Psychiatry Research最新文献

Binge eating behavior and food craving are associated with altered reward sensitivity and impaired inhibitory control, contributing to physical and psychological consequences. Neurofeedback (NFB) has emerged as a promising non-invasive intervention for reducing binge eating behaviors, yet its overall efficacy remains unclear and warrants quantitative synthesis. A systematic search was conducted across MEDLINE, CENTRAL, EMBASE, ClinicalTrial.gov, and PubMed to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of NFB interventions for binge eating behaviors or binge eating disorder (BED) in adults. The primary outcome was food craving. The secondary outcomes were binge eating severity, binge eating frequency, and self-efficacy. Data synthesis was performed using a random-effects meta-analysis. Seven RCTs with 251 participants were included. NFB was associated with improved food craving (standard mean difference, SMD = -0.45, 95 % confidence interval, CI = -0.78 to -0.12) and binge eating frequency (SMD = -0.54, 95 % CI = -1.00 to -0.08) with moderate effect sizes. However, NFB did not significantly affect binge eating severity and self-efficacy (SMD = -0.22, 95 % CI = -0.56 to 0.12; SMD = 0.21, 95 % CI = -0.33 to 0.75). For food craving severity, NFB was more effective in non-clinical populations (SMD = -0.58, 95 % CI = -0.98 to -0.17) than in participants with BED (SMD = -0.20, 95 % CI = -0.84 to 0.44). NFB shows promise as a non-invasive intervention to reduce binge eating and food craving. Despite protocol variability and limited generalizability, its favorable safety profile and potential efficacy suggest it may serve as an adjunctive option for individuals with binge eating behaviors; however, the evidence remains preliminary and hypothesis-generating.

Here, we present the first genome-wide association study and polygenic risk score analysis of obsessive-compulsive symptoms in a sample of 661 clinically diagnosed pediatric participants diagnosed with mental illness and healthy controls. Using a psychiatric questionnaire score as a quantitative trait we conducted a large-scale genetic analysis and ran multiple post-association analyses to investigate the mediating role of obsessive-compulsive symptoms in six comorbid mental disorders. Polygenic risk scores were computed for OCS using genome-wide summary statistics from obsessive-compulsive disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, anxiety disorders, depression, autism spectrum disorder, and tic disorders. Across all models, the PRS of OCS explained modest yet significant proportion of shared genetic risk across six mental disorders consistent with effect sizes typically observed in complex psychiatric traits. Furthermore, Mendelian randomization analysis suggested a potential causal pathway in which OCS mediates the genetic risk for anxiety. These findings highlight shared polygenic mechanisms between OCS and a range of neuropsychiatric conditions. We observed a potential causal pathway in which OCS mediates the genetic risk for anxiety, supporting the hypothesis that OCS may serve as a transdiagnostic mediator within the pediatric population. This study underscores the value of examining genetic risk across the symptom spectrum of mental illnesses, rather than relying solely on binary diagnostic categories.

Adolescent-onset schizophrenia is rare but clinically severe. While neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) are recognized antecedents, the absolute risk of transition to psychosis in pediatric NDD clinic populations has not been clearly quantified relative to other psychiatric conditions. We conducted a retrospective cohort study using electronic medical records from Pusan National University Children's Hospital (2008-2023). We compared the cumulative incidence of schizophrenia-spectrum disorders between a cohort of youth diagnosed with NDDs (N = 558) and an internal clinical control group of youth treated for non-neurodevelopmental psychiatric disorders (N = 824) during the same period. The 10-year cumulative incidence of schizophrenia-spectrum disorders was significantly higher in the NDD group (2.3 %, 13/558) compared to the internal clinical control group (0.1 %, 1/824) (Log-rank test, p < 0.01). Sensitivity analysis in the ADHD subgroup found no association between stimulant medication use and psychosis onset. Youth with NDDs in a tertiary care setting face a distinct and significantly higher risk of developing schizophrenia-spectrum disorders compared to psychiatric controls. These findings underscore the importance of routine monitoring for emerging psychotic symptoms in this high-risk population.

