Claire J Foldi, Paul Liknaitzky, Martin Williams, Brian J Oldfield
{"title":"Rethinking Therapeutic Strategies for Anorexia Nervosa: Insights From Psychedelic Medicine and Animal Models.","authors":"Claire J Foldi, Paul Liknaitzky, Martin Williams, Brian J Oldfield","doi":"10.1176/appi.focus.24022012","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.focus.24022012","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Anorexia nervosa (AN) has the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric disease, yet available pharmacological treatments are largely ineffective due, in part, to an inadequate understanding of the neurobiological drivers that underpin the condition. The recent resurgence of research into the clinical applications of psychedelic medicine for a range of mental disorders has highlighted the potential for classical psychedelics, including psilocybin, to alleviate symptoms of AN that relate to serotonergic signaling and cognitive inflexibility. Clinical trials using psychedelics in treatment-resistant depression have shown promising outcomes, although these studies are unable to circumvent some methodological biases. The first clinical trial to use psilocybin in patients with AN commenced in 2019, necessitating a better understanding of the neurobiological mechanisms through which psychedelics act. Animal models are beneficial in this respect, allowing for detailed scrutiny of brain function and behavior and the potential to study pharmacology without the confounds of expectancy and bias that are impossible to control for in patient populations. We argue that studies investigating the neurobiological effects of psychedelics in animal models, including the activity-based anorexia (ABA) rodent model, are particularly important to inform clinical applications, including the subpopulations of patients that may benefit most from psychedelic medicine. Appeared originally in <i>Front Neurosci</i> 2020; 14:43.</p>","PeriodicalId":73036,"journal":{"name":"Focus (American Psychiatric Publishing)","volume":"22 3","pages":"373-380"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11231471/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141582017","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":"Building Confidence in Discussing Genetics With Patients With Eating Disorders and Their Families.","authors":"Cynthia M Bulik","doi":"10.1176/appi.focus.20230040","DOIUrl":"10.1176/appi.focus.20230040","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Many individuals with eating disorders and their family members are well-informed about advances in science that could affect the treatment and outcome of these illnesses. They appropriately apply this knowledge to evaluate available treatments and advocate for the best possible evidence-based care. They ask hard questions that many clinicians are often ill-prepared to answer. Genetics has advanced our understanding of eating disorders and provides a novel lens through which to understand these pernicious illnesses. Clinicians can now update their understanding of the etiology of eating disorders and abandon outdated etiological theories, some of which have done harm to patients and their families. Without becoming expert in psychiatric genetics, psychiatrists and other mental health care professionals can develop a general overview of the science, understand what it can and cannot offer, incorporate genetic factors into their case conceptualizations, and boost their confidence in discussing these topics with patients and families.</p>","PeriodicalId":73036,"journal":{"name":"Focus (American Psychiatric Publishing)","volume":"22 3","pages":"322-327"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11231472/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141581718","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":"Innovative and Emerging Treatments for Anorexia Nervosa.","authors":"Amanda E Downey, Sasha Gorrell","doi":"10.1176/appi.focus.20230041","DOIUrl":"10.1176/appi.focus.20230041","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Unlike psychopharmacologic interventions for other psychiatric conditions, few medications have emerged as helpful in improving eating disorder cognitions and evidence-based psychotherapies fail many patients. Novel treatments are urgently needed to address anorexia nervosa (AN), which is increasingly prevalent and difficult to treat. This article provides an overview of preliminary investigations into cannabidiol, psilocybin therapy, ketamine and the ketogenic diet, transcranial magnetic stimulation, and vagus nerve stimulation in individuals with AN. These pilot studies underscore the need for larger clinical trials that include more participant diversity in order to rapidly translate findings to real-world clinical practice.</p>","PeriodicalId":73036,"journal":{"name":"Focus (American Psychiatric Publishing)","volume":"22 3","pages":"339-341"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11231466/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141581726","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}
Nandini Datta, Kristene Hossepian, Isabella Xie, Hazal Yagmur Gurcan, Solveig Behr, Marina Pouliadi, Christina Miranda
