{"title":"From surgical treatment to psychiatric progress in refractory obsessive-compulsive disorder: A case report.","authors":"Shotaro Fujiwara, Yasushi Okamura, Hitomi Wake, Hideaki Tanami, Takuto Ishida, Masafumi Mizuno","doi":"10.1002/pcn5.70201","DOIUrl":"10.1002/pcn5.70201","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) can cause physical complications, and psychiatric treatment sometimes improves these complications. However, it remains unclear whether managing a physical complication can contribute to the improvement of psychiatric symptoms or may alter the trajectory of psychiatric treatment.</p><p><strong>Case presentation: </strong>We report on a woman in her 50s with severe, long-standing, treatment-resistant OCD centered on contamination fears and compulsive defecation rituals. She rarely sought psychiatric help, and her symptoms worsened. Her compulsions led to rectal prolapse and fecal incontinence, which in turn exacerbated her OCD in a vicious cycle. After laparoscopic rectopexy resolved her incontinence, a marked reduction in repetitive cleaning behaviors occurred, including decreased time spent in the toilet and reduced toilet paper use. The physical improvement was followed by psychiatric engagement, regular outpatient visits, and subsequent therapeutic progress.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This case illustrates that a physical intervention could do more than alleviate somatic distress; it could act as a catalyst for psychiatric care. By breaking the cycle between a physical symptom and a compulsive behaviors, the surgical treatment created a crucial opening for establishing trust and motivation. This highlights the importance of integrated, cross-disciplinary collaboration in managing complex OCD cases where somatic and psychiatric symptoms are deeply intertwined.</p>","PeriodicalId":74405,"journal":{"name":"PCN reports : psychiatry and clinical neurosciences","volume":"4 3","pages":"e70201"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12405736/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145002166","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":"Dependence, abuse, and psychosocial characteristics of patients transported to the emergency department due to overdose of over-the-counter drugs.","authors":"Saeko Kohara, Michiko Takai, Ryoko Kyan, Kenji Yamamoto, Hidehito Miyazaki, Masafumi Yoshimura, Yoshito Kamijo","doi":"10.1002/pcn5.70181","DOIUrl":"10.1002/pcn5.70181","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aim: </strong>This study examined the conditions of drug abuse and dependence as well as the psychosocial characteristics of patients transported to an emergency department for over-the-counter (OTC) drug overdose.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Participants were patients who presented to the emergency department due to an overdose of OTC drugs. Patients were evaluated using the Drug Abuse Screening Test-20 (DAST-20), Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI), and an original questionnaire.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The study included 52 patients from four emergency medical facilities (20 males and 32 females) with a mean age of 23.6 years (standard deviation = 10.1). The DAST-20 indicated that 17 patients (32.7%) experienced moderate or severe drug abuse. The average score for suicide risk on the MINI was 23.7 (median: 27). The severity of OTC drug abuse and dependence significantly correlated with drug overdose history (<i>r</i> = 0.44, <i>p</i> < 0.01), OTC drug type (antitussives and expectorants) (<i>r</i> = 0.36, <i>p</i> < 0.01), experience with OTC drug abuse (<i>r</i> = 0.53, <i>p</i> < 0.01), overdose purpose (relief of distress) (<i>r</i> = 0.41, <i>p</i> < 0.01), and overdose purpose (suicide) (<i>r</i> = -0.52, <i>p</i> < 0.01). The severity of drug abuse and dependence was best predicted by the combination of experience with OTC drug abuse, an advisor, and suicidal purpose (<i>R</i> <sup>2</sup> = 0.53, <i>p</i> < 0.001).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>It is crucial to investigate patient experiences with OTC drug abuse and their motivations and backgrounds for overdosing. Support for abuse and dependence should be provided in the early stages of treatment.</p>","PeriodicalId":74405,"journal":{"name":"PCN reports : psychiatry and clinical neurosciences","volume":"4 3","pages":"e70181"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2025-08-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12397076/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144981736","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":"New-onset Kleine-Levin syndrome following COVID-19 infection: A case report.","authors":"Daisuke Yoshioka, Takehiko Yamanashi, Masaaki Iwata","doi":"10.1002/pcn5.70199","DOIUrl":"10.1002/pcn5.70199","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Kleine-Levin syndrome (KLS) is a rare sleep disorder marked by recurrent episodes of severe hypersomnolence with accompanying cognitive, behavioral, or mood disturbances. Infections are frequently reported before symptom onset and have been proposed as potential triggers, although a definitive causal relationship has not been established. Although relapses of KLS after COVID-19 infection have been described, only one possible case of new-onset KLS associated with COVID-19 has been reported, in which a definitive diagnosis was not established.