Adolescence is a critical developmental period marked by significant physiological, psychological, and behavioural changes, many of which differ between the sexes. We aimed to investigate sex-specific associations between the plasma proteome and questionnaire-based mental health measures in adolescents. Liquid chromatography - tandem mass spectrometry proteomic analysis was used to measure the plasma proteome abundances in 197 adolescents (11-16 years old) from the WALNUTs cohort. Baseline analysis of sexual dimorphism revealed 76 proteins significantly differentially abundant between sexes, which were enriched in cell adhesion, collagen fibril organisation, and ossification pathways. Bioinformatic analysis revealed 37 proteins significantly associated with the total score of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Modelling the sex-specificity via interaction terms revealed 40 proteins with significant associations with SDQ in females and 1 protein in males. Plasma protein abundancies in males exhibited stronger correlations with SDQ externalizing subscale scores, while in females the associations with the internalizing score were more prominent, consistent with known behavioural sex differences. Female-associated proteins were enriched for haemostasis and complement pathways, while male-associated signals suggested distinct immune and cytoskeletal processes. These findings indicate that both shared and sex-specific plasma proteomic signatures are associated with SDQ scores in adolescents and that models adjusting only for sex may obscure sex-divergent biology. These exploratory results are hypothesis-generating and support the use of sex-aware proteomic analyses to refine biomarker discovery for adolescent mental health.

Background: The October 7, 2023, terrorist attack in Israel led to over 1,200 civilian deaths and the abduction of 251 individuals to Gaza. While prior studies have documented the psychological toll on directly affected populations, the broader emotional impact of the ongoing hostage crisis on the general public remains unclear. This study explored how public concern for the hostages relates to psychological distress and functional impairment, focusing on prolonged grief-like responses in the context of unresolved national uncertainty.

Methods: A nationally representative sample of 515 Israeli adults completed self-report questionnaires at two time points: August 2023 (pre-attack) and May 2025. Measures included anxiety, depression, PTSD symptoms, cumulative stress, emotional burnout, and daily functioning. Concern for the hostages was rated on a 4-point scale. Symptoms associated with Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD) were measured using an adapted PG-13 scale. Multivariate analyses controlled for baseline distress and trauma exposure.

Results: Higher concern levels were significantly associated with elevated distress across all symptom domains. Approximately half of the participants (48.7%) reported elevated levels of PGD-like symptoms in relation to the hostage situation, exhibiting significantly higher psychological symptoms and lower functional well-being, including poorer sleep, reduced concentration, and diminished optimism and hope.

Conclusions: Findings indicate that the prolonged hostage crisis constitutes a collective psychological burden marked by ambiguous loss and unresolved national trauma. This form of distress affects even those without direct exposure. Mental health efforts may therefore benefit from addressing distress related not only to direct trauma and bereavement, but also to prolonged uncertainty and symbolic loss.

Background: Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a significant mental health concern that often co-occurs with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Although growing evidence suggests a link between ADHD and NSSI, the prevalence and moderating factors of this association remain unclear.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to quantify the prevalence of NSSI in individuals with ADHD and to examine age- and sex-stratified differences across studies conducted in clinical, community, convenience, and population-based samples. A comprehensive search was performed across MEDLINE, EMBASE, and PsycINFO. Fourteen studies met inclusion criteria. Pooled prevalence estimates and odds ratios (ORs) were calculated using random-effects models. Subgroup analyses were performed by age group (adolescents vs. adults) and sex.

Results: The overall pooled prevalence of NSSI among individuals with ADHD was 27% (95% CI: 19%-37%), with similar rates among adolescents (28%) and adults (25%). Compared to individuals without ADHD, those with ADHD had twice the odds of engaging in NSSI (OR = 2.26, 95% CI: 1.69-3.00). Sex-stratified analysis, based on three eligible studies, suggested a higher risk in females with ADHD compared to males with ADHD (OR = 4.07, 95% CI: 3.09-5.36). High heterogeneity was observed across studies, potentially attributable to differences in diagnostic criteria, assessment tools, sample characteristics, and sociocultural contexts.

Conclusions: Individuals with ADHD show elevated rates of NSSI across developmental stages, with preliminary evidence indicating a potentially greater risk among females. However, these sex-specific findings should be interpreted cautiously due to the limited number of studies. Future research should investigate underlying mechanisms and longitudinal trajectories to better inform targeted interventions and prevention strategies.

Prospero: CRD420251017948.