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The presence of artificial light at night has emerged as an anthropogenic stressor in recent years. Various sources of light pollution have been shown to affect circadian physiology with serious consequences for metabolic pathways, possibly disrupting pineal melatonin production with multiple adverse health effects. The suppression of melatonin at night may also affect human mental health and contribute to the development or exacerbation of psychiatric disorders in vulnerable individuals. Due to the high burden of circadian disruption in affective disorders, it has been hypothesized that light pollution impacts mental health, mainly affecting mood regulation. Hence, the aim of this review was to critically summarize the evidence on the effects of light pollution on mood symptoms, with a particular focus on the role of circadian rhythms in mediating this relationship. We conducted a narrative review of the literature in the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science datasets. After the screening process, eighteen papers were eligible for inclusion. The results clearly indicate a link between light pollution and the development of affective symptoms, with a central role of sleep disturbances in the emergence of mood alterations. Risk perception also represents a crucial topic, possibly modulating the development of affective symptoms in response to light pollution. The results of this review should encourage a multidisciplinary approach to the design of healthier environments, including lighting conditions among the key determinants of human mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Major depressive disorder (MDD) represents a major health issue in adolescents and young adults, leading to high levels of disability and profoundly impacting overall functioning. The clinical presentation of MDD in this vulnerable age group may slightly differ from what can be observed in adult populations, and psychopharmacological strategies do not always lead to optimal response. Resistance to antidepressant treatment has a prevalence estimated around 40% in youths suffering from MDD and is associated with higher comorbidity rates and suicidality. Several factors, encompassing biological, environmental, and clinical features, may contribute to the emergence of treatment-resistant depression (TRD) in adolescents and young adults. Furthermore, TRD may underpin the presence of an unrecognized bipolar diathesis, increasing the overall complexity of the clinical picture and posing major differential diagnosis challenges in the clinical practice. After summarizing current evidence on epidemiological and clinical correlates of TRD in adolescents and young adults, the present review also provides an overview of possible treatment strategies, including novel fast-acting antidepressants. Despite these pharmacological agents are promising in this population, their usage is expected to rely on risk-benefit ratio and to be considered in the context of integrated models of care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to assess factors associated with client satisfaction in two mental health outpatient settings in Italy and the US. Sociodemographic and clinical variables, hope, and personality characteristics were evaluated in 18-65-year-old patients who had been receiving services for at least 2 months in one of two outpatient clinics, in Italy and the US. Patients were administered: the Healthy Days Core Module, the Kessler Screening Scale for Psychological Distress, the Verona Service Satisfaction Survey, the Client Satisfaction Inventory, the Health Service OutPatient Experience questionnaire, the Herth Hope Index, and the NEO Five-Factor Inventory-3. Bivariate tests for differences between the two samples were conducted, a Satisfaction Composite z-score was computed, and a stepwise, backward elimination, multiple linear regression model—including the variables that were significantly associated with Satisfaction Composite Score in bivariate tests—was built. From July 1, 2015 to April 30, 2016, 184 patients (121 in Foligno, 63 in New York City) were enrolled in the study. Predictors of client satisfaction included: receiving services in New York City, being older, having lower educational attainment, having inner positive readiness and expectancy as well as interconnectedness with self and others, and high scores on the agreeableness personality domain. Interestingly, diagnosis and treatment characteristics did not influence satisfaction. Client satisfaction with outpatient mental health services is mainly influenced by sociodemographic characteristics and personality factors more than clinical variables or patterns of care. These findings could have implications regarding trends toward value-based payment models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Major depressive disorder (MDD) represents a major health issue in adolescents and young adults, leading to high levels of disability and profoundly impacting overall functioning. The clinical presentation of MDD in this vulnerable age group may slightly differ from what can be observed in adult populations, and psychopharmacological strategies do not always lead to optimal response. Resistance to antidepressant treatment has a prevalence estimated around 40% in youths suffering from MDD and is associated with higher comorbidity rates and suicidality. Several factors, encompassing biological, environmental, and clinical features, may contribute to the emergence of treatment-resistant depression (TRD) in adolescents and young adults. Furthermore, TRD may underpin the presence of an unrecognized bipolar diathesis, increasing the overall complexity of the clinical picture and posing major differential diagnosis challenges in the clinical practice. After summarizing current evidence on epidemiological and clinical correlates of TRD in adolescents and young adults, the present review also provides an overview of possible treatment strategies, including novel fast-acting antidepressants. Despite these pharmacological agents are promising in this population, their usage is expected to rely on risk-benefit ratio and to be considered in the context of integrated models of care., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Menculini, Cinesi, Scopetta, Cardelli, Caramanico, Balducci, De Giorgi, Moretti and Tortorella.)

The Covid-19 outbreak are generating relevant consequences under several aspects. Covid-19 pandemic together with air pollution and a dysfunctional anthropization/urbanization might affect public and mental health with a synergistic effect. The current paper explore hypothesis about existing links among Covid-19, air pollution and mental illness.