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Predicting Psychopathological Onset: Early Signs of Neuropsychiatric Diseases
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Predicting Psychopathological Onset: Early Signs of Neuropsychiatric Diseases

A special issue of Journal of Personalized Medicine (ISSN 2075-4426). This special issue belongs to the section "Mechanisms of Diseases".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (10 December 2021) | Viewed by 60050

Printed Edition Available!
A printed edition of this Special Issue is available here.

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Marco Costanzi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Human Sciences, Lumsa University, 00100 Rome, Italy
Interests: emotion; memory; behavioral pharmacology; gene targeting; psychopathological disorders

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Millions of people worldwide are affected by neuropsychiatric disorders, such as anxiety, major depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Although clinical tools are valuable in treating psychopathologies, the identification of early signs of psychopathology remains a main target to be reached in order to improve treatment effectiveness and reduce poor outcomes.

The assessment of biological, behavioural, and cognitive markers of psychopathology could provide a significant support in pre-clinical phases to identify vulnerability factors, understand the course of illness and predict its outcome, as well as aid clinicians in the therapeutic decision-making process.

In this Special Issue of the Journal of Personalized Medicine, papers addressing early markers of psychopathology aimed at improving diagnostic tools and at envisaging personalized therapies are welcome.

Prof. Marco Costanzi
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Personalized Medicine is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Genomics
  • Epigenomics
  • Neurophysiology
  • Behavioral signs
  • Cognitive abnormalities
  • Neuropsychiatric disorders

Published Papers (16 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research, Review

4 pages, 174 KiB  
Editorial
Predicting Psychopathological Onset: Early Signs of Neuropsychiatric Diseases
by Marco Costanzi
J. Pers. Med. 2022, 12(5), 778; https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm12050778 - 11 May 2022
Viewed by 1672
Abstract
Millions of people worldwide are affected by neuropsychiatric disorders, such as anxiety, major depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, obsessive–compulsive disorder, autism spectrum disorders, eating disorders, addiction, and dementia [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Predicting Psychopathological Onset: Early Signs of Neuropsychiatric Diseases)

