{"title":"The crisis of scientific paradigm in modern psychiatry and a look to the future.","authors":"Santiago A Levín","doi":"10.1002/pcn5.70132","DOIUrl":"10.1002/pcn5.70132","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Contemporary psychiatry is going through times of crisis. In this article, I will focus on the epistemological and historical aspect of the phenomenon. Three authors are the main references guiding the argumentation I offer in this text. They are Thomas Kuhn, Georges Lanteri-Laura and Juan Carlos Stagnaro. The text is intended as an introduction to the epistemological analysis of contemporary psychiatry, but it also proposes to look a little ahead in order to attempt a modest reflection on the future of the specialty.</p>","PeriodicalId":74405,"journal":{"name":"PCN reports : psychiatry and clinical neurosciences","volume":"4 2","pages":"e70132"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12145659/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144251211","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":"Association between oxytocin and S100B in community-dwelling older adults.","authors":"Ryuzo Orihashi, Narumi Fujino, Yoshito Mizoguchi","doi":"10.1002/pcn5.70130","DOIUrl":"10.1002/pcn5.70130","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aim: </strong>The aging of the global population has made healthy aging and the extension of healthy life expectancy significant challenges for many societies. Mental health, including cognitive function, is critical to the quality of life of older adults. Oxytocin, a neuropeptide involved in social bonding and stress regulation, has been shown to exert neuroprotective effects, while S100B, a calcium-binding protein, has been linked to neuroinflammation and neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease. However, the relationship between oxytocin and S100B levels during aging remains unclear. This study investigated the association between serum oxytocin and S100B levels in community-dwelling older adults.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This survey, conducted between November 2016 and September 2017 in Kurokawa-cho, Imari, Saga Prefecture, Japan, included community-dwelling older adults aged ≥65 years. Blood samples were collected to measure serum oxytocin and S100B levels using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The relationships among serum oxytocin, S100B, and cognitive function (Mini-Mental State Examination, Frontal Assessment Battery, and Clinical Dementia Rating) were analyzed using correlation and multiple regression analyses.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 95 participants (25 men, 70 women; mean age: 78.03 ± 5.12 years) were analyzed. Our analysis showed that serum oxytocin levels were negatively associated with serum S100B levels even after adjusting for age, sex, years of education, and body mass index. However, no significant correlations were found between these biomarkers and overall cognitive function.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>These findings suggest that the neuroprotective effects of oxytocin may influence blood S100B levels, though its direct role in cognitive function remains unclear.</p>","PeriodicalId":74405,"journal":{"name":"PCN reports : psychiatry and clinical neurosciences","volume":"4 2","pages":"e70130"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12141514/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144251209","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":"Clusters and case vignettes of impaired maternal-fetal bonding in pregnancy: A mixed method approach.","authors":"Toshinori Kitamura, Ayako Hada, Yuriko Usui, Yukiko Ohashi","doi":"10.1002/pcn5.70127","DOIUrl":"10.1002/pcn5.70127","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aim: </strong>Clinical attention to and understanding of women with impaired fetal bonding is important for early therapeutic intervention. This study aimed to clarify the clinical characteristics of women belonging to groups derived by cluster analysis of impaired maternal-fetal bonding.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A mixed-method approach was adopted. We conducted a two-wave internet survey targeting pregnant women less than 36 gestational weeks by using a questionnaire (33-item Dimensional Assessment of Mother Baby Organization Questionnaire [DAMBO Q33]) with subsequent online interviews (Dimensional Assessment of Mother and Baby Organization-Research Version). The maternal-fetal bonding disorder items in the DAMBO Q33 were entered into a two-step cluster analysis. Two representative cases from each of the clusters, except for the positive bonding cluster, were selected to describe their clinical pictures. Finally, quantitative data and qualitative data were integrated and interpreted.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A two-step cluster analysis elicited four clusters: bonding disorder (<i>n</i> = 101), ambivalent bonding (<i>n</i> = 156), positive bonding (<i>n</i> = 173), and lack of bonding emotions (<i>n</i> = 122). Women in the bonding disorder cluster were characterized by seriously negative feelings towards the fetus. Women in the ambivalent bonding cluster wished to be pregnant but were not sufficiently ready for the transition into parenthood. Women in the lack of bonding emotions cluster were characterized by a lack of strong interest in pregnancy and the fetus.