Alpha psychiatry最新文献

{"title":"Serum Claudin-5 and Peripheral Inflammation in Major Depressive Disorder: A Case-Control Study with Focus on Suicidal Ideation.","authors":"Nurbanu Keskin, Mahmut Selçuk, Ercan Saruhan","doi":"10.31083/AP46843","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.31083/AP46843","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Major depressive disorder (MDD) has been increasingly associated with neuroinflammatory and neurovascular dysfunction. Claudin-5, a key tight junction protein essential for blood-brain barrier integrity, has an unclear role as a peripheral biomarker in MDD. This study examined serum Claudin-5 alongside systemic inflammatory indices-including the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), the inflammation score (INFLA), and suicidal ideation in antidepressant-naive or medication-free (for at least three months) adult MDD patients.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>73 antidepressant-naive or drug-free MDD patients and 74 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were enrolled. Depression severity and suicidality were assessed using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) and Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (BSSI). Serum Claudin-5, C-reactive protein (CRP), and complete blood counts were measured, and inflammatory indices (NLR, PLR, MLR, INFLA) were calculated. Between-group comparisons, correlation analyses, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses were performed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>MDD patients showed significantly reduced Claudin-5 and elevated NLR, PLR, CRP, and INFLA scores compared with controls (all <i>p</i> < 0.05). Claudin-5 was not associated with symptom severity, suicidality, or inflammatory indices. ROC analysis for serum Claudin-5 indicated fair accuracy in distinguishing MDD from controls (AUC = 0.737) but limited value for predicting suicidal ideation (AUC = 0.628).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Reduced serum Claudin-5 in untreated MDD may indicate relatively stable endothelial alterations rather than acute, state-dependent changes. Although Claudin-5 alone had limited prognostic value for suicidality, inflammatory indices-particularly NLR and INFLA-showed stronger associations. Integrating vascular and immune biomarkers may enhance biological stratification and suicide risk assessment in depression and guide future multimodal studies.</p>","PeriodicalId":72151,"journal":{"name":"Alpha psychiatry","volume":"27 1","pages":"46843"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-02-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12957969/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147367435","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sex Differences in Social Media Addiction: The Mediating Effects of Social Media Use Motives.","authors":"Young-Jin Lim","doi":"10.31083/AP46105","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.31083/AP46105","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The aim of this study was to examine whether social media use motives mediate sex differences in social media addiction.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Three hundred adults (50.0% women; mean age = 39.28 years, standard deviation = 10.91) in South Korea completed the Social Network Site Use Motives Scale-Revised and the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Sex differences were found in social media addiction; that is, women reported higher levels of social media addiction than men. In addition, coping motives partially explained the sex differences in social media addiction. Although indirect effects were also observed for enhancement and pastime motives, the effects were not statistically significant after correction for multiple comparisons.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The findings indicate that women are more vulnerable to social media addiction than men, due in part to a difference in coping motives. Thus, interventions targeting coping motives may effectively reduce the risk of social media addiction among Korean adult women.</p>","PeriodicalId":72151,"journal":{"name":"Alpha psychiatry","volume":"27 1","pages":"46105"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-02-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12957981/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147367464","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Relationship Between Negative Cognition and Poor Quality of Life and Anxiety in Adolescents: A Meta-Analysis.","authors":"Şenay Kılınçel, Oğuzhan Kılınçel","doi":"10.31083/AP46205","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.31083/AP46205","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Background: &lt;/strong&gt;Anxiety disorders are among the most prevalent psychiatric conditions during adolescence and are closely associated with maladaptive cognitive processes and impaired quality of life (QoL). However, the magnitude of these associations and the factors moderating them remain inconsistent across studies. This meta-analysis aimed to synthesize the available empirical evidence on the relationships between negative cognitions, QoL, and anxiety in adolescents, and to examine potential moderating variables.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Methods: &lt;/strong&gt;In accordance with the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, a systematic literature search was conducted across PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Scopus, and grey literature sources. Eligible studies included adolescents aged 10-19 years and reported correlation coefficients between negative cognitions or QoL and anxiety. A total of 42 studies (N = 27,845) were included and pooled using random-effects models, with Fisher's z-transformed correlation coefficients as the primary effect size. Moderator analyses examined the influence of measurement instruments, sample characteristics (clinical vs. non-clinical), age, gender distribution, and study quality.