Research

Jump to: Editorial, Review

15 pages, 1237 KiB  
Article
Finger Tapping as a Biomarker to Classify Cognitive Status in 80+-Year-Olds
by Dieter F. Kutz, Stephanie Fröhlich, Julian Rudisch, Katrin Müller and Claudia Voelcker-Rehage
J. Pers. Med. 2022, 12(2), 286; https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm12020286 - 15 Feb 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2349
Abstract
This study examined the association between finger tapping and cognitive function in a group of 225 elderly participants (116 males; age 79–92 years; M = 82.5; SD = 2.4). Finger tapping was assessed in two conditions: self-selected pace and fast pace. Based on [...] Read more.
This study examined the association between finger tapping and cognitive function in a group of 225 elderly participants (116 males; age 79–92 years; M = 82.5; SD = 2.4). Finger tapping was assessed in two conditions: self-selected pace and fast pace. Based on cognitive assessments, including the MoCA and CERA-NP test battery, participants were classified as cognitively healthy individuals (CHI), participants with mild cognitive impairments (MCI), and those with possible MCI (pMCI). Results of the analyses show significant differences between groups, sex and the group × sex interaction in four parameters for the self-selected pace condition and eight parameters for the fast pace condition. These parameters were used for classification by means of linear discriminant analysis (LDA). The first LDA component showed significant differences between CHI and pMCI and between CHI and MCI. Furthermore, the second LDA component showed significant differences between CHI and pMCI as well as between pMCI and MCI. Nevertheless, the algorithm correctly classified only 50% of participants, regardless of group, suggesting that tapping parameters are only partially useful for classification in early stages of dementia. We discuss these findings in terms of the diadochokinetic nature of finger tapping as associated with the age-related degeneration of cortical and subcortical motor areas. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Predicting Psychopathological Onset: Early Signs of Neuropsychiatric Diseases)
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15 pages, 294 KiB  
Article
Predictors of the Intention to Be Vaccinated against COVID-19 in a Sample of Italian Respondents at the Start of the Immunization Campaign
by Alessandro Santirocchi, Pietro Spataro, Marco Costanzi, Fabrizio Doricchi, Clelia Rossi-Arnaud and Vincenzo Cestari
J. Pers. Med. 2022, 12(1), 111; https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm12010111 - 14 Jan 2022
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 2416
Abstract
COVID-19 vaccines are the most promising means of limiting the pandemic. The present study aims at determining the roles of several psychological variables in predicting vaccination intention in Italy. An online questionnaire was disseminated between 9 March and 9 May 2021. The sample [...] Read more.
COVID-19 vaccines are the most promising means of limiting the pandemic. The present study aims at determining the roles of several psychological variables in predicting vaccination intention in Italy. An online questionnaire was disseminated between 9 March and 9 May 2021. The sample included 971 participants. Results showed that most of the participants were willing to vaccinate. Acceptance rates were correlated with age, marital status, and area of residence. Intention to be vaccinated was positively correlated with perceived risk, pro-sociality, fear of COVID-19, use of preventive behaviors, and trust in government, in science, and in medical professionals. Intention to be vaccinated was negatively associated with belief in misinformation. The degree of acceptance is likely to be a result of the campaign tailored to address people’s negative attitudes towards vaccines. Trust in government and trust in science were among the strongest psychological predictors of vaccination intention. Fear of COVID-19, but not perceived risk, was associated with increased vaccine uptake, suggesting that the affective component of risk perception was more important than the cognitive component in predicting participants’ behaviors. Belief in misinformation was associated with reduced vaccination intention. Future studies will take into consideration these variables, to better understand the multifaceted process underlying vaccination intention. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Predicting Psychopathological Onset: Early Signs of Neuropsychiatric Diseases)
13 pages, 720 KiB  
Article
The Relationship between Alexithymia, Dysmorphic Concern, and Exercise Addiction: The Moderating Effect of Self-Esteem
by Alessio Gori, Eleonora Topino, Caterina Pucci and Mark D. Griffiths
J. Pers. Med. 2021, 11(11), 1111; https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm11111111 - 29 Oct 2021
Cited by 22 | Viewed by 3509
Abstract
As with other addictions, exercise addiction can severely impact individuals’ lives and have significant psychophysical consequences. Consequently, the study of the mechanisms involved in this psychopathological condition has great clinical and practical relevance. Therefore, the goal of the present study was to explore [...] Read more.
As with other addictions, exercise addiction can severely impact individuals’ lives and have significant psychophysical consequences. Consequently, the study of the mechanisms involved in this psychopathological condition has great clinical and practical relevance. Therefore, the goal of the present study was to explore the risk factors and protective factors for exercise addiction, with a particular focus on the roles of alexithymia, body image concerns, and self-esteem. A sample of 288 regular exercisers (mean age = 28.35 years, SD = 8.26; 72% females, 18% males) completed the Exercise Addiction Inventory, 20-Item Toronto Alexithymia Scale, Body Image Concern Inventory, and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. Data were analyzed by implementing a moderated mediation model. Results showed a significant and positive association between alexithymia and exercise addiction, totally mediated by body image concerns. Furthermore, self-esteem showed a relevant moderating effect, such that at high levels of self-esteem the effect of alexithymia on body image concerns became insignificant. Such data have important implications, highlighting some core variables on which it might be useful to keep a focus in order to elaborate tailored interventions, from both preventive and treatment perspectives. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Predicting Psychopathological Onset: Early Signs of Neuropsychiatric Diseases)
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8 pages, 251 KiB  
Article
Emotional Dysregulation, Temperament and Lifetime Suicidal Ideation among Youths with Mood Disorders
by Delfina Janiri, Lorenzo Moccia, Eliana Conte, Laura Palumbo, Daniela Pia Rosaria Chieffo, Giulia Fredda, Renato Maria Menichincheri, Andrea Balbi, Georgios D. Kotzalidis, Gabriele Sani and Luigi Janiri
J. Pers. Med. 2021, 11(9), 865; https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm11090865 - 30 Aug 2021
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 2413
Abstract
