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Neurological disorders significantly impact the world's economy due to their often chronic and life-threatening nature afflicting individuals which, in turn, creates a global disease burden. The Group of Twenty (G20) member nations, which represent the largest economies globally, should come together to formulate a plan on how to overcome this burden. The Neuroscience-20 (N20) initiative of the Society for Brain Mapping and Therapeutics (SBMT) is at the vanguard of this global collaboration to comprehensively raise awareness about brain, spine, and mental disorders worldwide. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive review of the various brain initiatives worldwide and highlight the need for cooperation and recommend ways to bring down costs associated with the discovery and treatment of neurological disorders. Our systematic search revealed that the cost of neurological and psychiatric disorders to the world economy by 2030 is roughly $16T. The cost to the economy of the United States is $1.5T annually and growing given the impact of COVID-19. We also discovered there is a shortfall of effective collaboration between nations and a lack of resources in developing countries. Current statistical analyses on the cost of neurological disorders to the world economy strongly suggest that there is a great need for investment in neurotechnology and innovation or fast-tracking therapeutics and diagnostics to curb these costs. During the current COVID-19 pandemic, SBMT, through this paper, intends to showcase the importance of worldwide collaborations to reduce the population's economic and health burden, specifically regarding neurological/brain, spine, and mental disorders. © 2021 - IOS Press. All rights reserved.

Background: We aimed to compare the schizotypal features of first-degree relatives of schizophrenic patients with those of healthy controls. Methods: Ninety-six first-degree relatives of schizophrenic patients without any psychiatric diagnosis (Group 1) and 98 healthy controls without any history of psychiatric diagnosis and family history (Group 2) were recruited to the study. The subjects were requested to fill out all four scales: The Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire, Physical Anhedonia Scale, Perceptual Aberration Scale and the Magical Ideation Scale. Results: Physical Anhedonia and Perceptual Aberration scores in Group 1 were significantly higher. Additionally, scores of ideas of reference, social anxiety, unusual perceptual experiences, no close friends, constricted affect subscales were significantly higher than those of Group 2. Scores of cognitive perceptual schizotypy and interpersonal schizotypy were higher in Group 1, whereas scores of disorganized schizotypy did not differ between the two groups. Both positive and negative schizotypy scores were significantly higher in Group 1 than in Group 2. Discussion: This study supports that higher score in the Physical Anhedonia and Magical Ideation scales and higher cognitive-perceptual schizotypy and interpersonal schizotypy scores in relatives of patients might be related to familial and genetic features of schizophrenia. In this study, it is supported that the disorganization dimension is not associated with familial or genetic feature in schizophrenia. © Archives of Neuropsychiatry, published by Galenos Publishing.

Alcohol craving has increasingly been considered an important issue in alcohol use disorders in the last decade. Biologic studies on alcohol craving were mainly focused on neurobiology, genetics and pharmacological treatment of this condition. In this report, we started from receptor systems, than we explained genetics and epigenetics of alcohol craving. At last, we described the main drugs currently used in the treatment of alcohol craving. Other potential drugs and future choices for treating alcohol craving were also described.

Objective: Carbohydrate-Deficient Transferrin (CDT) is a biomarker, which is more specific and sensitive than the traditional markers for screening alcohol-use disorders and is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). We aimed to evaluate the correlation between CDT and severity of alcohol withdrawal and to compare CDT with other markers such as gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) and mean corpuscular volume (MCV). Methods: A total of 48 male subjects were enrolled in the study. The patients were evaluated with socio-demographic data form and the revised Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol scale (CIWA-AR). CDT, GGT and MCV values were measured at admission to the hospital. SPSS version 13.0 was used for evaluation of data. Results: CDT, GGT and MCV values were found to be high in 77.1%, 72% and 66.6% of patients, respectively. There was a statistically significant correlation between CDT and CIWA-AR scores, but there was no correlation of CIWA-AR with GGT and MCV. Conclusion: The individuals with high CDT values might be regarded as having a more serious withdrawal syndrome. However, controlled studies with larger number of subjects are needed to further analyze these results. © Archives of Neuropsychiatry, published by Galenos Publishing.

