Pub Date : 2025-04-01Epub Date: 2025-04-15DOI: 10.1176/appi.focus.20240050
Majd Al-Soleiti, Jennifer L Vande Voort, Balwinder Singh
Anhedonia is a key psychiatric symptom that has seen significant advances in its understanding in both clinical practice and research over the past few decades. Once considered primarily a feature of depression, recent studies have shown that anhedonia is also a core element of other psychiatric disorders and contributes to considerable morbidity, mortality, and suicidality. Emerging models of psychopathology and illness emphasize the transdiagnostic relevance of anhedonia. At the same time, neuroimaging research has provided deeper insights into its underlying pathophysiology, and several assessment scales with strong psychometric properties have been developed. Various treatment strategies-including psychopharmacology, neuromodulation, and psychotherapy-have demonstrated varying degrees of effectiveness. This review discusses the evolving understanding of anhedonia, its significance as both a symptom and a diagnostic marker, its prevalence, and its pathophysiological underpinnings. Additionally, the authors provide an overview of key assessment tools and explore the range of treatment approaches studied to date.
{"title":"Anhedonia as a Core Symptom of Depression and a Construct for Biological Research.","authors":"Majd Al-Soleiti, Jennifer L Vande Voort, Balwinder Singh","doi":"10.1176/appi.focus.20240050","DOIUrl":"10.1176/appi.focus.20240050","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Anhedonia is a key psychiatric symptom that has seen significant advances in its understanding in both clinical practice and research over the past few decades. Once considered primarily a feature of depression, recent studies have shown that anhedonia is also a core element of other psychiatric disorders and contributes to considerable morbidity, mortality, and suicidality. Emerging models of psychopathology and illness emphasize the transdiagnostic relevance of anhedonia. At the same time, neuroimaging research has provided deeper insights into its underlying pathophysiology, and several assessment scales with strong psychometric properties have been developed. Various treatment strategies-including psychopharmacology, neuromodulation, and psychotherapy-have demonstrated varying degrees of effectiveness. This review discusses the evolving understanding of anhedonia, its significance as both a symptom and a diagnostic marker, its prevalence, and its pathophysiological underpinnings. Additionally, the authors provide an overview of key assessment tools and explore the range of treatment approaches studied to date.</p>","PeriodicalId":73036,"journal":{"name":"Focus (American Psychiatric Publishing)","volume":"23 2","pages":"163-172"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11995908/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144058037","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-04-01Epub Date: 2025-04-15DOI: 10.1176/appi.focus.20250007
Mark A Frye
{"title":"Road Map to Better Depression Care: A Road No Longer Less Traveled.","authors":"Mark A Frye","doi":"10.1176/appi.focus.20250007","DOIUrl":"10.1176/appi.focus.20250007","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":73036,"journal":{"name":"Focus (American Psychiatric Publishing)","volume":"23 2","pages":"123-124"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11995914/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144065439","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-04-01Epub Date: 2025-04-15DOI: 10.1176/appi.focus.20250005
Trisha Suppes, Mathieu Fradet
{"title":"Psychedelics for Depression: Between Hopes and Uncertainties.","authors":"Trisha Suppes, Mathieu Fradet","doi":"10.1176/appi.focus.20250005","DOIUrl":"10.1176/appi.focus.20250005","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":73036,"journal":{"name":"Focus (American Psychiatric Publishing)","volume":"23 2","pages":"206-207"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11995904/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144013743","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-04-01Epub Date: 2025-04-15DOI: 10.1176/appi.focus.20240045
Rebekah S Huber, Sally Weinstein, Aimee E Sullivan, Melissa M Batt, Jennifer Vande Voort, Melinda Westlund Schreiner, Funlola Are, Ioanna Douka, Melissa DelBello, Manpreet K Singh, Leslie Hulvershorn, Ramnarine Boodoo, Christopher J Hammond, James R Brasic, Neera Ghaziuddin, Richard Dopp, Leslie Miller
Adolescents and young adults with bipolar disorder often experience cognitive deficits that hinder academic performance and social interactions, affecting long-term outcomes. Identifying cognitive impairments is crucial for improving clinical management of bipolar disorder. Use of cognitive screeners is recommended to identify cognitive difficulties and for ongoing assessment. Although cognitive screeners are effective with adults, their use with adolescents and young adults is limited. This project assessed clinicians' attitudes and practices regarding cognitive screening of adolescents and young adults with bipolar disorder. The National Network of Depression Centers (NNDC) Child and Adolescent Mood Disorders Task Group developed a survey for clinicians treating adolescents and young adults (ages 14-25) with bipolar disorder, evaluating their knowledge of and attitudes toward cognitive screening and barriers to implementation. A total of 163 clinicians across 23 NNDC sites completed the survey. Most recognized the impact of cognitive deficits on functioning (87%) and treatment response (76%). More than 90% reported that cognitive assessments would be beneficial; however, 78% were unaware of available tools, and 64% reported barriers to implementation. Findings highlight a need for clinician education and addressing barriers to implementation. This article outlines the importance of using screeners in treatment of adolescents and young adults with bipolar disorder and provides practical information for using screeners and recommendations for implementation.
