Annals of General Psychiatry

Abstract Background According to the World Health Organization, approximately one in eight people is diagnosed with mental disorders globally. Patient-reported outcomes and quality of life assessments are essential tools for evaluating patient outcomes. This study aimed to identify, characterize, and summarize the literature focusing on quality of life or patient-reported outcomes among patients …

Abstract Background Climate change represents a major global health challenge with potential implications for mental health. Exposure to climate-related stressors is associated with an elevated risk of psychiatric disorders, including trauma- and stressor-related disorders (e.g., PTSD), depressive disorders, and anxiety disorders. Vulnerable populations—including children, women, older adults, in…

Differentiating major depressive disorder (MDD) from bipolar disorder (BP) is crucial for early diagnosis and targeted treatment. This study investigates speech, linguistic biomarkers, and machine learning models to differentiate between the MDD and BP patients using speech analysis during symptom-free periods. Voice recordings from 191 patients (41 BP, 150 MDD) during euthymic phases were analyz…

These findings suggest that dysregulation of melatonin, IL-6, and BDNF may contribute to the pathophysiology of first-episode MDD, with their combined measurement offering strong diagnostic potential.

The present study found a significant positive association between serum ApoB levels and suicidal ideation, especially among smokers. MR analysis failed to provide causal evidence of ApoB on suicidal ideation. More research is needed to clarify the potential role of ApoB in the development of suicidal ideation.

The findings revealed dissociable neural patterns of depression across sexes, moving beyond a uniform model of prefrontal hypoactivation. The neurological basis of depression in males may involve the right frontal eye field, while in females it may be linked to the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. The left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex appeared to be a key region for sex-specific brain alter…

This multicentric study revealed significant territorial differences in psychiatric emergency management between Novara and Alessandria. The Novara centre manages a younger population with complex, chronic psychiatric disorders, requiring an intensive, hospital-oriented approach. Alessandria serves an older population with higher conscious suicidal intent, managed primarily through territorial se…

Trazodone is a multimodal and multifunctional antidepressant that exhibits a broad range of therapeutic effects in MDD and other comorbid conditions. Further research on the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic relationship of trazodone, its parenteral use in acute settings, and the development of prescribing algorithms for predicting treatment responses may enhance its therapeutic outcomes in pat…

This study represents the first evidence of sexually dimorphic oxysterol regulation in EOS and highlights 27-OHC as a sex-sensitive factor linked to clinical symptom expression, even in the absence of group-level oxysterol alterations.

The brief pharmacist-led intervention was effective in improving attitudes toward medication and behavioral adherence among patients receiving antipsychotic treatment in our study group. These findings underscore the importance of active pharmacist engagement for supporting medication adherence.

A new training model is needed that fosters mutual understanding between generations, encourages reflective dialogue, and supports collaborative learning. Preparing psychiatrists for the future requires updated content and a commitment to relational transformation and co-created educational practices.

Apathy is a significant yet frequently overlooked aspect of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), often confused with anhedonia, and with the potential to influence clinical outcomes and quality of life regardless of the severity of depressive symptoms. Despite its importance, the relationship between apathy and depression remains underrepresented in current research. This study aims to assess the pre…

This study identifies a significant bidirectional association between hemorrhoidal disease and mental health conditions. Notably, the interaction between smoking and anxiety highlights a subgroup at elevated risk that may benefit from closer clinical attention. These findings support an integrated care perspective that considers both gastrointestinal and mental health conditions, while acknowledg…

In France, 10% of the population are immigrants and another 11% are children of immigrants. Both have worse mental health than the native French. The role of adverse childhood experiences (ACE) in immigrants’ mental health is not well characterized. We aimed to examine associations between immigration background, ACEs, and depressive symptoms. Data came from the baseline and 2020 follow-up questi…

Late-life suicide represents a major public health issue, with older adults showing the highest lethality and completion rates. Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), a critical stage of increased psychological vulnerability, may represent an acute phase of suicide vulnerability. This systematic review aimed to synthesize existing evidence on suicide risk among older adults with MCI, examining the prev…

The findings reveal a "dual-circuit" dysfunction pattern in psoriatic depression: sgACC-DMN hyperconnectivity linked to depressive symptoms, and sgACC-dlPFC (dorsolateral prefrontal cortex) alterations associated with IL-17 elevation. These results establish the sgACC as a neural hub bridging inflammation and mood dysregulation, supporting the "skin-brain axis" hypothesis. The identified FC patte…

This is the first known study to evaluate real-world lurasidone persistence in patients in Japan. The findings indicate that both pharmacodynamic compatibility and early-phase treatment can enhance persistence. The insights obtained underscore the importance of individualized treatment planning, though require further validation by use of prospective, multi-center studies.

Although seven small, heterogeneous studies indicate that combined tDCS-VR is feasible and shows preliminary therapeutic promise-most consistently in PTSD and, to a lesser extent, in specific phobias-the overall evidence base remains limited. Mechanistic findings suggesting modulation of medial and ventromedial prefrontal-amygdala circuits are still exploratory. Given substantial methodological h…

The findings highlight the pervasive psychological, physical, and social burden of living with delusions and hallucinations and the variability in coping resources and support. Developing and evaluating tailored psychosocial interventions may help individuals with schizophrenia manage these experiences more effectively. These findings suggest the need for developing psychoeducation programs focus…