Objective: Carbohydrate-Deficient Transferrin (CDT) is a biomarker, which is more specific and sensitive than the traditional markers for screening alcohol-use disorders and is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). We aimed to evaluate the correlation between CDT and severity of alcohol withdrawal and to compare CDT with other markers such as gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) and mean corpuscular volume (MCV Methods: A total of 48 male subjects were enrolled in the study. The patients were evaluated with socio-demographic data form and the revised Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol scale (CIWA-AR). CDT, GGT and MCV values were measured at admission to the hospital. SPSS version 13.0 was used for evaluation of data. Results: CDT, GGT and MCV values were found to be high in 77.1%, 72% and 66.6% of patients, respectively. There was a statistically significant correlation between CDT and CIWA-AR scores, but there was no correlation of CIWA-AR with GGT and MCV. Conclusion: The individuals with high CDT values might be regarded as having a more serious withdrawal syndrome. However, controlled studies with larger number of subjects are needed to further analyze these results. (Archives of Neuropsychiatry 2011; 48: 184-7)

Objective: NMDA receptor antagonists were found to be effective treating alcohol withdrawal syndrome, preventing seizures, and decreasing daily alcohol intake in preclinical studies. But there were only few studies on the efficacy of NMDA receptor antagonists in humans. In this current study, we evaluated the effects of memantine, an NMDA receptor antagonist on alcohol withdrawal syndrome. Methods: The study was planned as a prospective, randomized; double-blind study. In total, 32 patients enrolled in study. 16 patients were randomized to benzodiazepine plus memantine group and 16 were randomized to benzodiazepine plus placebo group. Memantine was administered to patients as 10 mg/day in first week of study and 20 mg/day in second week of study. Severity of alcohol withdrawal was measured by Revised Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol scale (CIWA-AR). Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV), Gama Glutamyl transferase (GGT), Carbohydrate Deficient Transferrine (CDT), and Alcohol Using Disorders Identity Test (AUDIT) tests were also administered to evaluate patients. CIWA-AR scores of the two groups were compared with Mann-Whitney U test at 1(st), 4(th), 7(th), 10(th), and 15(th) days of treatment. P values were corrected for multiple comparisons. Results: Two groups were identical on age, sex, marital status, education and employment. There were also no differences in AUDIT, CDT, MCV, and GGT scores between two groups at the beginning of the study. Mean CIWA-AR score of the memantine group was 23.63 +/- 7.24 and mean CIWA-AR score of the placebo group was 22.94 +/- 7.47 at the beginning of the study. The difference between two groups was not statistically significant. CIWA-AR scores of the memantine group were 7.88 +/- 4,37, 2.44 +/- 2.03, 0.94 +/- 0.99, and 0.25 +/- 0.44 respectively on the 4(th), 7(th), 10(th) and 15(th) measurement days. CIWA-AR scores of the placebo group were 8.63 +/- 4,79, 4.19 +/- 2.10, 2.50 +/- 1.82, and 1.13 +/- 0.96 respectively on the 4(th), 7(th), 10(th) and 15(th) measurement days. Although the decline in CIWA-AR scores was higher in memantine group, there was no statistically significant difference between memantine and placebo group. Memantine group had better improvement in tremor and sweating subscales of CIWA-AR but this difference was not statistically significant. Discussion: Despite the previous results that were mentioning that memantine was effective in alcohol withdrawal syndrome, we could not find statistically significant difference between two groups. Although memantine was not superior to placebo in our setting, randomized placebo controlled studies with more subjects and no extra medication might be helpful for showing efficacy of memantine and other antiglutamatergic agents in alcohol withdrawal syndrome.

Many drugs may cause skin reactions, but skin reactions are seen more commonly with psychotropic drugs. Dermatologic adverse effects have increased because use of antidepressant drugs have become more common all over the world. Most of these adverse effects are benign reactions but rarely serious adverse skin reactions might occur due to antidepressant drugs. There were several case reports about dermatologic side effects of antidepressants in the literature. We present two more cases of adverse skin reactions due to antidepressants; a case of erythema multiforme due to bupropion and a case of acute urticaria due to escitalopram.

Aim: The aim of the present study was to investigate the differences in the antioxidant-oxidant balance (AO-OB) between schizophrenic patients and healthy individuals and to explore the relationship of AO-OB with illness subtypes and symptom profiles. Methods: After a 15-day drug-free period, schizophrenia patients (n = 50) in a clinical sample, and age- and sex-matched healthy subjects (n = 49) were enrolled. Total antioxidant potentials (TAOP) and total peroxide levels (TPEROX) of all participants were measured and the oxidative stress index (OSI) was calculated. The assessment included structured measurements, including the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), and the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS). Results

Many drugs may cause skin reactions, but skin reactions are seen more commonly with psychotropic drugs. Dermatologic adverse effects have increased because use of antidepressant drugs have become more common all over the world. Most of these adverse effects are benign reactions but rarely serious adverse skin reactions might occur due to antidepressant drugs. There were several case reports about dermatologic side effects of antidepressants in the literature. We present two more cases of adverse skin reactions due to antidepressants; a case of erythema multiforme due to bupropion and a case of acute urticaria due to escitalopram.