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results: &lt;/strong&gt;Across 34 studies (n = 21,006), negative cognitions showed a moderate positive association with anxiety (r = 0.41, 95% CI: 0.37-0.45, &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; &lt; 0.001). Across 26 studies (n = 15,784), QoL demonstrated a moderate inverse association with anxiety (r = -0.36, 95% CI: -0.41 to -0.31, &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; &lt; 0.001). Substantial heterogeneity was observed for both outcomes (I&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt; = 68% for negative cognitions and 72% for QoL). Moderator analyses revealed stronger associations in clinical samples (negative cognition-anxiety r = 0.47; QoL-anxiety r = -0.42) compared with school- or community-based samples. Gender distribution significantly moderated effect sizes, with studies including more than &gt;60% female participants reporting stronger associations (negative cognition-anxiety r = 0.44; QoL-anxiety r = -0.39, both &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; &lt; 0.05). Measurement instruments also influenced results: the Dysfunctional Attitude Scale yielded the strongest associations between negative cognitions and anxiety (r = 0.45, &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; &lt; 0.001), whereas QoL-anxiety associations were most pronounced when assessed using the KIDSCREEN instrument (r = -0.39, &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; &lt; 0.001). Age group and country income level did not significantly moderate associations, although slightly stronger correlations were observed among older adolescents (15-19 years) compared with younger adolescents. Sensitivity analyses and publication bias assessments supported the robustness of the findings.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Conclusion: &lt;/strong&gt;Negative cognitions and reduced quality of life are robustly associated with anxiety in adolescents, particularly in clinical samples and in studies with a predominance of female participants. These findings provide strong support for cognitive-behavioral","PeriodicalId":72151,"journal":{"name":"Alpha psychiatry","volume":"27 1","pages":"46205"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-02-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12957976/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147367393","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Structural Alterations and Cognitive Impairment in Late-Onset Depression: A Reverse Correlation Analysis.","authors":"Yujie Wu, Naikeng Mai","doi":"10.31083/AP44585","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.31083/AP44585","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Late-onset depression (LOD), particularly when accompanied by cognitive impairment, represents a significant risk factor for dementia. Prevailing perspectives emphasize that cognitive impairment arises from interactions among multiple brain regions. However, current approaches to identifying brain network patterns associated with cognitive impairment largely rely on group-level analyses with multiple-comparison corrections, which may obscure complex and interconnected relationships between brain regions. Our previous research demonstrated that alterations in brain network properties in patients with LOD are closely associated with cognitive function. We therefore hypothesised that aberrant interactions among multiple brain regions in LOD lead to changes in network properties and subsequent cognitive dysfunction.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study aimed to investigate the interregional brain interactions underlying cognitive impairment in LOD by leveraging the robust interpretability of neural network models. Specifically, we sought to: (1) develop a neural network model of LOD-related cognitive impairment based on brain network properties; and (2) apply a reverse correlation approach to identify connectivity features associated with cognitive impairment in LOD.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>No statistically significant differences were observed in tthe structural network properties when comparing the LOD and control participant groups across various thresholds. Using a neural network-based reverse correlation method, the most prominent differences were identified in the inferior, middle, and anterior regions of the left temporal pole when comparing patients with LOD with and without mild cognitive impairment (MCI).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Alterations in the internal structure of the temporal lobe may represent potential anatomical biomarkers for the early prediction of Alzheimer's disease, providing novel insights into the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying LOD-related MCI. The research framework proposed in this study effectively addresses the challenge of detecting subtle intergroup anatomical differences in studies with limited sample sizes. Moreover, the reverse correlation approach is not restricted to multilayer neural networks; as machine learning models become increasingly powerful and accessible, this method offers a practical and interpretable alternative for exploratory neuroimaging research.</p>","PeriodicalId":72151,"journal":{"name":"Alpha psychiatry","volume":"27 1","pages":"44585"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-02-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12957978/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147365924","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluation of Short Term and Long Term Subjective and Objective Cognitive Outcomes Following ECT for Depression in a Naturalistic Ambulatory Setting: A Cohort Study.","authors":"Sarah A Goegan, Gary M Hasey, Jelena P King, Bruno J Losier, Peter J Bieling, Margaret C McKinnon, Heather E McNeely","doi":"10.31083/AP45286","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.31083/AP45286","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Background: &lt;/strong&gt;This cohort study examined changes in cognitive outcomes, subjective memory, and depressive symptoms in an understudied area: electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) delivered in a naturalistic ambulatory setting with a heterogeneous, clinically complex sample of individuals with mixed mood disorders.