{"title":"Challenges and Opportunities in Using Cognitive Screeners for Adolescents and Young Adults With Bipolar Disorder.","authors":"Rebekah S Huber, Sally Weinstein, Aimee E Sullivan, Melissa M Batt, Jennifer Vande Voort, Melinda Westlund Schreiner, Funlola Are, Ioanna Douka, Melissa DelBello, Manpreet K Singh, Leslie Hulvershorn, Ramnarine Boodoo, Christopher J Hammond, James R Brasic, Neera Ghaziuddin, Richard Dopp, Leslie Miller","doi":"10.1176/appi.focus.20240045","DOIUrl":"10.1176/appi.focus.20240045","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Adolescents and young adults with bipolar disorder often experience cognitive deficits that hinder academic performance and social interactions, affecting long-term outcomes. Identifying cognitive impairments is crucial for improving clinical management of bipolar disorder. Use of cognitive screeners is recommended to identify cognitive difficulties and for ongoing assessment. Although cognitive screeners are effective with adults, their use with adolescents and young adults is limited. This project assessed clinicians' attitudes and practices regarding cognitive screening of adolescents and young adults with bipolar disorder. The National Network of Depression Centers (NNDC) Child and Adolescent Mood Disorders Task Group developed a survey for clinicians treating adolescents and young adults (ages 14-25) with bipolar disorder, evaluating their knowledge of and attitudes toward cognitive screening and barriers to implementation. A total of 163 clinicians across 23 NNDC sites completed the survey. Most recognized the impact of cognitive deficits on functioning (87%) and treatment response (76%). More than 90% reported that cognitive assessments would be beneficial; however, 78% were unaware of available tools, and 64% reported barriers to implementation. Findings highlight a need for clinician education and addressing barriers to implementation. This article outlines the importance of using screeners in treatment of adolescents and young adults with bipolar disorder and provides practical information for using screeners and recommendations for implementation.</p>","PeriodicalId":73036,"journal":{"name":"Focus (American Psychiatric Publishing)","volume":"23 2","pages":"125-132"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11995903/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144001416","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-04-01Epub Date: 2025-04-15DOI: 10.1176/appi.focus.20240049
Stephane J Strong, Halle A Thomas, Zachary W Adams, Leslie A Hulvershorn
Adolescence is a unique developmental period marked by increased exploration and risk-taking, as well as important brain development milestones. Many people who use substances will begin using during adolescence, and cannabis is the most commonly used illicit substance among adolescents. For adolescents with mood disorders, cannabis use (and, by extension, cannabis use disorder) is even more likely, and the associated consequences are even more significant. In this review, we explore the assessment of cannabis use disorder among adolescents, the impact of cannabis use on mood symptoms, level-of-care recommendations for adolescents with comorbid cannabis use and mood disorders, and effective treatment options.
{"title":"Comorbid Cannabis Use and Mood Disorders Among Adolescents.","authors":"Stephane J Strong, Halle A Thomas, Zachary W Adams, Leslie A Hulvershorn","doi":"10.1176/appi.focus.20240049","DOIUrl":"10.1176/appi.focus.20240049","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Adolescence is a unique developmental period marked by increased exploration and risk-taking, as well as important brain development milestones. Many people who use substances will begin using during adolescence, and cannabis is the most commonly used illicit substance among adolescents. For adolescents with mood disorders, cannabis use (and, by extension, cannabis use disorder) is even more likely, and the associated consequences are even more significant. In this review, we explore the assessment of cannabis use disorder among adolescents, the impact of cannabis use on mood symptoms, level-of-care recommendations for adolescents with comorbid cannabis use and mood disorders, and effective treatment options.</p>","PeriodicalId":73036,"journal":{"name":"Focus (American Psychiatric Publishing)","volume":"23 2","pages":"133-140"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11995898/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144042415","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-01-01Epub Date: 2025-01-15DOI: 10.1176/appi.focus.25023006
Janet M Turan, Melissa A Elafros, Carmen H Logie, Swagata Banik, Bulent Turan, Kaylee B Crockett, Bernice Pescosolido, Sarah M Murray
Background: 'Intersectional stigma' is a concept that has emerged to characterize the convergence of multiple stigmatized identities within a person or group, and to address their joint effects on health and wellbeing. While enquiry into the intersections of race, class, and gender serves as the historical and theoretical basis for intersectional stigma, there is little consensus on how best to characterize and analyze intersectional stigma, or on how to design interventions to address this complex phenomenon. The purpose of this paper is to highlight existing intersectional stigma literature, identify gaps in our methods for studying and addressing intersectional stigma, provide examples illustrating promising analytical approaches, and elucidate priorities for future health research.