</p><p><strong>Case presentation: </strong>We describe a 17-year-old male who developed KLS following a confirmed COVID-19 infection. After his clinical recovery, he began experiencing hypersomnolent episodes every few months, each lasting approximately 2 weeks and accompanied by decreased motivation and appetite. As the illness progressed, he developed persistent nausea lasting several weeks before each hypersomnolent episode, suggesting the emergence of a prodromal phase. Treatment with lithium and adjunctive modafinil showed limited efficacy in preventing recurrence or reducing episode severity. Each complete cycle comprising prodromal, hypersomnolent, and recovery phases lasted over a month and significantly disrupted his academic and social functioning.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This case represents the first diagnostically confirmed report of new-onset KLS following COVID-19 infection and suggests a possible autoimmune mechanism triggered by SARS-CoV-2. These findings emphasize the importance of comprehensive clinical assessment beyond objective test results and underscore the urgent need for effective treatment strategies tailored to the heterogeneous and disabling nature of KLS.</p>","PeriodicalId":74405,"journal":{"name":"PCN reports : psychiatry and clinical neurosciences","volume":"4 3","pages":"e70199"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2025-08-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12396950/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144981700","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":"Young carer knowledge scale: Development, validation, and implications for support.","authors":"Masateru Matsushita, Wakana Kurosaka, Asuka Koyama","doi":"10.1002/pcn5.70194","DOIUrl":"10.1002/pcn5.70194","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aim: </strong>\"Young carers (YCs)\" are children under the age of 18 who undertake adult caregiving roles, including household chores, family care, nursing, and emotional support. Despite the growing attention to YCs in Japan, public understanding remains limited. This study aims to develop a scale to measure YCs' knowledge and examine its reliability and validity.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A web-based survey was conducted in October 2023 with 300 participants aged 22-70 years. Participants were divided into three groups based on their subjective awareness of YCs: unaware, aware but unfamiliar, and aware and familiar. After excluding dishonest responses, data from 218 individuals (mean age = 53.2 ± 10.5 years) were analyzed. A 57-item questionnaire was developed, and exploratory factor analysis (principal factor method, Promax rotation) was conducted. Reliability was assessed using Cronbach's <i>α</i>, and discriminant validity was examined through multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA), controlling for gender, marital status, and parental status.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Factor analysis identified 29 items across three factors: excessive family roles, care-related daily life challenges, and hidden impacts of caring. The scale showed high internal consistency (<i>α</i> = 0.91-0.97). MANCOVA revealed significant differences in the knowledge scores according to subjective awareness (Wilks' Λ = 0.71, <i>F</i>(6, 420) = 9.22, <i>p</i> < 0.001), supporting discriminant validity. Greater awareness of YCs was associated with greater knowledge of YCs' circumstances.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>These findings suggest that this scale may help assess the public understanding of YCs. Future studies should investigate variations in YCs' knowledge across different occupations, beliefs, and cultural contexts.</p>","PeriodicalId":74405,"journal":{"name":"PCN reports : psychiatry and clinical neurosciences","volume":"4 3","pages":"e70194"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2025-08-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12382356/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144981726","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":"Successful use of clozapine in a patient with schizophrenia comorbid with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome and multiple periventricular nodular heterotopia: A case report.","authors":"Kiwamu Hoshi, Koichi Matsuyama, Yasunori Oda, Shintaro Shibata, Teruomi Iyo, Takeru Saito, Kazuki Okada, Fumiaki Yano, Fumiaki Yamasaki, Yusuke Nakata, Tsuyoshi Sasaki, Tomihisa Niitsu","doi":"10.1002/pcn5.70195","DOIUrl":"10.1002/pcn5.70195","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>22q11.2 deletion syndrome is associated with schizophrenia, seizures, and often experience intolerance to antipsychotics. Periventricular nodular heterotopia (PNH) is a neuronal migration disorder that can also be observed in individuals with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome. However, to our knowledge, the use of clozapine in adolescent patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia and comorbid 22q11.2 deletion syndrome and PNH has not been previously reported.</p><p><strong>Case presentation: </strong>A 17-year-old female with treatment-resistant schizophrenia was referred to our hospital. She presented with auditory hallucinations, disorganized behavior, and insomnia. Multiple antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, benzodiazepines, and modified electroconvulsive therapy were either ineffective or poorly tolerated due to extrapyramidal symptoms. