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Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are associated with cognitive deficits that contribute significantly to disability. However, traditional in-lab cognitive assessments are time-consuming and not optimized for remote administration. Recent advancements in smartphone technology enable momentary cognitive assessments in a real-world context. This brief report reviews recent research in momentary cognitive assessments in individuals with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder through reviewing mobile platforms and cognitive assessments studied. A total of 14 experimental articles were reviewed, focusing on cognitive domains including visual working memory, processing speed, executive function, verbal fluency, verbal memory, social cognition, and typing patterns. The review highlights the feasibility of remote cognitive assessment with smartphones, and provides a layout of domains studied in this context, but illustrates a low volume of current research, the need for additional studies, and the potential for innovations like digital phenotyping.

Background: Enlarged pituitary gland volume could be a marker of psychotic disorders. However, previous studies report conflicting results. To better understand the role of the pituitary gland in psychosis, we examined a large transdiagnostic sample of individuals with psychotic disorders. Methods: The study included 751 participants (174 with schizophrenia, 114 with schizoaffective disorder, 167 with psychotic bipolar disorder, and 296 healthy controls) across six sites in the Bipolar-Schizophrenia Network on Intermediate Phenotypes consortium. Structural magnetic resonance images were obtained, and pituitary gland volumes were measured using the MAGeT brain algorithm. Linear mixed models examined between-group differences with controls and among patient subgroups based on diagnosis, as well as how pituitary volumes were associated with symptom severity, cognitive function, antipsychotic dose, and illness duration. Results: Mean pituitary gland volume did not significantly differ between patients and controls. No significant effect of diagnosis was observed. Larger pituitary gland volume was associated with greater symptom severity (F = 13.61, p = 0.0002), lower cognitive function (F = 4.76, p = 0.03), and higher antipsychotic dose (F = 5.20, p = 0.02). Illness duration was not significantly associated with pituitary gland volume. When all variables were considered, only symptom severity significantly predicted pituitary gland volume (F = 7.54, p = 0.006). Conclusions: Although pituitary volumes were not increased in psychotic disorders, larger size may be a marker associated with more severe symptoms in the progression of psychosis. This finding helps clarify previous inconsistent reports and highlights the need for further research into pituitary gland-related factors in individuals with psychosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Social media has become increasingly part of our everyday lives and is influential in shaping the habits, sociability, and mental health of individuals, particularly among students. This study aimed to examine the relationship between changes over time in problematic social media use and mental health outcomes in students. We also investigated whether resilience and loneliness moderated the relationship between social media use and mental health. Patients and Methods: A total of 103 participants completed a baseline virtual study visit, and 78 participants completed a follow-up visit, 4-weeks later. Participants completed a comprehensive set of questionnaires measuring symptoms of depression and anxiety, perceived stress, loneliness, and resilience. Results: Our results showed that problematic social media use at baseline was significantly negatively correlated with resilience and positively correlated with all other mental health outcomes. Furthermore, increases in problematic social media use were significantly associated with increased depressive symptoms and loneliness between visits. Resilience significantly moderated the relationship between increased problematic social media use and heightened perceived stress. Poor mental health at baseline did not predict increased problematic social media use over time. Contrarily to problematic use, frequency of social media use was not significantly correlated with any mental health measures at baseline. Conclusion: This study offers a longitudinal perspective, providing valuable insights into the potential protective role of resilience against the detrimental mental health effects seen with increases in problematic social media use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The integrity and function of catecholamine neurotransmitter systems can be assessed using neuromelanin‐sensitive MRI (NM‐MRI). The relevance of this method to neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders is becoming increasingly evident, and it has potential as a clinical biomarker. Purpose: To support future application of NM‐MRI as a clinical biomarker by defining the normative range of NM‐MRI signal and volume metrics in cognitively normal older adults. Study Type: Prospective. Population: A total of 152 cognitively normal older adults aged 53–86 years old, including 41 participants who had follow‐up NM‐MRI data collected 9–16 months later. Field Strength/Sequence: A 3.0 T; NM‐MRI turbo spin echo and T1‐weighted magnetization‐prepared rapid acquisition with gradient echo sequences. Assessment: NM‐MRI images were processed to yield summary measures of volume and signal (contrast‐to‐noise ratio, CNR) for the substantia nigra (SN) and locus coeruleus (LC) using a recently developed software employing a fully automated algorithm. Change in these metrics over time was also assessed. Statistical Tests: Mean and standard deviation of NM‐MRI metrics were calculated; change over time was tested for significance using 1‐sample t‐tests. P values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: At baseline SN signal (CNR) was 10.02% (left) and 10.28% (right) and LC signal was 24.71% (left) and 20.42% (right). Baseline SN volume was 576 mm3 (left) and 540 mm3 (right) and LC volume was 6.31 mm3 (left) and 6.30 mm3 (right). The only NM‐MRI metric showing significant change was a decrease in left SN volume (t40 = −2.57, P = 0.014). Data Conclusion: We report normative values for NM‐MRI signal and volume in the SN and LC of cognitively normal older adults and explore their change over time. These values may help future efforts to use NM‐MRI as a clinical biomarker by facilitating identification of patients with extreme NM‐MRI values. Level of Evidence: 2. Technical Efficacy Stage: 1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]