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Brain Sciences
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Psychoneuroendocrinology of Psychosis and Major Mood Disorders
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Psychoneuroendocrinology of Psychosis and Major Mood Disorders

A special issue of Brain Sciences (ISSN 2076-3425). This special issue belongs to the section "Systems Neuroscience".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (10 October 2021) | Viewed by 14381

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Javier Labad

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Guest Editor
Department of Mental Health, Consorci Sanitari del Maresme, Mataró, Barcelona, Spain
Interests: psychoneuroendocrinology; stress; cortisol; prolactin; psychosis; major depression; obsessive-compulsive disorder; cognition
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Alexandre González-Rodríguez

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Guest Editor
Department of Mental Health, Mutua Terrassa University Hospital, University of Barcelona (UB), CIBERSAM, Terrassa, 08007 Barcelona, Spain
Interests: psychopathology; clinical psychiatry; delusional disorder; schizophrenia; neuroscience
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Virginia Soria

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Guest Editor
Department of Psychiatry, Bellvitge University Hospital, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Neurosciences Group—Psychiatry and Mental Health, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
Interests: psychoneuroendocrinology; stress; cortisol; major depression; bipolar disorder; electroconvulsive therapy; chronobiology; genetics; cognition

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Psychoneuroendocrinology is an interdisciplinary field that integrates the disciplines of psychology, neurobiology, endocrinology, immunology, neurology, and psychiatry and studies the complex interactions among the central nervous system, hormones, and behavior. Accumulating evidence indicates that neuroendocrine systems may play a role in the pathogenesis and outcome of mental disorders. Recent studies highlight the complex interplay between stress, psychopathological manifestations, brain dysfunction, and neuroendocrinological disturbances. Many different biological systems appear to be involved.

This Special Issue aims to cover research articles dealing with psychoneuroendocrinological aspects of major mood disorders (major depression and bipolar disorder) and psychotic disorders including both first-episode psychosis and chronic populations (e.g., schizophrenia). Studies focused on early stages of the illness, as well as populations with psychotic experiences or at high risk of psychosis (also known as at-risk mental states), are also welcome. Research articles might address the role of hormones in different aspects of the mentioned mental disorders or states (e.g., pathogenesis, outcome, treatment response). Hormonal systems might include the hypothalamic–pituitary­–adrenal axis, sex steroids, thyroid hormones, prolactin, metabolic hormones, oxytocin, or vasopressin, among others. We invite authors to submit review articles or original research articles that include people with major mood disorders (major depression and bipolar disorder), psychotic disorders, or at-risk mental states.

Dr. Javier Labad
Dr. Alexandre González-Rodríguez
Dr. Virginia Soria
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Brain Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • major depression 
  • bipolar disorder 
  • psychosis 
  • schizophrenia 
  • at-risk mental state 
  • psychoneuroendocrinology 
  • stress 
  • cortisol 
  • thyroid 
  • sex hormone 
  • prolactin 
  • metabolic

