IMPACT OF PHYSICAL EXERCISE ON PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING AND PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS

Background: Physical exercise is one of the major features of human health, as it is involved in several physiological processes and related to major benefits in reducing body fat, myocardial infarction, hypertension and insulin resistance risk. Physical exercise also plays a positive role in achieving psychological well-being that can be defined as a state of happiness and serenity, with low levels of distress, overall good physical and mental health and outlook and a good quality of life. Aim of the paper: To review the positive effects of physical activity on psychological well-being and its possible neurobiological underpinnings, as well as its impact on several neuropsychiatric disorders, such as depression, anxiety, eating disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorders, schizophrenia and some neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Methods: The PubMed, Scopus, Embase, PsycINFO and Google Scholar databases were searched for full text articles published in the latest thirty years on the benefits that physical activity exerts on psychological well-being. Objectives: This study aims to identify the common and differential elements of the DLD (SLI) and LD through a quantitative and qualitative analysis. Results: An impressive amount of data support the positive role of physical activity on psychological well-being and a large amount of research has focused on its beneficial effects in improving the symptoms of the main neuropsychiatric disorders, while highlighting its usefulness as an adjuvant option to psychopharmacological treatments and psychotherapy. In particular, exercise would deeply affect CNS morphology and function, through heterogeneous mechanisms including, amongst the others, the production of hormones, neurotransmitters and neurotrophins, the promotion of angiogenesis and neuroplasticity, and the regulation of gene expression. Conclusion: Literature indicates that the promotion of physical activity may work like an adjunctive and/or augmentation strategy to enhance drugs or psychological treatments, or even as an alternative option in major depression

Love is expensive: Impact on Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a heterogeneous psychiatric condition that is defined by two main features: obsessions, i.e. intrusive thoughts, images or urges that are experienced as involuntary, unwanted and distressing, and compulsions, that are repetitive and ritualistic behaviors or mental acts that the individual feels compelled to perform in response to an obsession. Furthermore, OCD may lead to a high impairment in social and work fields, thus decreasing the quality of life. In spite of a progressive nosological autonomy of this disorder, OCD is still clouded by the unknown. Its etiopatogenesis is likely multifactorial and determined by the intertwining of specific genetic, biological and environmental factors. Nevertheless, this model seems to be too simplistic, as it may not reflect the heterogeneity of the clinical picture of OCD. Moreover, in spite of significant improvements of its treatment strategies, the response rates are still unsatisfactory while strengthening the notion that several pieces of the puzzle are missing. According to some scholars, phenotype research might play an important role in better understanding its etiology and improving therapeutic intervention. More recently, some observational studies paved the way to the hypothesis that romantic love (RL) may influence the phenotypic expression of OCD, either by acting as a modulator or as a precipitant factor, albeit the question of whether love-influenced OCD effectively represents a specific phenotype of this disorder is still unclear. The present study was conceived with the aim of investigating the impact of RL on the clinical expression of OCD. The main objective was to investigate how the clinical expression of OCD changes depending on whether its onset was secondary to the start of RL or following a romantic break-up, and whether two distinct phenotypes of OCD could emerge, possibly characterized by the prevalence of specific obsessions and compulsions. We will therefore refer to the expressions love-precipitated OCD (LP-OCD) in subjects who reported the onset of OCD at the beginning of a romantic relationship, and break-up OCD (BU-OCD) in subjects who instead reported its onset after the end of the relationship. We also investigated the correlation between the two hypothesized clinical phenotypes of OCD and the several clinical and socio-demographic variables, i.e. age of onset, onset, course, gender, marital status, work, and psychiatric comorbidities. In particular, we hypothesized that, due to the different features of the precipitant factor in the two groups, the rates of comorbidities, especially in the spectrum of mood and anxiety disorders, might be different in the two groups, with a prevalence of the former in BU-OCD and the latter in LP-OCD. This research included a sample of 212 OCD patients attending outpatient units at the University Psychiatric Clinic of Pisa, Italy, and the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Specific inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied, psychiatric and personal history were collected as part of their clinical records. The assessment instruments herein used were: the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 Disorders (SCID-5) for a complete diagnostic evaluation; the Yale OCD Natural History Questionnaire to evaluate whether romantic relationships were a precipitating factor for OCD (either falling in love or breaking-up); and the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) for a comprehensive assessment of OCD symptoms dimensions and severity. The subjects were divided into two groups (LP-OCD and BU-OCD) according to the romantic factor causing the onset of OCD. Our findings partially supported our hypothesis. In spite of higher rates of mood and anxiety disorders, namely major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder and social anxiety disorder, in both groups, there were no significant differences between LP-OCD and BU-OCD individuals. Such findings suggest that psychiatric comorbidities in RL-influenced OCD do not differ from the most reported comorbidities in this disorder, and that the onset of OCD after falling in love or breaking-up do not lead to higher rates of anxiety disorders in the former case and of mood disorders in the latter. The average age of OCD onset was significantly different in the two groups (16.57 ± 7.36 in the LP-OCD and 12.95 ± 6.82 in the BU-OCD, p-value =0.002). We hypothesized that the increased susceptibility to the effects of a break-up may be the mirror of a vulnerability of the brain's maturational stages in young individuals who are at risk of OCD. In both groups, the most common onset and course of OCD were, respectively, acute and chronic, with no significant differences amongst the two groups. We also found a trend towards three types of obsessions and compulsions namely aggression, sexual/religious and symmetry, in the BU-OCD group, possibly reflecting some normal features of a romantic relationship that might lead specific OCD dimensions whereas its onset occurs prematurely. Finally, we found similar results for the obsessions, compulsions and total Y-BOCS scores amongst the two groups, that were also indicative of severe clinical pictures. Such findings were against our original hypothesis, meaning that an onset of OCD during the falling in love phase or following a break-up does not influence the overall severity of this disorder. In spite of some limitations, our findings overall suggest that different stages of RL may influence some features of OCD, namely the age of onset and specific dimensions, whilst not contributing to the overall severity of the clinical picture. These findings, together with current literature on this specific topic, should encourage further research to better clarify the impact of RL on OCD. They also define some of the features of these individuals and how the most natural experience of humankind, that is love, may pave the way for the onset and the features of OCD, similarly to other mental disorders, whereas the evidence is currently more sound