Selek, Sahabettin/0000-0003-1235-3957 WOS: 000270153200013 PubMed: 19788631 Aim: The aim of the present study was to investigate the differences in the antioxidant-oxidant balance (AO-OB) between schizophrenic patients and healthy individuals and to explore the relationship of AO-OB with illness subtypes and symptom profiles. Methods: After a 15-day drug-free period, schizophrenia patients (n = 50) in a clinical sample, and age- and sex-matched healthy subjects (n = 49) were enrolled. Total antioxidant potentials (TAOP) and total peroxide levels (TPEROX) of all participants were measured and the oxidative stress index (OSI) was calculated. The assessment included structured measurements, including the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), and the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS). Results: TAOP had a significant positive correlation with age at onset of schizophrenia (P = 0.013), a negative correlation with the PANSS negative subscale scores (P = 0.008), a negative correlation with the PANSS total scores (P < 0.001), and a significant negative correlation with BPRS scores (P = 0.001). OSI had a significant negative correlation with age at onset (P = 0.046) and a significant positive correlation with PANSS negative subscale (P = 0.015). A multiple regression model indicated a significant linear combination of age, gender, duration of illness, subtype of schizophrenia, and PANSS scores, in which only the subtype of schizophrenia made a statistically significant contribution to predicting mean OSI (F[5,35] = 2.44, P = 0.04). Conclusion: Several parameters in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia, such as age of onset, level of negative symptoms, and subtype of illness, but not the presence of the illness itself, are associated with the level of oxidative stress.

Objective: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) has a prominent place in current psychiatry. One of the most common side effects of this therapy is headache. In this study, it was aimed to evaluate the effects of naproxen sodium given prior to ECT on headache and treatment satisfaction. Methods: The study was designed as prospective, randomized and blind. Twenty patients received 550 mg of naproxen sodium 90 minutes before the first and second ECT sessions while the patients in the control group received placebo (powdered glucose). Visual Analog Scale (VAS) was applied 30 minutes after the session and Treatment Satisfaction Scale was applied at the end of treatment. Results: The frequency of headache in placebo group was significantly higher than that of the naproxen-treated group (p

Objective: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) has a prominent place in current psychiatry. One of the most common side effects of this therapy is headache. In this study, it was aimed to evaluate the effects of naproxen sodium given prior to ECT on headache and treatment satisfaction. Methods: The study was designed as prospective, randomized and blind. Twenty patients received 550 mg of naproxen sodium 90 minutes before the first and second ECT sessions while the patients in the control group received placebo (powdered glucose). Visual Analog Scale (VAS) was applied 30 minutes after the session and Treatment Satisfaction Scale was applied at the end of treatment. Results: The frequency of headache in the placebo group was significantly higher than that of the naproxen-treated (p

Objective: The immunological hypothesis of schizophrenia is one of the important in that it may lead to the identification of biological markers and the development of diagnostic laboratory tests. To date these studies have found no definite evidence about the immune system dysfunction in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. In this study, it is aimed to compare the serum levels of proinflammatory cytokines IL-8 and IL-6 of patients with schizophreni who were free of antipsychotic medication for at least two weeks with the healthy controls and to determine the relationship between the serum levels of cytokines and changes with treatment. Method: Thirty three patients (27 males, 6 females) who met the diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia according to the evaluation with SCID-I and 20 (16 males, 4 females) matched healthy controls were recruited in the study. Blood samples were obtained in the first week from both groups; and four weeks after antipsychotic treatment from the patient group. The patients with schizophreni were evaluated by SAPS and SANS during their first evaluation and again at the fourth week after antipsychotic treatment. Data were evaluated with SPSS 11.0 software. Results: After the four weeks of antipsychotic treatment, the serum levels of IL-8 were lower and the levels of IL-6 were higher compared with the levels which were measured before antipsychotic treatment. There was no statistical difference in the decrease of IL-8 levels whereas post treatment elevated IL-6 levels were statistically significant compared with pretreatment values. Conclusion: Our data indicates that antipsychotic medication may have effects on proinflammatory cytokine IL-6 and new studies can be performed to determine the effects of antiinflammatory agents in the treatment and to obtain new data about the etiopathogenesis of schizophrenia.

