Background/Objectives: Nitrous oxide is known to cause neurological damage. We investigated the potential effects of nitrous oxide (N2O) abuse on the optic nerve through comprehensive ophthalmological evaluation of patients diagnosed with N2O-related neurological disorders. Methods: This retrospective, monocentric case series included patients hospitalized for N2O-related neurological...
Objectives: We investigate the relationship between the loss of consciousness (LOC) and the state of default mode network (DMN) connectivity in diffuse axonal injury (DAI) patients, using diffusion tensor tractography (DTT). Methods: Twenty-one consecutive patients with DAI were recruited in this study. The DMN connectivity [medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC)—posterior cingulate cortex...
Background/Objectives: Heart transplantation is a life-saving treatment for advanced cardiac disease, but post-transplant adaptation may involve psychosocial, identity-related, and existential change. Some recipients interpret these changes as corresponding to donor characteristics, although the nature and evidence base of these reports remain unclear. This review mapped post-transplant changes...
Background/Objectives: Psilocybin-assisted therapy has progressed from early proof-of-concept work to a substantially expanded evidence base, with four pivotal studies published in 2025–2026 that were not incorporated into earlier reviews. This review synthesizes the pharmacological and neurobiological foundations of psilocybin and appraises clinical evidence across major depressive disorder...
Background: The nursing profession is recognized as a high-risk occupation, with the emotional toll on healthcare workers reaching a critical point. A complex interplay of anger and cynicism, often stemming from systemic pressures and chronic moral injury, seems to increasingly affect nurses’ professional and personal lives. This psychological strain does not end when the shift ends; rather, it...
Background/Objectives: Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) is a well-documented treatment option for chronic pain. However, few studies have examined the emotional state experienced by participants with chronic pain during the sessions. This study aimed to assess the trajectory of mood experiences in an MBCT program and evaluate the effect on temporal mood state. Methods: The Temporary...
Background/Objectives: Intranasal esketamine has emerged as an effective treatment for patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD), providing rapid symptom relief when conventional antidepressant strategies fail. While its pharmacological efficacy has been demonstrated in randomized controlled trials, less attention has been paid to the organizational, relational, and multidisciplinary...
Background: Psychedelic-assisted therapy is gaining renewed attention as a potential treatment for various mental disorders. Despite increasing numbers of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and meta-analyses, a comprehensive synthesis of the evidence across different substances and indications is lacking. This umbrella review aims to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of...
Background: Suicidal ideation (SI) represents a clinical challenge in patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD), and the management of this condition should be as rapid and effective as possible. Intranasal Esketamine has shown promise in patients with TRD due to its rapid onset of action on both SI and depressive symptoms. Since this medication has been recently approved, real-world...
Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) remains a significant public-health challenge, with many patients failing to respond to conventional therapies. Ketamine has emerged as a rapid-acting intervention, but quantitative outcomes alone do not capture patients' lived experiences, which shape engagement, acceptability, and adherence. We conducted a narrative review of qualitative and mixed-methods...
Aim: To evaluate basal well-being and the effects of a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program in health-care professionals (HCPs), a recognized worker category subjected to elevated stress from job conditions. Methods: A quasi-experimental pre-post study was conducted in Italian HCPs. Well-being (assessed by Psychological General Well-Being Index-PGWBI), stress (Perceived Stress...
Journal of Clinical MedicineOctober 24, 2025Adriano Dos-Santos, Lucas Porto Fernandes Dos Santos, Gabriela Da Silva-Santos et al.
Background/Objectives: Ketamine, widely used for its anesthetic and analgesic properties, has been linked to cardiotoxic effects, particularly with chronic use. Prolonged ketamine exposure may impair cardiovascular function, while aerobic exercise is known to promote protective cardiovascular adaptations. This study aimed to evaluate whether aerobic training can mitigate the deleterious...
Background/Objectives: This study examines the development of clinical trials investigating psilocybin for the treatment of psychopathologies, with a comparative focus on the United States (US) and the European Union (EU). The objective is to identify regional differences in trial progression, research infrastructure, and regulatory frameworks. Methods: A mixed-methods approach was applied,...
Background: Ketamine use for chronic pain and depression has increased worldwide, but sex differences in its efficacy and safety have been little studied; this study examines existing evidence to address this gap. Methods: A prospective, multicenter, one-year observational study in 585 chronic pain patients was performed; 256 patients had one administration of ketamine and 329 had two or more....
Preoperative anxiety affects approximately 80% of adult patients; thus, identifying patients with excessive anxiety and implementing appropriate interventions can significantly reduce the risk of deterioration during the perioperative period. This narrative review presents current knowledge about pharmacological and nonpharmacological methods for reducing preoperative anxiety. Commonly used...
Background/Objectives: This systematic review outlines the neurocognitive outcomes and mechanisms of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) that influence subjective well-being. MBCT is a clinical intervention that integrates cognitive therapy with mindfulness practices to prevent depression relapses and improve mental health. Methods: The review focuses on the effects of MBCT on brain...
Background/Objectives: Suicide accounts for 1.4% of global deaths, and the slow-acting nature of traditional treatments for suicide risk underscores the need for alternatives. Psychedelic therapies may rapidly reduce suicide risk. This systematic review evaluates impact of psychedelic therapies on suicide-related outcomes. Methods: A systematic search of MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, and...
Background/Objectives: Cardiovascular diseases are a leading cause of death, and psychosocial stress is considered a contributing factor to these issues. With the rising number of heart surgeries, proper rehabilitation post-surgery is essential. Previous studies have demonstrated the positive impact of yoga and transcendental meditation on the cardiovascular system. This pilot study aimed to...
Background/Objectives: Psychotherapy and antidepressants are the standard treatment for depression during pregnancy or postpartum. However, several new treatments for depression represent major advances and paradigm changes. This commentary highlights some innovative treatment options that are on the horizon. Most of these modalities are promising, and most are non-invasive. Many of these...
Journal of Clinical MedicineSeptember 15, 2024Maria Margariti, Ilias I. Vlachos, Dimitra Mpourazana et al.4 citations
Background: Increasing research data suggest that the dysfunction of emotional brain systems may be an important contributor to the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. However, contemporary psychopathology consistently underestimates the role of emotions in the phenomenology of the disease. Psychotic arousal (PA) is a conceptually defined psychopathological construct aiming to portray the...
Background: Esketamine has received approval as a nasal spray (ESK-NS) for treatment-resistant depression (TRD) and evidence from real-world investigations has confirmed the effectiveness of ESK-NS, albeit with interindividual differences in response. Heart rate variability (HRV), defined as the fluctuation in time interval between consecutive heartbeats, can be used to measure autonomic...
Background: App-based contemplative interventions, such as mindfulness-based interventions, have gained popularity for the promotion of mental health; however, the understanding of underlying intervention-specific mechanisms remains limited, especially related to novel inter-relational dyadic practices. Methods: We tested (n = 253) seven putative mechanisms underlying two brief (daily 12-min)...
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is one of the most disabling diseases in the world. MDD is traditionally diagnosed based on a patient's symptoms, which can lead to misdiagnosis. Although the pathogenic mechanisms of MDD are unknown, several studies have identified mitochondrial dysfunction as a central factor in the onset and progression of MDD. In the context of MDD, alterations in...
Psychosis is defined as a series of symptoms that impair the mind and lead to a kind of loss of reference to reality. Development of psychosis is usually preceded by the appearance of prodromal symptoms. Numerous attempts have been made to find out how psychoactive substances can influence the onset and development of psychotic disorders, but to date there are no studies that show a link...