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Patterns of impaired maternal-fetal bonding were identified. We should not think of a pathological category of mental illness among them but recognize that such parents are targets for professional assessments and supportive (therapeutic) interventions. Understanding the meaning of getting pregnant and difficulties in the process of maternal role attainment is required.</p>","PeriodicalId":74405,"journal":{"name":"PCN reports : psychiatry and clinical neurosciences","volume":"4 2","pages":"e70127"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12141512/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144251210","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":"Psychometric evaluation of the Japanese version of the Mental Health Continuum-Short Form (MHC-SF) in adolescents.","authors":"Yoshifumi Fukuya, Kei Sakuma, Takahiro Nemoto","doi":"10.1002/pcn5.70129","DOIUrl":"10.1002/pcn5.70129","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aim: </strong>The Mental Health Continuum-Short Form (MHC-SF) is an assessment tool used worldwide to assess emotional, social, and psychological well-being. This study examined the structure, reliability, and validity of the Japanese version of the MHC-SF among adolescents.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In total, 1588 adolescents aged 15-18 years completed the assessment (54.8% female; age mean ± standard deviation = 16.3 ± 0.94 years). The factor structure of the MHC-SF was evaluated using confirmatory factor analyses. The internal consistency, concurrent validity, and measurement invariance across sex and age were examined.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A three-factor model of the MHC-SF yielded the best fit compared with the one- and two-factor models. Internal consistency was confirmed by a Cronbach's alpha (>0.8). Measurement invariance was observed across sex and age. Convergent and divergent validity were demonstrated by assessing the relationships with other measurements.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study established a three-factor model of the MHC-SF in Japanese adolescents. We confirmed the reliability and validity of the Japanese version of the MHC-SF for assessing emotional, social, and psychological well-being in adolescents.</p>","PeriodicalId":74405,"journal":{"name":"PCN reports : psychiatry and clinical neurosciences","volume":"4 2","pages":"e70129"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12137193/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144236156","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}
Andrea Sturchio, Jonas E Svensson, Mikael Tiger, Anton Forsberg Morén, Andrea Varrone, Per Svenningsson, Yoshiro Okubo, Amane Tateno
{"title":"[<sup>18</sup>F]FE-PE2I PET is a diagnostic tool in dementia with Lewy bodies.","authors":"Andrea Sturchio, Jonas E Svensson, Mikael Tiger, Anton Forsberg Morén, Andrea Varrone, Per Svenningsson, Yoshiro Okubo, Amane Tateno","doi":"10.1002/pcn5.70123","DOIUrl":"10.1002/pcn5.70123","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aim: </strong>Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is characterized by motor and non-motor symptoms. The degeneration of the dopaminergic pathway is a hallmark of DLB; for this reason, we aimed to study a recent dopamine transporter (DAT) positron emission tomography (PET) radioligand as a diagnostic tool for DLB.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this study, we used DAT-PET with the radioligand [<sup>18</sup>F]FE-PE2I to distinguish DLB subjects from healthy controls (HCs). We also aimed to analyze how DAT binding correlated with clinical features, amyloid load, measured by PET, and cardiac metaiodobenzylguanidine scintigraphy (MIBG).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Binding potential (<i>BP</i> <sub>ND</sub>) values of [<sup>18</sup>F]FE-PE2I were higher in HCs versus DLB in striatum (1.82 ± 0.34 vs. 1.15 ± 0.34; <i>p</i> < 0.001; 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 0.40-0.96), putamen (2.2 ± 0.36 vs. 1.41 ± 0.51; <i>p</i> < 0.001; 95% CI: 0.39-1.17), caudate (1.38 ± 0.30 vs. 0.88 ± 0.20; <i>p</i> < 0.001; 95% CI: 0.28-0.70), and substantia nigra (0.49 ± 0.091 vs. 0.42 ± 0.084; <i>p</i> = 0.0437; 95% CI: 0.003 to 0.14). After adjusting for age, substantia nigra did not differ between DLB and HCs (<i>p</i>: 0.46; 95% CI: -0.049 to 0.11); however, <i>BP</i> <sub>ND</sub> values between DLB and HC in striatum (<i>p</i>: <0.001; 95% CI: 0.25-0.85), putamen (<i>p</i>: 0.0012; 95% CI: 0.31-1.13), and caudate (<i>p</i>: 0.0027; 95% CI: 0.13-0.55) were still significant. Striatum was the best area to correctly classify DLB subjects versus HC compared to the putamen, caudate, and substantia nigra (area under the curve = 0.95, 0.90, 0.93, and 0.73, respectively; 95 CI: 0.87-1.00, 0.79-1.00, 0.84-1.00, 0.55-0.92, respectively). Subjects with altered MIBG showed lower <i>BP</i> <sub>ND</sub> compared to subjects with normal MIBG in the putamen.