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

12 pages, 534 KiB  
Article
Suicide-Related Knowledge among Italian Early Career Psychiatrists and Trainees: Results from a Cross-Sectional Survey
by Isabella Berardelli, Andrea Aguglia, Emanuele Cassioli, Francesco Saverio Bersani, Luisa Longo, Mario Luciano, Amedeo Minichino, Jacopo Santambrogio, Marco Solmi, Rodolfo Rossi, Michele Ribolsi, Eleonora Gattoni and Alessio Maria Monteleone
Brain Sci. 2022, 12(12), 1619; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci12121619 - 25 Nov 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1289
Abstract
The training of mental health professionals is an important component of suicide-prevention programs. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in different Italian regions to evaluate knowledge of, and attitudes toward, suicide as well as the experience of a patient’s suicide or a suicide attempt [...] Read more.
The training of mental health professionals is an important component of suicide-prevention programs. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in different Italian regions to evaluate knowledge of, and attitudes toward, suicide as well as the experience of a patient’s suicide or a suicide attempt in early career psychiatrists (ECPs) and trainees (N = 338). The Suicide Knowledge and Skills Questionnaire and the Impact of a Patient’s Suicide on Professional and Personal Lives scale were administered. Furthermore, symptoms of intrusion, avoidance, and arousal were examined through the Impact of Event Scale in ECPs and trainees who had experienced the suicide of a patient or a suicide attempt. Participants with training were more confident in the clinical management of suicide-risk patients. The group with experience of a patient’s suicide reported more suicide skills except for support and supervision. Finally, the participants who reported a patient’s suicide presented a more conservative patient selection, difficulties in relationships, loss of self-esteem, dreams linked to suicide, intrusive thoughts of suicide, guilt, and anger. Our results show that knowledge of, and attitudes toward, suicide are essential in the management of suicide-risk patients. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Psychoneuroendocrinology of Psychosis and Major Mood Disorders)
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12 pages, 3170 KiB  
Article
The Impact of the FKBP5 Gene Polymorphisms on the Relationship between Traumatic Life Events and Psychotic-Like Experiences in Non-Clinical Adults
by Filip Stramecki, Dorota Frydecka, Łukasz Gawęda, Katarzyna Prochwicz, Joanna Kłosowska, Jerzy Samochowiec, Krzysztof Szczygieł, Edyta Pawlak, Elżbieta Szmida, Paweł Skiba, Andrzej Cechnicki and Błażej Misiak
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(5), 561; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11050561 - 28 Apr 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2262
Abstract
Common variations of the FKBP5 gene are implicated in psychotic disorders, by modulating the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis reactivity to stress. It has been demonstrated that some of them might moderate the effects of childhood trauma on psychosis proneness. However, these associations have not been [...] Read more.
Common variations of the FKBP5 gene are implicated in psychotic disorders, by modulating the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis reactivity to stress. It has been demonstrated that some of them might moderate the effects of childhood trauma on psychosis proneness. However, these associations have not been investigated with respect to traumatic life events (TLEs). Therefore, we aimed to explore whether the FKBP5 polymorphisms moderate the effects of TLEs on the level of psychotic-like experiences (PLEs). A total of 535 non-clinical adults were approached for participation, and genotyping of six FKBP5 polymorphisms (rs3800373, rs9470080, rs4713902, rs737054, rs1360780 and rs9296158) was performed. The Prodromal Questionnaire-16 (PQ-16) and the Traumatic Events Checklist (TEC) were administered to assess PLEs and TLEs, respectively. Among the rs1360780 CC homozygotes, a history of physical abuse was associated with significantly higher PQ-16 scores. This difference was not significant in the rs1360780 T allele carriers. Similarly, a history of physical abuse was associated with significantly higher PQ-16 scores in the rs9296158 GG homozygotes but not in the rs9296158 A allele carriers. Finally, emotional neglect was related to significantly higher PQ-16 scores in the rs737054 T allele carriers but not in the rs737054 CC homozygotes. The present study indicates that variation in the FKBP5 gene might moderate the effects of lifetime traumatic events on psychosis proneness. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Psychoneuroendocrinology of Psychosis and Major Mood Disorders)
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16 pages, 338 KiB  
Article
Childhood Maltreatment and Its Interaction with Hypothalamic–Pituitary–Adrenal Axis Activity and the Remission Status of Major Depression: Effects on Functionality and Quality of Life