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Methods: &lt;/strong&gt;Participants were adults (mean age = 45.7 years; female gender = 69%) receiving ambulatory ECT for a major depressive episode (Major Depressive Disorder = 81.4%; Bipolar Spectrum Disorder = 18.9%); 62.9% had at least 1 co-occurring mental health diagnosis. Clinical and cognitive assessments were completed at baseline (n = 100), mid-ECT (n = 94), 2-4 weeks (n = 64), 6-months (n = 34), and 12-months (n = 19) post-ECT. Neurocognitive performance was assessed using the Repeatable Battery for Assessment of Neuropsychological Status® (RBANS) at all timepoints, except mid-ECT and subjective memory was assessed using the Squire Subjective Memory Questionnaire (SSMQ).&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results: &lt;/strong&gt;Overall, cognitive performance was lower than expected compared to premorbid estimates at baseline but did not significantly worsen following ECT (&lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; &gt; 0.05), with the exception of a transient decline in verbal fluency scores. Patients endorsed elevated subjective memory complaints before and after ECT, which differed by treatment response as indicated by a significant Time by Response Group interaction &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; = 0.039. There were significant main effects of time in both 'Responders' (≥50% improvement in Beck Depression Inventory [BDI-II] score post-ECT), &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; &lt; 0.001 and 'Non-Responders' (&lt;50% improvement in BDI-II) &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; = 0.021. Within group, after controlling for multiple comparisons, there was a clear trend for SSMQ scores to improve across most time points in the 'Responder' group, but subjective memory declined and remained around baseline level in the 'Non-Responder' group across follow-up. In the sample as a whole, rapid reduction in BDI-II scores from baseline to mid-ECT predicted rapid improvement in SSMQ scores, &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; = 0.013.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Conclusions: &lt;/strong&gt;Clinically complex adults referred to ECT for depression presented with prominent memory concerns and performed below expectation compared to their estimated premorbid cognitive functioning at baseline. Naturalistic delivery of ECT did not appear to be associated with prolonged adverse cognitive outcomes; however, subjective memory concerns and below-expected cognitive performance persisted during follow-up. Treatment response impacted subjective memory outcomes, with only 'Responders' endorsing slightly reduced, though still persistent, subjective memory concerns following ECT. Conclusions on the long-term impacts of ECT are tempered by the high lost to follow up (LTFU) rate observed across follow-up assessments (66% LTFU at 6-months, 81% LTFU at 12-months). Nonetheless, these findings emphasize the need to address subtl","PeriodicalId":72151,"journal":{"name":"Alpha psychiatry","volume":"27 1","pages":"45286"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-02-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12957962/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147367444","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Rethinking Autism as an Affective-Empathy Disorder.","authors":"Sergio Machado, Flávia Paes, João Lucas Lima","doi":"10.31083/AP45867","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.31083/AP45867","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":72151,"journal":{"name":"Alpha psychiatry","volume":"27 1","pages":"45867"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-02-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12957977/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147367452","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Interrelationships Between Self-Injury Addiction, Traumatic Experiences, and Rumination Among Adolescents With Non-Suicidal Self-Injury: A Network Analysis.","authors":"Shijian Wang, Lin Zhao, Doudou Zheng, Linghua Kong, Jingya Li, Ying Yang","doi":"10.31083/AP44340","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.31083/AP44340","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is on the rise in adolescent populations and its addictive profile, marked by frequent repetition, severe damage, and higher suicide risk, has raised broad concern. Childhood trauma is a key influencing factor that enhances emotional sensitivity and increases susceptibility to NSSI. Rumination, characterized by persistent negative thoughts, may mediate this association by amplifying emotional distress, as suggested by the emotional cascade model. Guided by the Interaction of Person-Affect-Cognition-Execution (I-PACE) model, this study employed network analysis to investigate the interactive associations among childhood trauma, rumination, and NSSI addiction in adolescents, aiming to identify core and bridge symptoms.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We enrolled 1169 adolescents with NSSI and collected data using demographic questionnaires along with the Ottawa Self-Injury Inventory, Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, and Ruminative Responses Scale. Undirected network and Bayesian network analyses were applied to examine the complex associations among symptoms and mediation analysis was performed guided by the directed acyclic graph structure.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>By integrating both directed and undirected network models, symptom rumination and emotional abuse were identified as central nodes influencing the addictive nature of self-injury. Mediation analysis supported the pathway suggested by the directed acyclic graph (DAG), showing that symptom rumination mediated the relationship between emotional abuse and NSSI addiction. Network comparison further indicated that this link between self-injury addiction and symptom rumination was stronger in the addiction group than in the non-addiction group.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>In Chinese adolescents, timely identification and intervention targeting rumination on emotionally abusive experiences may reduce the onset and persistence of NSSI addiction.