted interventions for the identified vulnerable groups to close the gap in health and social inequities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A chronotype is generally defined as the variability of the phase angle of entrainment, while the latter reflects the relationship between the timing of a certain rhythm (e.g., the sleep–wake cycle) and the timing of an external temporal cue. Individuals can be placed on a spectrum from "morning types" (M types) to "evening types" (E types). E-chronotype has been proposed as a transdiagnostic risk factor for psychiatric conditions, and it has been associated with psychopathological dimensions. Eveningness seems to be correlated with both suicidal ideation (SI) and suicidal behavior (SB) through several possible mediating factors. Immunological alterations have also been linked to later chronotypes and SI/SB. This narrative review aims to summarize the evidence supporting the possible association between chronotypes and suicide and the eventual mediating role of neuroinflammation and several psychopathological dimensions. A search of the literature (2003–2023) was conducted using various databases: PUBMED, EMBASE, Scopus, UpToDate, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Library. English-language articles were collected and screened for eligibility. Despite the apparent absence of a direct correlation between E-chronotype and suicidality, E-chronotype promotes a chain of effects that could be involved in an increased risk of SB, in which with neuroinflammation possibly plays an intriguing role and some psychopathological dimensions may stand out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent evidence suggests a possible relationship between the immune system and schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSDs), as neuroinflammation appears to play a role in major psychiatric conditions. Neuroinflammation is as a broad concept representing a physiological protective response to infection or injury, but in some cases, especially if chronic, it may represent an expression of maladaptive processes, potentially driving to clinical dysfunction and neurodegeneration. Several studies are concurrently highlighting the importance of microglia, the resident immune cells of the central nervous system, in a huge number of neurodegenerative diseases, including multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, as well as SSDs. A more fundamental phenomenon of maladaptive coupling of microglia may contribute to the genesis of dysfunctional brain inflammation involved in SSDs, from the onset of their neurophenomenological evolution. Clozapine and other antipsychotic drugs seem to express a provable immunomodulant effect and a more specific action on microglia, while neuroactive steroids and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may reduce some SSDs symptoms in add-on therapy. Given these theoretical premises, this article aims to summarize and interpret the available scientific evidence about psychotropic and anti-inflammatory drugs that could express an immunomodulant activity on microglia., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)