Current Behavioral Neuroscience Reports最新文献

Purpose of review: The goal was to review recent (1/2015-2/2020) evidence of impulsivity as a feature of substance use disorders or use of substances (alcohol, cannabis, nicotine, opioids, stimulants) in males compared to females in terms of: a) impulsivity in substance-using groups (or substance-using compared to control groups), and b) relationship between impulsivity and substance use behavior, clinical severity, or treatment outcomes.

Recent findings: Of 361 papers identified by the searches, 69 met inclusion criteria, and 39 were highlighted for considering sex/gender in relation to impulsivity in substance-using populations. Taken together, findings supported higher impulsivity in males and females who use substances, relative to controls; and higher impulsivity was linked with more substance use/severity in both sex/genders. There were mixed findings regarding male versus female differences in impulsivity among individuals who use substances, or in the magnitude of the relationship between impulsivity and substance use severity.

Summary: The current body of evidence does not point to a consistent sex/gender difference in the role of impulsivity within and across substance use disorders. Impulsivity is a clinically-relevant construct for male and female individuals who use substances, across a range of substances.

Purpose of review: The present review attempts to provide a comprehensive and critical overview of the neurocognitive mechanisms of gambling disorder (GD), problematic pornography use (PPU) and binge-eating disorder (BED), focusing specifically on decision-making processes.

Recent findings: GD, PPU and BED have been associated with decision-making impairments both under risk and ambiguity. Features such as intelligence, emotions, social variables, cognitive distortions, comorbidities, or arousal may condition decision-making processes in these individuals.

Summary: Impairments in decision-making seem to be a shared transdiagnostic feature of these disorders We also hypothesized the EG relative to the NEG group would demonstrate weaker relationships between problem-gambling severity and health/functioning measures (e.g., substance use) and gambling behaviors (e.g., more time spent gambling) given that EG would account for some of the variance in the relationships between ARPG and these measures. However, there is varying support for the degree to which different features may affect decision-making. Therefore, the study of decision-making processes can provide crucial evidence for understanding addictions and other disorders with addiction-like symptomatology.

Purpose of review: A better understanding of the key molecules/pathways underlying the pathophysiology of depression and schizophrenia may contribute to novel therapeutic strategies. In this review, we have discussed the recent developments on the role of inflammatory pathways in the pathogenesis of depression and schizophrenia.

Recent findings: Inflammation is an innate immune response that can be triggered by various factors, including pathogens, stress and injury. Under normal conditions, the inflammatory responses quiet after pathogen clearance and tissue repair. However, abnormal long-term or chronic inflammation can lead to damaging effects. Accumulating evidence suggest that dysregulated inflammation is linked to the pathogenesis of neuropsychiatric disorders. In this review, we have discussed the roles of complement system, infiltration of peripheral immune cells into the central nervous system (CNS), the gut-brain axis, and the kynurenine pathway in depression and schizophrenia.

Summary: There is a large body of compelling evidence on the role of inflammatory pathways in depression and schizophrenia. Although most of these findings show their roles in the pathophysiology of the above disorders, additional studies are warranted to investigate the therapeutic potential of various immune signaling targets discussed in this article.