Tag: Mood and emotional regulation

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<![CDATA[AbbVie’s short-acting psychedelic bretisilocin shows rapid MADRS drops in phase 2a MDD trials, hinting at scalable, supervised depression care.]]>
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<![CDATA[Explore the brain’s 5 monoamines—beyond serotonin and dopamine—revealing histamine, melatonin, and trace amines shaping sleep, appetite, and mood.]]>
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Association between plasma proBDNF levels and cognitive impairment in patients with alcohol dependence: a case–control and longitudinal study

BackgroundAlcohol dependence is frequently accompanied by cognitive impairment. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signaling plays a critical role in synaptic plasticity, while the precursor form, proBDNF, has been increasingly implicated in neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders. However, the association between plasma proBDNF levels and cognitive impairment in alcohol dependence remains unclear.MethodsEighty male patients with alcohol dependence and forty-two matched healthy controls were enrolled. Plasma proBDNF levels were measured via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Cognitive function was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), the Modified Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (M-WCST), and the Verbal Fluency Test (VFT). Forty-one patients were reassessed after four weeks of abstinence. Group comparisons and correlation analyses were performed.ResultsPatients with alcohol dependence exhibited significantly elevated plasma proBDNF levels and impaired cognitive performance compared with controls. Plasma proBDNF levels were positively correlated with alcohol consumption severity, and linked to global cognitive deficits alongside nuanced executive performance variations. After four weeks of abstinence, plasma proBDNF levels decreased and cognitive performance improved; however, changes in proBDNF were weakly associated with cognitive recovery.ConclusionsElevated plasma proBDNF levels are associated with alcohol dependence severity and cognitive impairment, suggesting that proBDNF may serve as a peripheral biomarker reflecting the dynamic neurocognitive status in alcohol dependence.
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<![CDATA[Phase 2 depression trial shows ALTO-203 boosts attention, EEG theta-beta ratio and alertness, pointing to biomarker-guided dosing and precision psychiatry.]]>
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<![CDATA[Explore 2026’s fast-moving psych med pipeline: new Alzheimer agitation option, potential novel ADHD therapy, and promising psilocybin for depression.]]>
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Beyond aesthetic outcomes: psychodermatological benefits of botulinum toxin treatment in the upper facial third. A narrative review

BackgroundBotulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A) is widely used in aesthetic dermatology, particularly for dynamic wrinkles in the upper facial third. Beyond cosmetic effects, BoNT-A may influence emotional processing through the skin-brain axis. This narrative review synthesizes evidence on psychological and psychiatric outcomes of upper facial BoNT-A treatment, with a focus on mechanisms extending beyond aesthetics.MethodsA structured search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science through January 2026. Search terms included “botulinum toxin,” “upper facial third,” “psychodermatology,” “facial feedback,” “depression,” “anxiety,” and “psychiatric disorders.” Original studies, randomized controlled trials (RCTs), observational studies, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses assessing psychological, psychiatric, or neurobiological outcomes were included.ResultsUpper facial BoNT-A is associated with clinically meaningful reductions in depressive and anxiety symptoms, and improvements in self-perception and social functioning. Inhibition of corrugator and procerus muscles modulates afferent signaling to limbic structures, supporting the facial feedback hypothesis. Neuroimaging evidence demonstrates attenuated amygdala activation after BoNT-A treatment. Psychosocial improvements may reinforce these neurobiological effects. Evidence in bipolar disorder and personality disorders remains limited and methodologically heterogeneous. Caution is advised in patients with body dysmorphic disorder.ConclusionsBoNT-A in the upper facial third provides psychodermatological benefits beyond aesthetics, improving emotional regulation and affective symptoms. It should be considered a complementary intervention within a biopsychosocial framework. Future large-scale RCTs with standardized psychiatric and neurobiological endpoints are warranted.
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Gaming-based program for internet gaming disorder: feasibility and preliminary outcomes of a structured camp program

BackgroundAlthough controlled trials support several psychosocial interventions for adolescent internet gaming disorder (IGD), short, highly structured residential camp formats remain underreported, particularly regarding feasibility, safety, and process data from routine service settings.ObjectiveTo evaluate the feasibility, safety, and short-term entry-to-exit signals of a structured gaming-based camp program using retrospective, de-identified routinely collected service data, with a focus on implementation evidence for a brief, highly structured residential format.MethodsWe conducted a single-group entry-to-exit evaluation of a 7-day structured camp in 12 adolescents aged 11–16 years clinically diagnosed with IGD by psychiatrists using DSM-5 criteria. Entry and exit assessments were organized hierarchically, with the Gaming Disorder Screening Scale (GDSS), the Game Addiction Scale–7 (GAS-7), and the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) craving score as primary outcomes; the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale–11 (BIS-11), Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), Social Avoidance and Distress Scale (SADS), and Chinese version of the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI-C) as supportive secondary outcomes; and camp residential counselor–rated Conners scores and the Stroop task as exploratory external-rating and objective complementary indicators, respectively. Wilcoxon signed-rank tests reported effect size r and Hodges–Lehmann (HL) median difference with 95% CI. Exploratory Spearman correlations examined baseline characteristics and change.ResultsCompletion was 100% (12/12) and attendance 98.6% (142/144), with no serious adverse events; two participants had a brief single-session interruption (coded as non-attendance for that session-person) but completed subsequent sessions and exit assessment. Primary outcomes decreased at exit: GDSS 50.00 (SD 8.32) to 28.67 (SD 8.98), p<0.001, r=0.88, HL −20.5 (95% CI −27.0 to −16.5); GAS-7 21.50 (SD 6.57) to 13.33 (SD 4.44), p=0.003, r=0.89, HL −8.5 (95% CI −12.5 to −6.0); VAS 4.25 (SD 2.63) to 2.75 (SD 2.05), p=0.012, r=0.85, HL −2.0 (95% CI −3.0 to −1.0). High-risk GDSS decreased from 66.7% to 0%, GAS-7 positivity from 58.3% to 8.3%, and moderate-to-severe craving from 58.3% to 25.0%. BIS-11, SDS, and IRI-C showed supportive short-term changes, and counselor-rated Conners scores showed exploratory external-rating changes, whereas SAS and SADS did not. Stroop reaction time decreased and accuracy increased in both conditions, while interference effects did not change significantly. Baseline PSQI correlated with change in VAS craving (ρ=0.767, p=0.004).ConclusionsThis pilot program evaluation suggests that a short, highly structured gaming-based residential camp can be delivered feasibly and safely and may be associated with short-term reductions in IGD symptom severity and craving. Its main value is to provide early implementation and short-term signal data for a service-based camp format that should be tested in subsequent controlled studies with follow-up.