</p>","PeriodicalId":72151,"journal":{"name":"Alpha psychiatry","volume":"27 1","pages":"44340"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-02-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12957973/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147367466","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Clinical Factors and Serum Biomarkers Associated With Major Depressive Disorder in Adolescents With and Without Nonsuicidal Self-Injury: A Comparative Cross-Sectional Study.","authors":"Shengjiao Zhao, Xiaodan Dong, Jiahui Lu, Yanyan Wu, Ping Fang, Yu Zhang, Yujian Mou, Haiyan Xie","doi":"10.31083/AP44160","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.31083/AP44160","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>To investigate differences in biological characteristics and factors associated with depressive disorder with or without nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) in adolescents.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study enrolled adolescents aged 12-18 years, including patients with first-episode depression and healthy controls. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, patients were divided into an NSSI group and a non-NSSI group. Collected data included demographic variables (sex, age, years of education), psychological scale scores (Self-Rating Anxiety Scale [SAS], Self-Rating Depression Scale [SDS]), and biological indicators (folate, immunoglobulins, complement, inflammatory factors). Differences among the three groups were compared using analysis of variance, and correlates of NSSI were explored using regression analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The study included 110 patients with first-episode depression and 55 healthy controls. Among the patients, 57 were classified into the NSSI group and 53 into the non-NSSI group. The following results were obtained: (1) The three groups differed significantly in sex, SAS and SDS scores, and levels of folate, complement 3 (C3), and interleukins 6 and 4 (<i>p</i> < 0.05). (2) Female sex and high C3 levels were positively associated with NSSI, whereas age and high folate levels were inversely associated with NSSI. High folate levels were a protective correlate in the non-NSSI group.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Demographic factors such as sex and age influence the development of depressive disorders with comorbid NSSI. In addition, levels of C3 and folate may be related to NSSI behavior in patients with depression.</p>","PeriodicalId":72151,"journal":{"name":"Alpha psychiatry","volume":"27 1","pages":"44160"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-02-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12957982/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147367347","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Efficacy and Mechanisms Underlying MRI-guided High-definition Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Combined With Computerized Cognitive Remediation Therapy for Improving Cognitive Impairments in Schizophrenia: Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.","authors":"Yange Wei, Shanyuan He, Peng Luo, Rongxun Liu, Hanshuo Su, Zengyuan Shen, Shuqi Feng, Yanran Wu, Guangjun Ji, Wei Zheng, Fei Wang, Chuansheng Wang","doi":"10.31083/AP46768","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.31083/AP46768","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Schizophrenia primarily depends on pharmacotherapy, which has demonstrated limited efficacy in enhancing cognitive impairments. High-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) and computerized cognitive remediation therapy (CCRT) hold potential for improving cognitive impairments. This study aims to investigate the effects of combining HD-tDCS with CCRT on cognition and to explore the mechanisms of this approach in schizophrenia.</p><p><strong>Study design: </strong>This is the protocol of a randomized controlled trial.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Schizophrenia patients will be randomly assigned to one of 4 groups: HD-tDCS + CCRT group (Group 1), HD-tDCS group (Group 2), CCRT group (Group 3), and a control group (Group 4). The central electrode will be personalized using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided localization in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). CCRT includes 6 therapeutic modules and 10 distinct tasks. Both HD-tDCS and CCRT will be administered once daily, 5 days per week, for 4 consecutive weeks, culminating in a total of 20 sessions. Assessments will occur at baseline (T0), after 10 sessions (T1), after 20 sessions (T2), and after 6 months of follow-up (T3). The primary outcome measure is the change in cognition. We will employ multimodal MRI, serum concentrations of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) to explore the underlying mechanisms.</p><p><strong>Expected results: </strong>An involvement of mPFC and synaptic plasticity in response to HD-tDCS and CCRT is hypothesized.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The study will provide empirical evidence for the effectiveness of combined therapy at an individual level, explore its mechanisms, and may ultimately result in personalized medicine.</p><p><strong>Clinical trial registration: </strong>ChiCTR2500102731, https://www.chictr.org.cn/hvshowprojectEN.html?id=276964&v=1.0.</p>","PeriodicalId":72151,"journal":{"name":"Alpha psychiatry","volume":"27 1","pages":"46768"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-02-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12957961/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147367427","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Is Happiness a Possible Outcome for People With Schizophrenia?","authors":"Ilaria Riboldi, Giuseppe Carrà","doi":"10.31083/AP46244","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.31083/AP46244","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":72151,"journal":{"name":"Alpha psychiatry","volume":"27 1","pages":"46244"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-02-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12957967/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147367412","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}