Discussion: Evidence from the existing scientific literature, as well as the examples presented here, suggest that people in diverse settings experience intersecting forms of stigma that influence their mental and physical health and corresponding health behaviors. As different stigmas are often correlated and interrelated, the health impact of intersectional stigma is complex, generating a broad range of vulnerabilities and risks. Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches are required to reduce the significant knowledge gaps that remain in our understanding of intersectional stigma, shared identity, and their effects on health.
Conclusions: Stigmatized identities, while often analyzed in isolation, do not exist in a vacuum. Intersecting forms of stigma are a common reality, yet they remain poorly understood. The development of instruments and methods to better characterize the mechanisms and effects of intersectional stigma in relation to various health conditions around the globe is vital. Only then will healthcare providers, public health officials, and advocates be able to design health interventions that capitalize on the positive aspects of shared identity, while reducing the burden of stigma.Appeared originally in BMC Medicine 2019; 17:7.
背景:“交叉污名化”是一个概念,它的出现是为了描述一个人或群体中多重污名化身份的融合,并解决它们对健康和福祉的共同影响。虽然对种族、阶级和性别的交叉点的研究是交叉病耻感的历史和理论基础,但对于如何最好地表征和分析交叉病耻感,或者如何设计干预措施来解决这一复杂现象,几乎没有达成共识。本文的目的是强调现有的交叉病耻感文献,确定我们研究和解决交叉病耻感方法的差距,提供例子说明有前途的分析方法,并阐明未来健康研究的重点。讨论:来自现有科学文献的证据以及本文提出的例子表明,不同环境中的人们经历了影响其身心健康和相应健康行为的交叉形式的耻辱。由于不同的病耻感往往是相互关联的,交叉病耻感对健康的影响是复杂的,产生了广泛的脆弱性和风险。需要采用定性、定量和混合方法来减少我们在理解交叉污名、共同身份及其对健康的影响方面仍然存在的重大知识差距。结论:被污名化的身份,虽然经常被孤立地分析,但并不存在于真空中。交叉形式的耻辱是一种常见的现实,但对它们的了解仍然很少。制定工具和方法,更好地描述与全球各种健康状况相关的交叉病耻感的机制和影响,这一点至关重要。只有这样,医疗保健提供者、公共卫生官员和倡导者才能设计卫生干预措施,利用共同身份的积极方面,同时减少污名化的负担。最初发表于BMC Medicine 2019;十七7。
{"title":"Challenges and Opportunities in Examining and Addressing Intersectional Stigma and Health.","authors":"Janet M Turan, Melissa A Elafros, Carmen H Logie, Swagata Banik, Bulent Turan, Kaylee B Crockett, Bernice Pescosolido, Sarah M Murray","doi":"10.1176/appi.focus.25023006","DOIUrl":"10.1176/appi.focus.25023006","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>'Intersectional stigma' is a concept that has emerged to characterize the convergence of multiple stigmatized identities within a person or group, and to address their joint effects on health and wellbeing. While enquiry into the intersections of race, class, and gender serves as the historical and theoretical basis for intersectional stigma, there is little consensus on how best to characterize and analyze intersectional stigma, or on how to design interventions to address this complex phenomenon. The purpose of this paper is to highlight existing intersectional stigma literature, identify gaps in our methods for studying and addressing intersectional stigma, provide examples illustrating promising analytical approaches, and elucidate priorities for future health research.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Evidence from the existing scientific literature, as well as the examples presented here, suggest that people in diverse settings experience intersecting forms of stigma that influence their mental and physical health and corresponding health behaviors. As different stigmas are often correlated and interrelated, the health impact of intersectional stigma is complex, generating a broad range of vulnerabilities and risks. Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches are required to reduce the significant knowledge gaps that remain in our understanding of intersectional stigma, shared identity, and their effects on health.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Stigmatized identities, while often analyzed in isolation, do not exist in a vacuum. Intersecting forms of stigma are a common reality, yet they remain poorly understood. The development of instruments and methods to better characterize the mechanisms and effects of intersectional stigma in relation to various health conditions around the globe is vital. Only then will healthcare providers, public health officials, and advocates be able to design health interventions that capitalize on the positive aspects of shared identity, while reducing the burden of stigma.Appeared originally in <i>BMC Medicine 2019; 17:7</i>.</p>","PeriodicalId":73036,"journal":{"name":"Focus (American Psychiatric Publishing)","volume":"23 1","pages":"70-84"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11701822/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142959803","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-01-01Epub Date: 2025-01-15DOI: 10.1176/appi.focus.20240033
Jacob M Appel
{"title":"Ethical Considerations Related to Stigma in Mental Health Aspects of Treating Substance Use Disorders.","authors":"Jacob M Appel","doi":"10.1176/appi.focus.20240033","DOIUrl":"10.1176/appi.focus.20240033","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":73036,"journal":{"name":"Focus (American Psychiatric Publishing)","volume":"23 1","pages":"61-65"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11701825/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142959817","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-01-01Epub Date: 2025-01-15DOI: 10.1176/appi.focus.25023003
Antonia Aguirre Velasco, Ignacio Silva Santa Cruz, Jo Billings, Magdalena Jimenez, Sarah Rowe
Background: Increasing rates of mental health problems among adolescents are of concern. Teens who are most in need of mental health attention are reluctant to seek help. A better understanding of the help-seeking in this population is needed to overcome this gap.
