PON1 polymorphisms can predict generalized anxiety and depressed mood in patients with multiple chemical sensitivity

Background: Multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) is a chronic condition with somatic, cognitive and affective symptoms that follow contact with chemical agents at usually non toxic concentrations. We aimed to assess the role of genetic polymorphisms involved in oxidative stress on anxiety and depression in MCS. Materials & methods: Our study investigated the CAT rs1001179, MPO rs2333227, PON1 rs662 and PON1 rs705379 polymorphisms in MCS. Results: The AG genotype of the PON1 rs662 and the TT and CT genotypes of the PON1 rs705379 were involved in anxiety and depression. Discussion: These results are in line with existing evidence of PON1 involvement in MCS and suggest a further role of this gene in the exhibition of anxiety and depression in this disease

Parasomnias

Parasomnias are defined undesirable physical events or experiences that occur during entry into sleep, within sleep or during arousals from sleep. Parasomnias occur more frequently in children than in adults. All parasomnias can be diagnosed based on subjective reports from the patient, parent or caregiver, except for REM sleep behavior disorder where diagnosis requires polysomnographic investigation. This chapter also addresses the main clinical features and most recent treatments of parasomnias

Circadian rhythm sleep disorders

Circadian rhythm sleep disorders, according to the ICSD-2, comprise a list of complaints sharing a common pathophysiological basis of misalignment between internal circadian rhythms and the desired or required time for sleep. The sleep disturbance produces sleep and wake periods that occur at inappropriate times, resulting in a complaint of insomnia or excessive sleepiness for patients. Diagnostic criteria include social or occupational impairment, and a diagnosis of CRSDs is appropriate only in the absence of other primary sleep disorders. The CRSDs recognized by ICSD-2 are: 1) Delayed sleep phase syndrome; 2) Advanced sleep-phase syndrome; 3) Non-24 hours sleepwake syndrome; 4) Jet lag syndrome; 5) Shift work disorder; 6) Irregular sleep-wake pattern; 7) Circadian rhythm sleep disorder due to medical condition; 8) Circadian rhythm sleep disorder due to drug or substance; 9) Circadian rhythm sleep disorder, not otherwise specified

Sleep disturbance in anxiety disorders

Anxiety disorders are the most frequent psychiatric disorder with a lifetime prevalence of 29% in the general population. Anxiety-related hyperarousal can often lead to persistent circadian rhythm and sleep disturbances. Patients affected by anxiety disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder, panic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and phobias, often manifest sleep disturbances or complaints. Sleep disorders/disturbances are commonly associated with anxiety: impaired sleep can damage neurocognitive performance and increase daily anxiety. Restoring a correct circadian rhythm is essential and basic. The study of multiple relationships between sleep disturbances and anxiety symptoms is of considerable importance in medical practice

Current psychopharmacology of obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders

No abstract availabl

Executive functions in obsessive–compulsive disorder: An activation likelihood estimate meta-analysis of fMRI studies

Objectives: To identify activation changes assessed in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies of obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) through Activation Likelihood Estimate meta-analysis. Methods: We included 28 peer-reviewed standard stereotactic space studies assessing adult OCD patients (OCDpts) vs. healthy controls (HCs) with fMRI during executive task performance. Results: In within-group analyses, HCs showed task-related activations in bilateral inferior frontal gyri, right middle frontal gyrus, right inferior parietal lobule, right claustrum, bilateral cingulate gyri, and left caudate body. OCDpts showed task-related left-sided activations in the superior, medial, and inferior frontal gyri, and thalamus, and bilateral activations in the middle frontal gyri, inferior parietal lobule, and insular cortices. Subtraction analysis showed increased left middle frontal gyrus activation in OCDpts. In between-groups analyses, OCDpts hypoactivated the right caudate body, left putamen, left ACC, and right medial and middle frontal gyri. Right caudate hypoactivation persisted also after applying Family‐wise error algorithms. Conclusions: This meta-analysis confirms that during executive functioning OCDpts show a functional deficit of the right caudate body, which could represent a major neural functional correlate of their illness

Executive functions in obsessive–compulsive disorder: An activation likelihood estimate meta-analysis of fMRI studies

Objectives: To identify activation changes assessed in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies of obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) through Activation Likelihood Estimate meta-analysis. Methods: We included 28 peer-reviewed standard stereotactic space studies assessing adult OCD patients (OCDpts) vs. healthy controls (HCs) with fMRI during executive task performance. Results: In within-group analyses, HCs showed task-related activations in bilateral inferior frontal gyri, right middle frontal gyrus, right inferior parietal lobule, right claustrum, bilateral cingulate gyri, and left caudate body. OCDpts showed task-related left-sided activations in the superior, medial, and inferior frontal gyri, and thalamus, and bilateral activations in the middle frontal gyri, inferior parietal lobule, and insular cortices. Subtraction analysis showed increased left middle frontal gyrus activation in OCDpts. In between-groups analyses, OCDpts hypoactivated the right caudate body, left putamen, left ACC, and right medial and middle frontal gyri. Right caudate hypoactivation persisted also after applying Family‐wise error algorithms. Conclusions: This meta-analysis confirms that during executive functioning OCDpts show a functional deficit of the right caudate body, which could represent a major neural functional correlate of their illness

Fundamentals of human chronobiology

Chronobiology is the study of biological temporal rhythms, including the circadian, weekly, seasonal, and annual rhythms. The term “circadian” comes from the Latin words “circa”, meaning “around”, and “dies [-ēi]”, meaning "day". A circadian rhythm can be defined as any biological process that manifests an endogenous entrainable oscillation of about 24 hours. Circadian rhythm affects physiology, behavior, cognition, and the sleep-wake cycle in mammalians and humans. The master clock located in the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) of the hypothalamus has a central role in circadian rhythm preservation. The human circadian time-keeping system is characterized by a composite architecture, with the central brain’s SCN pacemaker and subsidiary clocks in nearly every cell. The sleep-wake cycle is a complex and dynamic phenomenon involving numerous cerebral structures, neuronal network, and neurotransmitters. Sleep is generally divided into non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. NREM and REM phases occur in the course of the sleep with cyclicity. Each phase has typical characteristics, including variations in brain wave patterns, eye movement type, and muscle tone. This chapter provides a general overview of the human circadian-generating systems and sleep physiology

Neuroimaging in sleep medicine

Functional and structural neuroimaging provide a means to understand brain function in patients affected by sleep disorders. Herein, we describe neuroimaging findings of primary sleep disorders, including types of dyssomnia related to intrinsic sleep impairments (i.e., idiopathic insomnia, narcolepsy, and obstructive sleep apnea) and abnormal motor behaviors during sleep (i.e., periodic limb movement disorder, restless legs syndrome and rapid-eye-movement sleep behavior disorder). We also include functional neuroimaging studies in sleep complaints secondary to specific psychiatric disorders. Functional neuroimaging may address different kinds of issues in sleep medicine. Functional and structural neural changes can have a causal role in the pathophysiology of sleep disorders. Other changes in brain structure or regional activity can be considered as secondary consequences of long-term sleep disruption. Neuroimaging studies can help to better understand the cognitive and neural responses to various therapeutic approaches. In the future, neuroimaging studies will probably lead to modify the nosography of sleep disorders on the basis of their underlying and characteristic neural correlates