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) performed under sedation revealed PNH. Genetic testing confirmed a diagnosis of 22q11.2 deletion syndrome. Clozapine was initiated with close monitoring, and her symptoms gradually improved following a slow titration. She was discharged after approximately 6 months and has remained clinically stable for 15 months.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Brain MRI and genetic testing-even when performed under sedation-may be valuable diagnostic tools in adolescents with treatment-resistant schizophrenia. Furthermore, the presence of structural brain abnormalities does not preclude the efficacy of clozapine, which may remain a viable and effective treatment option in such cases.</p>","PeriodicalId":74405,"journal":{"name":"PCN reports : psychiatry and clinical neurosciences","volume":"4 3","pages":"e70195"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2025-08-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12375868/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144981684","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":"Electroconvulsive therapy for Parkinson's disease-related apathy: A case report.","authors":"Kiyori Yamanaka, Ryo Mizui, Yuki Noriyama, Yuya Honda, Ryohei Takada, Takashi Okada","doi":"10.1002/pcn5.70192","DOIUrl":"10.1002/pcn5.70192","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Nonmotor symptoms are a critical focus in the management of Parkinson's disease (PD). Apathy is defined as a quantitative reduction in goal-directed activity, characterized by diminished initiative, interest, and emotional expression or responsiveness. It affects approximately 40% of patients with PD, severely impairing daily functioning and quality of life. Although electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is well established for alleviating depressive symptoms in patients with PD, its efficacy in treating apathy remains largely unexplored.</p><p><strong>Case presentation: </strong>We report the case of a 54-year-old man diagnosed with PD at age 49, whose motor symptoms were well controlled with optimized pharmacotherapy. However, at age 53, he developed profound apathy, characterized by a notable reduction in spontaneous movement and emotional expression. Given the lack of response to pharmacological adjustments, including a trial of venlafaxine, modified ECT (m-ECT) was initiated. The patient underwent 10 m-ECT sessions over 5 weeks (twice weekly) using propofol and succinylcholine. Following treatment, his apathy scale score improved substantially from 32 to 12, with no adverse effects on cognitive function.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This case highlights the potential efficacy of ECT for PD-related apathy. Further research is needed to elucidate its underlying mechanisms and assess the long-term outcomes of ECT in managing nonmotor symptoms in PD.</p>","PeriodicalId":74405,"journal":{"name":"PCN reports : psychiatry and clinical neurosciences","volume":"4 3","pages":"e70192"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2025-08-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12369887/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144981680","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":"The potential role of Saiko-ka-ryukotsu-borei-to in mitigating the severity of anxiety induced by social defeat stress in mice.","authors":"Yoshikazu Kitai, Leo Gotoh, Hikaru Hori","doi":"10.1002/pcn5.70191","DOIUrl":"10.1002/pcn5.70191","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aim: </strong>Major depressive disorder is a growing global concern with limited treatment options. Social stress contributes to its development, yet pharmacological prevention and mitigation remain underexplored. This study examined the effects of Saiko-ka-ryukotsu-borei-to (SRBT) on depressive and anxiety-like behaviors in mice exposed to social defeat stress (SDS).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>C57BL/6J mice were subjected to daily 10-min interactions with larger, more aggressive ICR mice for 10 consecutive days to induce SDS. Immediately following each session, mice were orally administered SRBT, fluoxetine (Flu), or saline (Sal), and were assigned to the SD-SRBT, SD-Flu, and SD-Sal groups, respectively. Mice that received Sal without SDS exposure served as the normal control (NC) group. On the 11th day, behavioral assessments, including the elevated plus maze (EPM) test, tail suspension test (TST), and social interaction test (SIT), were conducted across the four groups. Plasma corticosterone levels were also measured.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>SDS significantly increased anxiety-like behavior in the EPM, as shown by reduced open arm time in the SD-Sal and SD-Flu groups. This effect was less evident in the SD-SRBT group. Although the SD-Flu group showed similar anxiety-like behavior to the SD-Sal group, no significant difference in open arm time was observed. SDS did not induce social avoidance or depressive-like behavior in the SIT or TST, nor did it alter plasma corticosterone levels.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study suggested that SRBT has the potential to mitigate anxiety caused by social stress. However, further ongoing evaluation and investigation are required to assess the effectiveness of SRBT.