by Neus Salvat-Pujol, Javier Labad, Mikel Urretavizcaya, Aida De Arriba-Arnau, Cinto Segalàs, Eva Real, Alex Ferrer, José Manuel Crespo, Susana Jiménez-Murcia, Carles Soriano-Mas, José Manuel Menchón and Virginia Soria
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(4), 495; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11040495 - 13 Apr 2021
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1889
Abstract
Relationships among childhood maltreatment (CM), hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis disturbances, major depressive disorder (MDD), poor functionality, and lower quality of life (QoL) in adulthood have been described. We aimed to study the roles of the remission status of depression and HPA axis function in [...] Read more.
Relationships among childhood maltreatment (CM), hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis disturbances, major depressive disorder (MDD), poor functionality, and lower quality of life (QoL) in adulthood have been described. We aimed to study the roles of the remission status of depression and HPA axis function in the relationships between CM and functionality and QoL. Ninety-seven patients with MDD and 97 healthy controls were included. The cortisol awakening response, cortisol suppression ratio in the dexamethasone suppression test, and diurnal cortisol slope were assessed. Participants completed measures of psychopathology, CM, functionality, and QoL. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to study the relationships between CM and functionality and QoL. Only non-remitted MDD patients showed lower functionality and QoL than controls, indicating that depressive symptoms may partly predict functionality and QoL. Cortisol measures did not differ between remitted and non-remitted patients. Although neither HPA axis measures nor depression remission status were consistently associated with functionality or QoL, these factors moderated the effects of CM on functionality and QoL. In conclusion, subtle neurobiological dysfunctions in stress-related systems could help to explain diminished functionality and QoL in individuals with CM and MDD and contribute to the persistence of these impairments even after the remission of depressive symptoms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Psychoneuroendocrinology of Psychosis and Major Mood Disorders)
13 pages, 1524 KiB  
Article
Neuroendocrine Assessment of Dopaminergic Function during Antidepressant Treatment in Major Depressed Patients
by Fabrice Duval, Marie-Claude Mokrani, Alexis Erb, Felix Gonzalez Lopera, Vlad Danila and Mihaela Tomsa
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(4), 425; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11040425 - 26 Mar 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1804
Abstract
The effects of antidepressants on dopamine (DA) receptor sensitivity in the mesolimbic–hypothalamic system have yielded contradictory results. The postsynaptic DA receptor function was evaluated by the cortisol response to apomorphine (APO; 0.75 mg SC) in 16 drug-free DSM-5 major depressed inpatients and 18 [...] Read more.
The effects of antidepressants on dopamine (DA) receptor sensitivity in the mesolimbic–hypothalamic system have yielded contradictory results. The postsynaptic DA receptor function was evaluated by the cortisol response to apomorphine (APO; 0.75 mg SC) in 16 drug-free DSM-5 major depressed inpatients and 18 healthy hospitalized control (HC) subjects. Cortisol response to the dexamethasone suppression test (DST) was also measured. After two and four weeks of antidepressant treatment (ADT), the DST and APO test were repeated in all patients. Cortisol response to APO (∆COR) was not influenced by the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis activity, as assessed by the DST. Pre-treatment ∆COR values did not differ significantly between patients and HCs. During ADT, ∆COR values were lower than in HCs at week 2 and 4. After four weeks of treatment, among the eight patients who had blunted ∆COR values, seven were subsequent remitters, while among the eight patients who had normal ∆COR values, seven were non-remitters. Considering the limitations of our study, the results suggest that following chronic ADT, the desensitization of postsynaptic DA receptors connected with the regulation of the HPA axis at the hypothalamic level is associated with clinical remission. These results could reflect increased DA levels in the mesolimbic pathway. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Psychoneuroendocrinology of Psychosis and Major Mood Disorders)
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15 pages, 931 KiB  
Article
Aerobic Exercise and Stretching as Add-On to Inpatient Treatment for Depression Have No Differential Effects on Stress-Axis Activity, Serum-BDNF, TNF-Alpha and Objective Sleep Measures
by Christian Imboden, Markus Gerber, Johannes Beck, Anne Eckert, Imane Lejri, Uwe Pühse, Edith Holsboer-Trachsler and Martin Hatzinger
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(4), 411; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11040411 - 24 Mar 2021
