Neuropsychopharmacology reports
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Neuropsychopharmacol Rep · Dec 2020
ReviewRaising awareness of suicide prevention during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Suicide is one of the top 20 leading causes of death worldwide. With the rapid spreading of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis around the world, suicide cases induced by the COVID-19 pandemic have been reported in many countries. Individuals with suspected and confirmed COVID-19 infection, frontline healthcare workers, bereaved families, elders, children, and adolescents are vulnerable populations who might be at elevated suicide risk. ⋯ On this basis, we put forward considerations and advice for preventing pandemic related suicide, including staying socially connected through online platform or apps during period of quarantine, reducing unemployment, dispelling rumors and misinformation in time, and maintaining evidenced-based management of psychiatric symptoms. More importantly, early detection and timely intervention of individuals with psychiatric disorders and suicide behaviors will be effective to reduce the number of suicides, with specific measurements of using validated scales to perform regular suicide risk screening, improving the availability of mental health services, and providing appropriate and evidence-based interventions for individuals in demand. Policy makers, psychiatrists, psychologists, and other healthcare professionals need to collaborate to control the possible suicide events during the COVID-19 pandemic and future possible crisis.
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Neuropsychopharmacol Rep · Sep 2020
Critical role of GRP receptor-expressing neurons in the spinal transmission of imiquimod-induced psoriatic itch.
Ample evidence indicates that gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR)-expressing neurons play a critical role in the transmission of acute itch. However, the pathophysiology of spinal mechanisms underlying intractable itch such as psoriasis remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to determine whether itch-responsive GRPR+ neurons contribute to the spinal transmission of imiquimod (IMQ)-induced psoriatic itch. ⋯ The GRP-GRPR system might be enhanced in the SDH, and itch-responsive GRPR+ neurons largely contribute to intractable itch in a mouse model of psoriasis.
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Neuropsychopharmacol Rep · Sep 2019
Regulatory system of mGluR group II in the nucleus accumbens for methamphetamine-induced dopamine increase by the medial prefrontal cortex.
We previously reported that methamphetamine (METH)-induced conditioned place preference was attenuated by Shati/Nat8l overexpression in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). Shati/Nat8l overexpression in the mPFC expressed lower levels of both glutamate and dopamine (DA) in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and attenuated METH-induced DA elevation. We suggested a mechanism in which a decline of glutamate levels in the NAc decreases extracellular DA levels. However, the hypothesis has not confirmed. ⋯ These results provided a proof that Shati/Nat8l attenuation of METH-induced DA increase is mediated by mGluR group II in the NAc. Moreover, immunohistochemical study showed a direct connection of mPFC projection neurons with NAc MSN and a connection of MSN projection neurons with a subtype of GABA interneurons in VTA.
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Neuropsychopharmacol Rep · Mar 2019
Changes in cardiac autonomic nervous system activity during a course of electroconvulsive therapy.
Although electroencephalogram (EEG) seizure duration and seizure threshold change during a course of electroconvulsive therapy, the mechanisms by which these factors influence heart rate during subsequent electroconvulsive therapy sessions are currently unclear. In the current study, we investigated changes in heart rate during electroconvulsive therapy. ⋯ The duration in which electroconvulsive therapy-induced sympathetic nervous system activation returned halfway to baseline levels gradually shortened during the course of electroconvulsive therapy.
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Neuropsychopharmacol Rep · Sep 2018
ReviewAnticraving therapy for alcohol use disorder: A clinical review.
In this review, the author focused on anticraving therapy for alcohol use disorder (AUD) defined by DMS-5. A comprehensive review was carried out on the available published papers on anticraving drugs for treating AUD patients. ⋯ Although slowly developing, the field of anticraving drugs is getting into shape as a promising entity of a pharmaceutical class of drugs. Then, the author addressed on the underused issues of those recommended, and suggested anticraving drugs by the practice guideline of the American Psychiatric Association. The author urges that clinicians should be more "adventurous" in prescribing those promising drugs because benefits of those anticraving drugs are far-outweighing the possible side effects of anticraving drugs, or the harms of untreated AUD itself.