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our study showed that [<sup>18</sup>F]FE-PE2I PET represents a potential diagnostic tool with high accuracy in discriminating DLB patients versus HC, which is valuable for clinical practice.</p>","PeriodicalId":74405,"journal":{"name":"PCN reports : psychiatry and clinical neurosciences","volume":"4 2","pages":"e70123"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12128163/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144210356","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":"Comparative cultural study using the Public Attitudes Toward Epilepsy Scale (PATE scale) in Japan and Malaysia.","authors":"Hiroumi Shimazaki, Takayuki Iwayama, Sayaka Kobayashi, Junichi Hatakeda, Zhi Jien Chia, Haruo Yoshimasu, Kheng Seang Lim, Izumi Kuramochi","doi":"10.1002/pcn5.70063","DOIUrl":"10.1002/pcn5.70063","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aim: </strong>Epilepsy-related stigma significantly impacts quality of life, with severity noted in Asian countries. This study compared public attitudes towards epilepsy in Japan and Malaysia, two Asian nations with distinct religious and healthcare backgrounds.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We used the Public Attitudes Toward Epilepsy (PATE) scale, including its Japanese version (PATE-J), to survey 113 Japanese and 130 Malaysian participants. Demographic data and PATE scores were compared using <i>t</i>-tests and <i>χ</i>² tests. Covariance analysis (ANCOVA) was conducted to adjust for potential confounding factors such as age and education level.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>No significant differences were found in PATE total scores (<i>P</i> = 0.484), general domain (<i>P</i> = 0.101), or personal domain (<i>P</i> = 0.217) between Japan and Malaysia. However, after adjusting for age and education using ANCOVA, education significantly influenced the general domain (<i>F</i> = 4.512, P = 0.012) and total scores (<i>F</i> = 3.302, <i>P</i> = 0.038), while country (<i>F</i> = 7.191, P = 0.008) and age (<i>F</i> = 6.633, <i>P</i> = 0.011) were significant for the personal domain. Malaysian participants were significantly younger (<i>P</i> < 0.001) and had higher education levels (<i>P</i> < 0.001) compared to Japanese participants.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>While no significant differences in epilepsy-related stigma were observed between Japan and Malaysia, demographic variations in age, education, and regional characteristics may have masked potential cultural differences. The adjusted analysis underscores the importance of controlling for these factors to better elucidate cultural influences on epilepsy stigma formation in Asia.</p>","PeriodicalId":74405,"journal":{"name":"PCN reports : psychiatry and clinical neurosciences","volume":"4 1","pages":"e70063"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11930762/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143702421","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":"Anhedonia: Current and future treatments.","authors":"Alessandro Serretti","doi":"10.1002/pcn5.70088","DOIUrl":"10.1002/pcn5.70088","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Anhedonia is a transdiagnostic domain that leads to poor disorder outcome and low remission rates. This narrative review describes a broad range of interventions targeting anhedonia, including pharmacological, neuromodulatory, behavioral, and lifestyle-based approaches. Drugs such as vortioxetine, agomelatine, bupropion, ketamine, and brexpiprazole show promising anti-anhedonic effects, while traditional antidepressants, such as serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) and, even more so, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), are less effective. Neuromodulation techniques, including repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, transcranial direct current stimulation, and transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation, proved effective at improving anhedonia, particularly when used in targeted areas. Psychotherapeutic interventions, including behavioral activation, mindfulness-based strategies, and savoring techniques, also help re-engage patients with pleasurable activities and enhance positive affect. Innovative treatments, such as aticaprant and psilocybin, showed promising results. Substantial evidence suggests that improving anhedonia leads to better psychosocial functioning, quality of life, and sustained remission. Although most data come from short-term studies, several long-term analyses suggest that maintaining hedonic improvements is feasible and beneficial. The reviewed evidence underscores the importance of routine assessment of anhedonia and the integration of symptom-specific strategies. Tailoring interventions to address individual patterns of reward disruption may optimize outcomes for patients with anhedonia.