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3016
Abstract
(1) Background: While the antidepressant effects of aerobic exercise (AE) are well documented, fewer studies have examined impact of AE as an add-on treatment. Moreover, various effects on neurobiological variables have been suggested. This study examines effects of AE on Cortisol Awakening Reaction [...] Read more.
(1) Background: While the antidepressant effects of aerobic exercise (AE) are well documented, fewer studies have examined impact of AE as an add-on treatment. Moreover, various effects on neurobiological variables have been suggested. This study examines effects of AE on Cortisol Awakening Reaction (CAR), serum Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (sBDNF), Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and sleep. (2) Methods: Inpatients with moderate-to-severe depression (N = 43) were randomly assigned to the AE or stretching condition (active control) taking place 3x/week for 6 weeks. CAR, sBDNF and TNF-alpha were assessed at baseline, after 2 weeks and post-intervention. The 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS17), subjective sleep quality measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and polysomnography (PSG) were obtained at baseline and post-intervention. (3) Results: Stress axis activity decreased in both groups from baseline to post-intervention. sBDNF showed a significant increase over time, whereas the number of awakenings significantly decreased. No significant time by group interactions were detected for any of the study variables. Correlational analyses showed that higher improvements in maximum oxygen capacity (VO2max) from baseline to post-intervention were associated with reduced scores on the HDRS17, PSQI and REM-latency post-intervention. (4) Conclusions: While some neurobiological variables improved during inpatient treatment (CAR, sBDNF), no evidence was found for differential effects between AE and an active control condition (stretching). However, patients in which cardiorespiratory fitness increased showed higher improvements in depression severity and depression-related sleep-parameters. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Psychoneuroendocrinology of Psychosis and Major Mood Disorders)
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10 pages, 565 KiB  
Article
Gender Differences in Complete Blood Count and Inflammatory Ratios among Patients with Bipolar Disorder
by Laura Fusar-Poli, Andrea Amerio, Patriciu Cimpoesu, Pietro Grimaldi Filioli, Antimo Natale, Guendalina Zappa, Eugenio Aguglia, Mario Amore, Gianluca Serafini and Andrea Aguglia
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(3), 363; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11030363 - 12 Mar 2021
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3065
Abstract
Background: Evidence suggested that inflammation may be involved in the etiopathogenesis of bipolar disorder (BD), a chronic psychiatric condition affecting around 2–3% of the general population. However, little is known regarding potential gender differences in peripheral biomarkers of BD, such as neutrophil-to-lymphocyte (NLR), [...] Read more.
Background: Evidence suggested that inflammation may be involved in the etiopathogenesis of bipolar disorder (BD), a chronic psychiatric condition affecting around 2–3% of the general population. However, little is known regarding potential gender differences in peripheral biomarkers of BD, such as neutrophil-to-lymphocyte (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte (PLR), and monocyte-to-lymphocyte (MLR) ratios. Methods: In total, 197 females and 174 males with BD in different phases (i.e., (hypo)mania, depression, euthymia) were recruited. A blood sample was drawn to perform a complete blood count (CBC). NLR, PLR, and MLR were subsequently calculated, and differences were computed according to the illness phase and gender. Results: PLR was consistently higher in (hypo)manic than depressed patients, in both males and females. No significant gender differences in PLR value were found when considering only (hypo)mania. Conversely, NLR was increased in (hypo)mania only among males, and gender differences were retrieved in the (hypo)manic subgroup. The findings related to MLR were only marginally significant. Higher platelets values were associated with (hypo)mania only in the female group. Basophils and eosinophils appeared gender- but not state-dependent. Conclusions: Our findings provide further evidence that increased PLR levels may be associated with (hypo)mania in bipolar patients, regardless of gender. Moreover, the usefulness of NLR as a peripheral biomarker of BD appeared limited to males while the role of platelets to females. As CBC represents a low-cost and easily accessible test, researchers should investigate in-depth its potential usefulness as a biomarker of BD and other psychiatric disorders. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Psychoneuroendocrinology of Psychosis and Major Mood Disorders)
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