{"title":"Anorexia Nervosa Across the Lifespan: A Review of Recent Literature.","authors":"Nandini Datta, Kristene Hossepian, Isabella Xie, Hazal Yagmur Gurcan, Solveig Behr, Marina Pouliadi, Christina Miranda","doi":"10.1176/appi.focus.20230037","DOIUrl":"10.1176/appi.focus.20230037","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In this review, the authors provide an update on the understanding of anorexia nervosa (AN) across the lifespan. Focusing on key pieces of literature from the past 5 years, this review summarizes recent updates to <i>DSM-5</i> within the domain of AN, including the addition of a new AN diagnosis: atypical anorexia. Additional sections covered in this review include improvements in the epidemiological understanding of AN across the developmental spectrum, treatment approaches that have been established as gold standard as well as new directions recently explored in treatment, and recent advancements in the biopsychosocial underpinnings of AN. Altogether, although this review captures several advancements in the field's overall conceptualization of AN, several key areas of treatment and diagnostic capacity continue to require additional focus and research.</p>","PeriodicalId":73036,"journal":{"name":"Focus (American Psychiatric Publishing)","volume":"22 3","pages":"269-277"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11231474/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141581716","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":"Bulimia Nervosa and Binge-Eating Disorder Across the Lifespan.","authors":"Brittany E Matheson","doi":"10.1176/appi.focus.20240001","DOIUrl":"10.1176/appi.focus.20240001","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This article aims to review the current evidence-based psychotherapy and psychopharmacological treatments for adults and youths with bulimia nervosa (BN) and binge-eating disorder (BED). Treatments for adults and for children and adolescents are discussed separately, including developmental considerations in the management of these disorders among youths. Although several evidence-based psychotherapy and psychopharmacological treatment options have been established for adults with BN or BED, there is much less empirical support for the management of these eating disorders among children and adolescents. This review concludes by discussing promising modalities and innovations, highlighting the potential utility of integrating technology into treatment approaches. Despite decades of treatment development and testing, a sizable proportion of individuals with BN or BED do not respond to the current evidence-based treatments, highlighting the need for continued research in these domains. Future research should focus on testing psychotherapy treatments among diverse samples in large, randomized controlled trials, as well as on treatments that can be easily scaled and implemented in community settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":73036,"journal":{"name":"Focus (American Psychiatric Publishing)","volume":"22 3","pages":"278-287"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11231461/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141581719","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":"Psychopharmacology Review for Eating Disorders Among Children, Adolescents, and Adults.","authors":"Zinnia Ali, Jennifer Couturier","doi":"10.1176/appi.focus.20230043","DOIUrl":"10.1176/appi.focus.20230043","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This article reviews the latest research on pharmacological management of eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), binge-eating disorder (BED), and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder. Recent literature for both youth and adult populations obtained through a PubMed search was included. American Psychiatric Association guidelines, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines, Canadian practice guidelines, and World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry guidelines were also included. First-line recommendations were focused on therapy because the evidence for medication management of eating disorders continues to be limited. Some limited evidence was found for antipsychotic use for AN, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and topiramate use for BN, and stimulant and topiramate use for BED. Further medication trials are needed to help with complex eating disorder presentations in adults and youth.</p>","PeriodicalId":73036,"journal":{"name":"Focus (American Psychiatric Publishing)","volume":"22 3","pages":"307-311"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11231477/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141581731","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":"Innate Immune Dysfunction and Neuroinflammation in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).","authors":"H K Hughes, R J Moreno, P Ashwood","doi":"10.1176/appi.focus.24022004","DOIUrl":"10.1176/appi.focus.24022004","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a highly heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by communication and social behavior deficits. The presence of restricted and repetitive behaviors often accompanies these deficits, and these characteristics can range from mild to severe. The past several decades have seen a significant rise in the prevalence of ASD. The etiology of ASD remains unknown; however, genetic and environmental risk factors play a role. Multiple hypotheses converge to suggest that neuroinflammation, or at least the interaction between immune and neural systems, may be involved in the etiology of some ASD cases or groups. Repeated evidence of innate immune dysfunction has been seen in ASD, often associated with worsening behaviors. This evidence includes data from circulating myeloid cells and brain resident macrophages/microglia in both human and animal models. This comprehensive review presents recent findings of innate immune dysfunction in ASD, including aberrant innate cellular function, evidence of neuroinflammation, and microglia activation. Appeared originally in <i>Brain Behav Immun</i> 2023; 108:245-254.