Space missions: psychological and psychopathological issues

AbstractExploring space is one of the most attractive goals that humanity ever set, notwithstanding, there are some psychological and psychopathological risks that should be considered. Several studies identified some possible hazards of space travels and related physical and psychological consequences on astronauts. If some psychological reactions are obviously inherent to the characteristics of the spaceships (habitability, confinement, psychological, and interpersonal relationships), other (disturbances of sleep-wake cycle, personality changes, depression, anxiety, apathy, psychosomatic symptoms, neurovestibular problems, alterations in cognitive function, and sensory perception) represent a clear warning of possible central nervous system (CNS) alterations, possibly due to microgravity and cosmic radiation. Such conditions and eventual CNS changes might compromise the success of missions and the ability to cope with unexpected events and may lead to individual and long-term impairments. Therefore, further studies are needed, perhaps, requiring the birth of a novel branch of psychology/psychiatry that should not only consider the risks related to space exploration, but the implementation of targeted strategies to prevent them.</jats:p

Third-Generation Antipsychotics: The Quest for the Key to Neurotrophism

Antipsychotic drugs (APs) have profoundly changed the treatment landscape for psychiatric disorders, yet their impact on neuroplasticity and neurotrophism remains only partially understood. While second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) are associated with a better side effect profile than their predecessors, the emergence of third-generation antipsychotics (TGAs)&mdash;such as brexpiprazole, cariprazine, lurasidone, iloperidone, lumateperone, pimavanserin, and roluperidone&mdash;has prompted renewed interest in their potential neuroprotective and pro-cognitive effects. This review attempts to carefully examine the evidence on the neurotrophic properties of TGAs and their role in modulating brain plasticity by analyzing studies published between 2010 and 2024. Although data remain limited and focused primarily on earlier SGAs, emerging findings suggest that some TGAs may exert positive effects on neuroplastic processes, including the modulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factors (BDNFs) and synaptic architecture. However, robust clinical data on their long-term effects and comparative efficacy are lacking; therefore, further research is necessary to validate their role in preventing neurodegenerative changes and improving cognitive outcomes in patients with psychiatric conditions

Autistic traits and camouflaging behaviors: a cross-sectional investigation in a University student population