</p>","PeriodicalId":74405,"journal":{"name":"PCN reports : psychiatry and clinical neurosciences","volume":"4 1","pages":"e70088"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11930767/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143702420","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":"Sociological characteristics of alcohol-induced suicide attempters: A retrospective study.","authors":"Ryuichiro Narishige, Yasushi Otaka, Amane Tateno","doi":"10.1002/pcn5.70086","DOIUrl":"10.1002/pcn5.70086","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aim: </strong>Although alcohol consumption is known to be a trigger for suicide, the extent to which acute alcohol consumption influences suicide attempts in Japan is unclear. We investigated the actual state and background of alcohol-induced suicide attempts, that is, suicide attempts induced by acute alcohol consumption, in patients with severe suicide attempts admitted to the emergency department.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The subjects were suicide attempters over 20 years old who were admitted to the emergency department between 2010 and 2021. The means of suicide attempt, sociodemographic data, psychiatric diagnoses, and causes and motives of suicide attempts were retrospectively examined from medical records. We compared differences in the characteristics of data obtained from males and females with and without alcohol-induced suicide attempts, and used logistic regression analysis to evaluate the influence of those factors on alcohol-induced suicide attempts.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among the 801 suicide attempters over 20 years old during 2010 to 2021, 130 (16.2%) were alcohol-induced suicide attempters: 61 (18.9%) of 323 male suicide attempters and 69 (14.4%) of 478 female suicide attempters. Substance-induced disorders in both males and females, in addition to marital relations in males and living alone and personality disorders in females, had significant influence on alcohol-induced suicide attempts.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Acute alcohol consumption was found to be a trigger in approximately one in six suicide attempts and alcohol-induced suicide attempts were not unique in terms of substance dependence. We believe that focusing on those factors that seemed to influence alcohol-induced suicide attempts in the present study could provide clues regarding the prevention of alcohol-induced suicide attempts.</p>","PeriodicalId":74405,"journal":{"name":"PCN reports : psychiatry and clinical neurosciences","volume":"4 1","pages":"e70086"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11929426/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143694830","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":"Correlations between clinical insomnia and psychophysiological factors in postoperative patients discharged from the ICU: A cross-sectional study.","authors":"Nobuo Sato, Kentaro Matsui, Masako Arakida, Rie Akaho, Katsuji Nishimura, Takeshi Nomura","doi":"10.1002/pcn5.70081","DOIUrl":"10.1002/pcn5.70081","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aim: </strong>Post-intensive care unit (ICU) patients often experience physical or mental dysfunction. This study aims to investigate the relationship between sleep disturbances and mental and physical problems in patients discharged from the ICU to hospital wards, using both subjective and objective sleep measures.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Patients admitted to the ICU for at least 72 h between November 2021 and June 2022 were included in the study. On the seventh day after ICU discharge, we conducted an objective sleep assessment using an electroencephalogram-based mobile sleep-monitoring device. Patients self-administered severity ratings for fatigue, depression, and post-traumatic stress (PTS) symptoms. Insomnia symptoms were assessed using the insomnia severity index (ISI) before and after ICU admission.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Thirty-five patients (median age 73) were included in the study. Higher ISI scores at ward were significantly correlated with higher levels of fatigue (<i>r</i> = 0.463, <i>P</i> = 0.005), depression (<i>r</i> = 0.343, <i>P</i> = 0.044), and PTS symptoms (<i>r</i> = 0.477, <i>P</i> = 0.004). Among the objective sleep measures, reduced N3 sleep (<i>r</i> = -0.480, <i>P</i> = 0.004) was significantly correlated with more severe PTS symptoms. However, no statistically significant correlations were found between objective sleep indicators and either fatigue or depression.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The observed reduction in N3 sleep and its association with PTS symptoms in this study might have reflected the physical and psychological stress experienced during intensive care. Subjective insomnia severity, which was related to fatigue, depression, and PTS symptoms in the ward, could be an important intervention target after ICU discharge.</p>","PeriodicalId":74405,"journal":{"name":"PCN reports : psychiatry and clinical neurosciences","volume":"4 1","pages":"e70081"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11925716/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143694798","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}