BACKGROUND: . High-quality comprehensive data on short-/long-term physical/mental health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are needed. METHODS: . The Collaborative Outcomes study on Health and Functioning during Infection Times (COH-FIT) is an international, multi-language (n=30) project involving >230 investigators from 49 countries/territories/regions, endorsed by national/international professional associations. COH-FIT is a multi-wave, on-line anonymous, cross-sectional survey [wave 1: 04/2020 until the end of the pandemic, 12 months waves 2/3 starting 6/24 months threreafter] for adults, adolescents (14-17), and children (6-13), utilizing non-probability/snowball and representative sampling. COH-FIT aims to identify non-modifiable/modifiable risk factors/treatment targets to inform prevention/intervention programs to improve social/health outcomes in the general population/vulnerable subgrous during/after COVID-19. In adults, co-primary outcomes are change from pre-COVID-19 to intra-COVID-19 in well-being (WHO-5) and a composite psychopathology P-Score. Key secondary outcomes are a P-extended score, global mental and physical health. Secondary outcomes include health-service utilization/functioning, treatment adherence, functioning, symptoms/behaviors/emotions, substance use, violence, among others. RESULTS: . Starting 04/26/2020, up to 14/07/2021 >151,000 people from 155 countries/territories/regions and six continents have participated. Representative samples of ≥1,000 adults have been collected in 15 countries. Overall, 43.0% had prior physical disorders, 16.3% had prior mental disorders, 26.5% were health care workers, 8.2% were aged ≥65 years, 19.3% were exposed to someone infected with COVID-19, 76.1% had been in quarantine, and 2.1% had been COVID 19-positive. LIMITATIONS: . Cross-sectional survey, preponderance of non-representative participants. CONCLUSIONS: . Results from COH-FIT will comprehensively quantify the impact of COVID-19, seeking to identify high-risk groups in need for acute and long-term intervention, and inform evidence-based health policies/strategies during this/future pandemics. ispartof: JOURNAL OF AFFECTIVE DISORDERS vol:299 pages:393-407 ispartof: location:Netherlands status: published

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has altered daily routines and family functioning, led to closing schools, and dramatically limited social interactions worldwide. Measuring its impact on mental health of vulnerable children and adolescents is crucial. METHODS: The Collaborative Outcomes study on Health and Functioning during Infection Times (COH-FIT - www.coh-fit.com) is an on-line anonymous survey, available in 30 languages, involving >230 investigators from 49 countries supported by national/international professional associations. COH-FIT has thee waves (until the pandemic is declared over by the WHO, and 6-18 months plus 24-36 months after its end). In addition to adults, COH-FIT also includes adolescents (age 14-17 years), and children (age 6-13 years), recruited via non-probability/snowball and representative sampling and assessed via self-rating and parental rating. Non-modifiable/modifiable risk factors/treatment targets to inform prevention/intervention programs to promote health and prevent mental and physical illness in children and adolescents will be generated by COH-FIT. Co-primary outcomes are changes in well-being (WHO-5) and a composite psychopathology P-Score. Multiple behavioral, family, coping strategy and service utilization factors are also assessed, including functioning and quality of life. RESULTS: Up to June 2021, over 13,000 children and adolescents from 59 countries have participated in the COH-FIT project, with representative samples from eleven countries. LIMITATIONS: Cross-sectional and anonymous design. CONCLUSIONS: Evidence generated by COH-FIT will provide an international estimate of the COVID-19 effect on children's, adolescents' and families', mental and physical health, well-being, functioning and quality of life, informing the formulation of present and future evidence-based interventions and policies to minimize adverse effects of the present and future pandemics on youth. ispartof: JOURNAL OF AFFECTIVE DISORDERS vol:299 pages:367-376 ispartof: location:Netherlands status: published

Heroin is among the most widely used and dangerous addictive opiate. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that more than 15 million people are under the influence of opiate addiction. The aim of this study was to investigate copper zinc-superoxide dismutase (Cu, Zn-SOD), catalase (CAT) and selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase (Se-GPx) antioxidant enzyme activities, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and the frequency of micronuclei (MN) in addicts using heroin, the most commonly abused opiate in Turkey. Addicts were defined as individuals diagnosed according to "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition (DSM-IV)" criteria by the "Alcohol and Substance Abuse Treatment and Education Centre-Ankara (AMATEM)". The control group had no addiction. In comparisons between the groups, a significant decrease in Cu, Zn-SOD activity and increases in MDA levels and MN frequency were observed in addicts. It can be concluded that opiates may cause oxidative stress and that antioxidant supplementation, in addition to pharmacological and psychiatric approaches, can reduce the toxicological effects of these opiates.