</p>","PeriodicalId":74405,"journal":{"name":"PCN reports : psychiatry and clinical neurosciences","volume":"4 3","pages":"e70191"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2025-08-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12364099/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144981650","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":"Novel hypnotics use and hip fracture risk in middle-aged and older adults: A large, population-based cohort study in Japan.","authors":"Nana Shibata, Kazuhisa Yoshizawa, Masahiro Takeshima, Shingo Kitamura, Masaya Ogasawara, Mizuki Kudo, Yu Itoh, Eru Miyakoshi, Naoko Ayabe, Kazuo Mishima","doi":"10.1002/pcn5.70193","DOIUrl":"10.1002/pcn5.70193","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aim: </strong>To investigate the relationship between the prescription of novel hypnotics (melatonin receptor agonists [MRAs] and orexin receptor antagonists [ORAs]) and the risk of hip fractures in a large cohort of Japanese patients.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this retrospective study, we analyzed data from a large health insurance claims database. Among subscribers aged ≥50 years between April 2014 and September 2021, those assigned the disease code of hip fracture were included. Each patient's prescription history for hypnotics was examined to identify the exposure and non-exposure periods. The relationship between exposure to hypnotics and the development of hip fractures was analyzed using the Mayo-updated Cox proportional hazards regression model.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In total, 269,097 patients developed hip fractures. The prescription of any hypnotic was significantly associated with hip fracture incidence (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 2.30; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.27-2.32). In the analysis by class of hypnotics, the hazard ratio was highest for ORAs (aHR, 3.09; 95% CI, 3.03-3.16), followed by that for MRAs (aHR, 2.45; 95% CI, 2.38-2.52).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Novel hypnotics use was significantly associated with the development of hip fractures, and patients prescribed ORAs and MRAs should be cautioned about the risk of hip fractures.</p>","PeriodicalId":74405,"journal":{"name":"PCN reports : psychiatry and clinical neurosciences","volume":"4 3","pages":"e70193"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2025-08-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12360458/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144884473","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":"Shifting strains: Parenting daily burden in girls with eating disorders-Assessed via the Questionnaire-Children with Difficulties.","authors":"Masahide Usami, Yoshinori Sasaki, Mayuna Ichikawa, Miki Matsudo, Ayaka Hashimoto, Shun Kusanish, Nobutada Kato, Ryuwa Makiyama, Mutsumi Ohashi, Yui Higashino, Yusuke Kono, Haruna Matsudo, Minjae Ma, Yuuki Sako, Maiko Odaka, Kotoe Itagaki, Keita Yamamoto, Momoka Takahashi, Yuta Yoshimura, Saori Inoue, Masahiro Ishida, Masaya Ito, Katsunaka Mikami, Noa Tsujii, Hiroaki Kihara, Kumi Inazaki, Yuki Hakoshima, Yuki Mizumoto","doi":"10.1002/pcn5.70180","DOIUrl":"10.1002/pcn5.70180","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aim: </strong>This study evaluated daily functional difficulties among girls with EDs via the Questionnaire-Children with Difficulties (QCD). We examined the associations between daily functioning and physical, psychosocial, and clinical factors. Furthermore, we explored how school attendance status affected functioning during school hours and evenings.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We used the QCD and compared time-specific functioning between 179 girls with EDs (aged 6-15) and 640 age- and gender-matched community controls. We conducted multiple regression analyses to examine associations between the QCD scores and clinical and psychosocial variables, which included percent median body mass index (%mBMI), depressive symptoms, inpatient history, sleep duration, and sibling presence.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Girls with EDs had significantly lower QCD scores than controls across all time domains, with pronounced impairments during after-school and evening periods. Multivariate analyses revealed that behavioral difficulties were associated with poorer functioning. However, sibling presence and weekday sleep duration had protective effects. No significant associations were observed with %mBMI, depressive symptoms, or separation anxiety.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Daily functioning among girls with EDs is influenced by behavioral and familial factors, rather than nutritional status alone, and varies by time of day. Time-structured assessments, such as the QCD, may help clinicians tailor support strategies to vulnerable periods in their daily life.</p>","PeriodicalId":74405,"journal":{"name":"PCN reports : psychiatry and clinical neurosciences","volume":"4 3","pages":"e70180"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2025-08-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12360462/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144884474","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}