Methods: Five databases were searched to identify the principal barriers, facilitators and interventions targeting help-seeking for common mental health problems in adolescents aged 10-19 years. The search was performed in June 2018 and updated in April 2019. Two independent screening processes were made using the eligibility criteria. Quality assessment of each study was performed, and findings summarised using a narrative synthesis.
Results: Ninety studies meet the inclusion criteria for this review for barrier and facilitators (n = 54) and interventions (n = 36). Stigma and negative beliefs towards mental health services and professionals were the most cited barriers. Facilitators included previous positive experience with health services and mental health literacy. Most interventions were based on psychoeducation, which focused on general mental health knowledge, suicide and self-harm, stigma and depression. Other types of interventions included the use of multimedia and online tools, peer training and outreach initiatives. Overall, the quality of studies was low to medium and there was no general agreement regarding help-seeking definition and measurements.
Conclusion: Most of the interventions took place in an educational setting however, it is important to consider adolescents outside the educational system. Encouraging help-seeking should come with the increased availability of mental health support for all adolescents in need, but this is still a major challenge for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services. There is also a need to develop shared definitions, theoretical frameworks and higher methodological standards in research regarding help-seeking behaviours in adolescents. This will allow more consistency and generalisability of findings, improving the development of help-seeking interventions and ensuring timely access to mental health treatments.Appeared originally in BMC Psychiatry 2020; 20:293.
{"title":"What Are the Barriers, Facilitators and Interventions Targeting Help-Seeking Behaviours for Common Mental Health Problems in Adolescents? A Systematic Review.","authors":"Antonia Aguirre Velasco, Ignacio Silva Santa Cruz, Jo Billings, Magdalena Jimenez, Sarah Rowe","doi":"10.1176/appi.focus.25023003","DOIUrl":"10.1176/appi.focus.25023003","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Increasing rates of mental health problems among adolescents are of concern. Teens who are most in need of mental health attention are reluctant to seek help. A better understanding of the help-seeking in this population is needed to overcome this gap.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Five databases were searched to identify the principal barriers, facilitators and interventions targeting help-seeking for common mental health problems in adolescents aged 10-19 years. The search was performed in June 2018 and updated in April 2019. Two independent screening processes were made using the eligibility criteria. Quality assessment of each study was performed, and findings summarised using a narrative synthesis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Ninety studies meet the inclusion criteria for this review for barrier and facilitators (<i>n</i> = 54) and interventions (<i>n</i> = 36). Stigma and negative beliefs towards mental health services and professionals were the most cited barriers. Facilitators included previous positive experience with health services and mental health literacy. Most interventions were based on psychoeducation, which focused on general mental health knowledge, suicide and self-harm, stigma and depression. Other types of interventions included the use of multimedia and online tools, peer training and outreach initiatives. Overall, the quality of studies was low to medium and there was no general agreement regarding help-seeking definition and measurements.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Most of the interventions took place in an educational setting however, it is important to consider adolescents outside the educational system. Encouraging help-seeking should come with the increased availability of mental health support for all adolescents in need, but this is still a major challenge for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services. There is also a need to develop shared definitions, theoretical frameworks and higher methodological standards in research regarding help-seeking behaviours in adolescents. This will allow more consistency and generalisability of findings, improving the development of help-seeking interventions and ensuring timely access to mental health treatments.Appeared originally in <i>BMC Psychiatry 2020; 20:293</i>.</p>","PeriodicalId":73036,"journal":{"name":"Focus (American Psychiatric Publishing)","volume":"23 1","pages":"98-118"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11701830/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142959660","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}