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Objective: Psychoses of epilepsy usually have an acute onset, accompanied by brief symptom duration and a risk of recurrence. Managing these conditions can be challenging due to the potential for seizures associated with certain antipsychotic medications, as well as exacerbating psychosis resulting from some antiepileptic medications. Our objective in this study was to assess the occurrence of psychosis among patients with epilepsy, as well as identify the factors linked to the presence and severity of psychosis in this population. Method: In this study, we included a total of 514 subjects diagnosed with epilepsy referring to our neuropsychiatry clinic affiliated with Tehran University of Medical Sciences from April 2011 to December 2021, among whom 57 patients showed psychotic presentations. We compared baseline and clinical characteristics between patients with psychosis of epilepsy and non-psychosis patients who also had epilepsy. Results: Marital status was the sole demographic factor that displayed a statistically significant difference between the psychosis and non-psychosis groups (P = 0.019). There was no significant difference observed between the two groups regarding family history of epilepsy and age at the onset of the epilepsy. Patients with psychosis experienced significantly more frequent seizures and generalized type (P < 0.001). Participants were matched for demographics and other clinical factors between the refractory and controlled psychosis groups, except for the psychosis frequency (P = 0.007). The type of epilepsy was significantly associated with psychosis when adjusted for the covariates (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Patients with psychosis of epilepsy experienced more episodes of epilepsy than non-psychotics. We identified generalized epilepsy as an independent risk factor for the development of psychosis. Additional cohorts are warranted to explore the factors associated with epilepsy-related psychosis across diverse populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decreasing the population and activation of inflammatory T helper cells in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients using vitamin A derivatives (retinoic acids) has been well documented. The present study determined the effect of vitamin A supplementation on psychiatric signs in MS patients. The subjects were 101 relapsing-remitting MS patients enrolled in a placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial. The treatment group was administered 25000 IU/d retinyl palmitate (RP) for 6 months followed by 10000 IU/d RP for another 6 months. The results for baseline characteristics, modified fatigue impact scale and Beck Depression Inventory-II were recorded at the beginning and end of the one-year study. The non-normal distribution data was compared between groups using a nonparametric test and normal distribution data was analyzed using a parametric test. (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifiers: NCT01417273). The results showed significant improvement in the treatment group for fatigue (p=0.004) and depression (p=0.01). Vitamin A supplementation helped during interferon therapy in the treatment process and improved psychiatric outcomes for anti-inflammatory mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims. TRIF and MYD88 are intracellular adaptor proteins for TLR signaling, and altered expression of these molecules can lead to defective or unregulated immune responses. Furthermore, previous studies revealed that depression may alter immune responses, but its mechanisms of action are unclear yet. There is a possibility that immunity and depression are linked through molecules such as TRIF and MYD88, thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the mRNA levels of TRIF and MYD88 in the PBMCs isolated from depressed medical students. Material and methods. The current study examined 38 depressed medical students studying in Iran and 43 healthy students from the same cohort as a control group. The mRNA levels of TRIF and MYD88 were examined in parallel with a housekeeping gene using real-time PCR. Results. Our results demonstrated that expression of TRIF and MYD88 were significantly elevated in PBMCs isolated from depressed patients when compared to healthy subjects. Conclusions. Based on the current results, it seems that chronic inflammation in depressed patients correlates to the over expression of TRIF and MYD88 genes. Our results show a possible link between the reported increases of chronic inflammation in depressed individuals with unbalanced expression of genes that regulate immunity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among the first three manuscripts written in Persian, Akhawayni's Hidayat al-muta'allemin fi al-tibb was the most significant work compiled in the 10th century. Along with the hundreds of chapters on hygiene, anatomy, physiology, symptoms and treatments of the diseases of various organs, there is a chapter on sleep paralysis (night-mare) prior to description and treatment of epilepsy. The present article is a review of the Akhawayni's teachings on sleep paralysis and of descriptions and treatments of sleep paralysis by the Greek, medieval, and Renaissance scholars. Akhawayni's descriptions along with other early writings provide insight into sleep paralysis during the Middle Ages in general and in Persia in particular. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]