</p>","PeriodicalId":73036,"journal":{"name":"Focus (American Psychiatric Publishing)","volume":"22 2","pages":"229-241"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11046725/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140872427","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":"Systematic Review: Autism Spectrum Disorder and the Gut Microbiota.","authors":"Jenni Korteniemi, Linnea Karlsson, Anna Aatsinki","doi":"10.1176/appi.focus.24022008","DOIUrl":"10.1176/appi.focus.24022008","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a varying group of disorders characterized by deficiency in social interaction and restrictive patterns of behavior and interests. While there are several studies focusing on the neuro-psychiatric pathogenesis of ASD, its etiology remains unclear. The role of gut-brain-axis in ASD has been studied increasingly and a correlation between symptoms and the composition of gut microbiota has been documented in various works. Despite this, the significance of individual microbes and their function is still widely unknown. This work aims to elucidate the current knowledge of the interrelations between ASD and the gut microbiota in children based on scientific evidence.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This is a systematic review done by a literature search focusing on the main findings concerning the gut microbiota composition, interventions targeting the gut microbiota, and possible mechanisms explaining the results in children aged between 2 and 18 years of age.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Most studies in this review found significant differences between microbial communities, while there was notable variation in results regarding diversity indices or taxonomic level abundance. The most consistent results regarding taxa differences in ASD children's gut microbiota were higher levels of Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria and <i>Sutterella</i> compared to controls.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>These results show that the gut microbiota of children with ASD is altered compared to one of neurotypically developed children. More research is needed to discover whether some of these features could be used as potential biomarkers for ASD and how the gut microbiota could be targeted in therapeutical interventions.Appeared originally in <i>Acta Psychiatr Scand</i> 2023;148:242-254.</p>","PeriodicalId":73036,"journal":{"name":"Focus (American Psychiatric Publishing)","volume":"22 2","pages":"242-251"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11046714/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140873805","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":"An Update on Psychopharmacological Treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder.","authors":"Ramkumar Aishworiya, Tatiana Valica, Randi Hagerman, Bibiana Restrepo","doi":"10.1176/appi.focus.24022006","DOIUrl":"10.1176/appi.focus.24022006","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>While behavioral interventions remain the mainstay of treatment of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), several potential targeted treatments addressing the underlying neurophysiology of ASD have emerged in the last few years. These are promising for the potential to, in future, become part of the mainstay treatment in addressing the core symptoms of ASD. Although it is likely that the development of future targeted treatments will be influenced by the underlying heterogeneity in etiology, associated genetic mechanisms influencing ASD are likely to be the first targets of treatments and even gene therapy in the future for ASD. In this article, we provide a review of current psychopharmacological treatment in ASD including those used to address common comorbidities of the condition and upcoming new targeted approaches in autism management. Medications including metformin, arbaclofen, cannabidiol, oxytocin, bumetanide, lovastatin, trofinetide, and dietary supplements including sulforophane and N-acetylcysteine are discussed. Commonly used medications to address the comorbidities associated with ASD including atypical antipsychotics, serotoninergic agents, alpha-2 agonists, and stimulant medications are also reviewed. Targeted treatments in Fragile X syndrome (FXS), the most common genetic disorder leading to ASD, provide a model for new treatments that may be helpful for other forms of ASD. Appeared originally in <i>Neurotherapeutics</i> 2022; 19:248-262.</p>","PeriodicalId":73036,"journal":{"name":"Focus (American Psychiatric Publishing)","volume":"22 2","pages":"198-211"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11046717/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140873849","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}