AbstractBackgroundIncreasing research is stressing the importance of identifying autistic traits (ATs) in clinical and general populations. University students may be a group at higher risk for the presence of ATs. Recently, specific attention has been paid to camouflaging strategies used by subjects in the autism spectrum in order to cope with the social environment. The aim of this work was to evaluate the prevalence of ATs and camouflaging behaviors in a population of University students.MethodsSubjects were requested to anonymously fill out through an online form the Adult Autism Subthreshold Spectrum and the Camouflaging AT Questionnaire.ResultsATs were more represented among males and among students of specific fields of study. Camouflaging behaviors were significantly more frequent among subjects with more severe autism spectrum symptoms, without differences depending from sex.ConclusionsOur study confirms the strong association between ATs and camouflaging behaviors and the relationship between ATs, sex, and specific fields of study

Autistic traits and camouflaging behaviors: a cross-sectional investigation in a University student population

AbstractBackgroundIncreasing research is stressing the importance of identifying autistic traits (ATs) in clinical and general populations. University students may be a group at higher risk for the presence of ATs. Recently, specific attention has been paid to camouflaging strategies used by subjects in the autism spectrum in order to cope with the social environment. The aim of this work was to evaluate the prevalence of ATs and camouflaging behaviors in a population of University students.MethodsSubjects were requested to anonymously fill out through an online form the Adult Autism Subthreshold Spectrum and the Camouflaging AT Questionnaire.ResultsATs were more represented among males and among students of specific fields of study. Camouflaging behaviors were significantly more frequent among subjects with more severe autism spectrum symptoms, without differences depending from sex.ConclusionsOur study confirms the strong association between ATs and camouflaging behaviors and the relationship between ATs, sex, and specific fields of study.</jats:sec

Investigating Orthorexia Nervosa With the ORTO-R in a Sample of University Students With or Without Subthreshold Autism Spectrum: Focus on Dietary Habits and Gender Differences

BackgroundThe aim of the present study was to investigate the presence of Orthorexia (ON) symptoms in a sample of University students with or without autistic traits (AT), specifically focusing on evaluating the role of gender and of dietary habits in the association between ON and autism spectrum.MethodsSubjects were requested to anonymously fill out the questionnaires through an online form.ResultsTwo thousand one hundred forty students participated in the study. Subjects with significant AT, measured by means of the Adult Autism Sub-threshold spectrum (AdAS Spectrum) reported significantly higher ON symptoms, as measured by ORTO-R scores, than subjects with low AT. Females and subjects following a vegetarian/vegan diet reported significantly higher ORTO-R scores than males and than subjects following an omnivorous diet, respectively. Significant positive correlations were found between ORTO-R and AdAS Spectrum scores. A decision tree model, with gender, type of diet and presence of high AT as independent variables and ORTO-R score as dependent variable, showed in the first step the presence of significantly higher ORTO-R scores among females than among males, and in the second step showed in both genders the presence of higher ORTO-R scores among subjects with high AT than in those with low AT. A significant interaction of gender and presence/absence of high AT was reported on ORTO-R score, with a higher increasing trend of ORTO-R score with the increase of AdAS Spectrum score among females than among males.ConclusionsOur results further highlighted the association between AT and ON, in particular among females.</jats:sec

Investigating Orthorexia Nervosa With The ORTO-R in a Sample of University Students With Or Without Subthreshold Autism Spectrum: Focus On Dietary Habits and Sex Differences

Abstract Purpose: The aim of the present study was to investigate the presence of ON symptoms, measured by means of the ORTO-R, in a sample of University students with or without AT, specifically focusing on evaluating the role of sex and of dietary habits in the association between ON and autism spectrum. Methods: Subjects were requested to anonymously fulfil the ORTO-R and the Adult Autism Subthreshold Autism Spectrum (AdAS Spectrum) through an online form. Results: 2140 students participated in the study. Subjects with significant AT reported significantly higher ORTO-R scores than subjects without AT. Females and subjects following a vegetarian/vegan diet reported significantly higher ORTO-R scores than males and than subjects following an omnivorous diet, respectively. Significant positive correlations were found between ORTO-R and AdAS Spectrum scores. A decision tree model, with sex, type of diet and presence of AT as independent variables and ORTO-R score as dependent variable, showed in the first step the presence of significantly higher ORTO-R scores among females than among males, and in the second step showed in both sexes the presence of higher ORTO-R scores among subjects with AT than in those without. A significant interaction of sex and presence/absence of AT was reported on ORTO-R score, with a higher increasing trend of ORTO-R score with the increase of AdAS Spectrum score among females than among males. Conclusions: Our results further highlighted the association between AT and ON, in particular among females.</jats:p