The Journal of neuropsychiatry and clinical neurosciences
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J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci · Jan 2018
Randomized Controlled TrialGuanfacine Attenuates Adverse Effects of Dronabinol (THC) on Working Memory in Adolescent-Onset Heavy Cannabis Users: A Pilot Study.
The cannabinoid-1 receptor (CB1R) agonist Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive constituent of cannabis, adversely effects working memory performance in humans. The α2A-adrenoceptor (AR) agonist guanfacine improves working memory performance in humans. The authors aimed to determine the effects of short-term (6 days) treatment with guanfacine on adverse cognitive effects produced by THC. ⋯ Although THC increased visual analog scores of subjective effects and heart rate, these increases were similar during treatment with placebo and guanfacine. THC did not significantly affect performance of a recognition memory task or blood pressure while individuals were maintained on either treatment. Although preliminary, these results suggest that guanfacine warrants further testing as a potential treatment for cannabis-induced cognitive deficits.
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J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci · Jan 2017
Microbiome-Gut-Brain Axis: Probiotics and Their Association With Depression.
To assess the association of probiotics with depression, a large population-based cross-sectional study was conducted. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey adult participants from 2005 through 2012 were included. Exposure was defined as having consumed any probiotic food or supplement on any of the interview days. ⋯ Unadjusted analysis suggested that subjects who consumed probiotics had lower odds of depression (OR=0.58, 95% CI=0.45-0.75). After adjustment for characteristics associated with depression and probiotic exposure, the effect was attenuated (OR=0.82, 95% CI=0.61-1.1) and no longer significant. Use of probiotics is not associated with lower rates of depression in this national sample.
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J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci · Jan 2017
Cognitive Reserve as a Modifier of Clinical Expression in Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy: A Preliminary Examination.
This study conducted a preliminary examination on cognitive reserve (CR) as a modifier of symptom expression in subjects with autopsy-confirmed chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). The sample included 25 former professional football players neuropathologically diagnosed with CTE stage III or IV. Next of kin interviews ascertained age at cognitive and behavioral/mood symptom onset and demographic/athletic characteristics. ⋯ High occupational achievement predicted later age at cognitive (p=0.02) and behavioral/mood (p=0.02) onset. Education was not an individual predictor. These preliminary findings suggest that CR may forestall the clinical manifestation of CTE.
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J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci · Jan 2017
Mood Symptoms and Restless Legs Syndrome Without Periodic Limb Movements During Sleep: Is it a Clinical Subtype?
Frequently co-occurring restless legs syndrome (RLS) and periodic limb movements during sleep (PLMS) are postulated to share common pathophysiology. The authors compared clinical characteristics and polysomnography (PSG) parameters among 155 idiopathic, untreated RLS patients who were stratified into three groups based on periodic limb movement index (PLMI). ⋯ RLS without PLMS seems to be a phenotypically distinct clinical subtype of RLS. Future study should examine whether RLS without PLMS has a different clinical course, treatment response, and pathophysiology than RLS with PLMS.
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J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci · Jan 2015
Multicenter StudyMental health diagnoses and health care utilization in persons with dementia, Parkinson's disease, and stroke.
In late life, neurological disturbances, depression, and anxiety frequently complicate the clinical presentation but are often undertreated. An administrative database of 3,034 male veterans, age 55 years and older, with a diagnosis of dementia, Parkinson's disease, or stroke was examined for the prevalence of mood and anxiety disorders and mental health service use. ⋯ Mental health specialty visits were less frequent than medication treatment overall but most common for those with dementia only. These data suggest that specialty mental health care remains a significant unmet need for individuals with neurological disorders complicated by depression and anxiety.