Neuropsychological function is related to irritable bowel syndrome in women with premenstrual syndrome and dysmenorrhea

Background There is increasing evidence demonstrating the co-occurrence of primary dysmenorrhea (PD), premenstrual syndrome (PMS), and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in women. This study aimed to investigate whether women who have symptoms of IBS in addition to PD and PMS also report more severe or frequent menstruation-associated symptoms and psychological complications compared to women with PD and PMS alone. Methods The study group included 182 female University students aged 18–25 years. IBS was diagnosed using the Rome III criteria. The severity of PMS and PD was determined using a 10-point visual analog scale and PSST (Premenstrual Syndrome Screening Tool), respectively. Neuropsychological functions including cognitive function, depression score, anxiety score, stress, insomnia, daytime sleepiness, quality of life and personality were assessed using standard questionnaires. Results Of the 182 young females, 31 (17.0%) had IBS. Average days of bleeding during the menstrual cycle and mean pain severity on the PSST scale were significantly greater in the group with IBS compared to the non-IBS group (p < 0.01). The non-IBS individuals scored more favorably than the women with IBS with respect to severity of depression, insomnia, daytime sleepiness (p < 0.05). The PSST scores were significantly correlated with scores for depression (r = 0.29; p < 0.001), anxiety (r = 0.28; p < 0.001), stress (r = 0.32; p < 0.001), insomnia (r = 0.34; p < 0.001) and daytime sleepiness (r = 0.31; p < 0.001); while, they were negatively correlated with cognitive abilities (r = − 0.20; p = 0.006) and quality of life (r = − 0.42; p < 0.001). Linear regression analysis showed that the PSST scores were possibly significant factors in determining the scores for depression, anxiety, stress, quality of life, insomnia and daytime sleepiness (p < 0.05). Conclusion IBS is related to psychological comorbidities, in particular depression, sleep problems and menstrual-associated disorders. IBS may exacerbate the features of PMS which should be taken into account in the management of PMS

The XI National Congress of the Italian Society of Psychopathology: Psychiatric therapy. A problem of freedom - Rome, February 21-25, 2006: SOPSI Prize 2006. Reduced neuronal density in the fusiform cortex of schizophrenic subjects

Background: Reduced fusiform gyrus volume has been reported in MRI studies of schizophrenia. Evidence from brain lesions suggests the fusiform cortex is involved in object naming and categorisation. Reduced fMRI activation is seen during emotion recognition tasks in schizophrenia. Methods: We assessed cell size, shape and density of pyramidal and non-pyramidal neurons and glial cell density in layers 3 and 5 of fusiform cortex from 11 (6 females, 5 males) control subjects and 10 (5 females, 5 males) subjects with schizophrenia. Systematic random sampling in the left and right hemispheres provided size and shape of 120 pyramidal and 120 non-pyramidal cells per case by outlining at a point where the nucleolus was clearly visible. For estimating cell densities, 450 to 600 cells were counted per subject. Results: Pyramidal cell density was reduced in schizophrenia in both layers, in both hemispheres with no effect by sex. Non-pyramidal cell density was reduced in layer 3, in the left hemisphere and this was greatest in females. Non-pyramidal cells were larger in schizophrenia. Glial cell density was unchanged. Conclusions: Reduced pyramidal and non-pyramidal neuron density in the fusiform cortex relates to findings of reduced fusiform cortex volume and is consistent with reduced cell density in other regions reported in the literature. Pyramidal cell loss in fusiform cortex may contribute to reduced activation in imaging studies. Non-pyramidal neurons may be enlarged in schizophrenia as compensation for reduced density