Background: Psychopathological dimensions contributing to suicidal ideation in young age are poorly understood. We aimed to investigate the involvement of emotional dysregulation and temperament in suicide risk in a sample of accurately selected young patients with mood disorders and a matched sample [...] Read more.
Background: Psychopathological dimensions contributing to suicidal ideation in young age are poorly understood. We aimed to investigate the involvement of emotional dysregulation and temperament in suicide risk in a sample of accurately selected young patients with mood disorders and a matched sample of healthy controls (HC). Methods: We assessed 50 young patients (aged 14–25 years) with DSM-5 bipolar or depressive disorders for clinical and psychopathological characteristics and 82 age and sex, educational level, and smoking habits-matched HC. Emotional dysregulation and temperament were assessed using the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) and the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San Diego-Autoquestionnaire (TEMPS-A-39), respectively. We tested their associations with suicidal ideation, using standard univariate/bivariate methods, preceded by overall multivariate analysis. Results: In the group of patients, 24 (48%) reported lifetime suicide ideation (LSI). Patients with LSI scored higher on emotional dysregulation (p < 0.001) and cyclothymic (p < 0.001), irritable (p = 0.01), and hyperthymic temperaments (p = 0.003) than HC. Patients with LSI specifically presented with more emotional dysregulation (p < 0.001) and cyclothymic temperament (p = 0.001), than patients without LSI (N = 26). Conclusions: Temperamental features, in particular cyclothymic temperament, and emotion dysregulation may represent independent factors for increased vulnerability to lifetime suicidal ideation in young adults with mood disorders. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Predicting Psychopathological Onset: Early Signs of Neuropsychiatric Diseases)
14 pages, 920 KiB  
Article
Development of a Nomogram for Predicting Depression in the Elderly Using Patient Health Questionnaire-9 among a Nationwide Sample of Korean Elderly
by Haewon Byeon
J. Pers. Med. 2021, 11(7), 645; https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm11070645 - 7 Jul 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2160
Abstract
This cross-sectional study developed a nomogram that could allow medical professionals in the primary care setting to easily and visually confirm high-risk groups of depression. This study analyzed 4011 elderly people (≥60 years old) who completed a health survey, blood pressure, physical measurement, [...] Read more.
This cross-sectional study developed a nomogram that could allow medical professionals in the primary care setting to easily and visually confirm high-risk groups of depression. This study analyzed 4011 elderly people (≥60 years old) who completed a health survey, blood pressure, physical measurement, blood test, and a standardized depression screening test. A major depressive disorder was measured using the Korean version of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). This study built a model for predicting major depressive disorders using logistic regression analysis to understand the relationship of each variable with major depressive disorders. In the result, the prevalence of depression measured by PHQ-9 was 6.8%. The results of multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that the major depressive disorder of the elderly living alone was significantly (p < 0.05) related to monthly mean household income, the mean frequency of having breakfast per week for the past year, moderate-intensity physical activity, subjective level of stress awareness, and subjective health status. The results of this study implied that it would be necessary to continuously monitor these complex risk factors such as household income, skipping breakfast, moderate-intensity physical activity, subjective stress, and subjective health status to prevent depression among older adults living in the community. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Predicting Psychopathological Onset: Early Signs of Neuropsychiatric Diseases)
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10 pages, 704 KiB  
Article
The Relationship between Psychological Distress during the Second Wave Lockdown of COVID-19 and Emotional Eating in Italian Young Adults: The Mediating Role of Emotional Dysregulation
by Anna Guerrini Usubini, Roberto Cattivelli, Giorgia Varallo, Gianluca Castelnuovo, Enrico Molinari, Emanuele Maria Giusti, Giada Pietrabissa, Tommaso Manari, Maria Filosa, Christian Franceschini and Alessandro Musetti
J. Pers. Med. 2021, 11(6), 569; https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm11060569 - 17 Jun 2021
Cited by 33 | Viewed by 4616
Abstract
This cross-sectional study aims to investigate the impact of psychological distress experienced during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic on emotional eating and to assess the mediating role of emotional dysregulation in a sample of Italian young adults (20–35). A total of [...] Read more.
This cross-sectional study aims to investigate the impact of psychological distress experienced during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic on emotional eating and to assess the mediating role of emotional dysregulation in a sample of Italian young adults (20–35). A total of 437 participants provided demographical data and were assessed using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale, the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale, and the Emotional Eating subscale of the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire. Correlational analyses were performed to assess the relationship between continuous variables, while ANOVA was conducted to detect differences between males and females for emotional eating. To assess whether demographic and clinical data predicted emotional eating, hierarchical linear regression was performed. Then, a mediation analysis was conducted to assess whether emotional dysregulation was a mediator between psychological distress and emotional eating. Emotional eating was associated with psychological distress and emotional dysregulation. Moreover, higher levels of emotional eating were found in females than in males. Predictors of emotional eating were sex, psychological distress, and emotional dysregulation. Mediation analyses showed that the indirect effect of psychological distress on emotional eating through emotional dysregulation was significant (b = 0.0069; SE = 0.0024; CI = 0.0024–0.0118), confirming that the relationship between psychological distress and emotional eating was mediated by emotional dysregulation, controlling for sex. The model explained 26.8% (R2 = 0.2680) of the variance. These findings may help to plan and develop psychological interventions aimed at addressing emotional eating in young adults by targeting emotional dysregulation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Predicting Psychopathological Onset: Early Signs of Neuropsychiatric Diseases)
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16 pages, 933 KiB  
Article
Development of a New Measure for Assessing Mentalizing: The Multidimensional Mentalizing Questionnaire (MMQ)
by Alessio Gori, Alessandro Arcioni, Eleonora Topino, Giuseppe Craparo and Rosapia Lauro Grotto
J. Pers. Med. 2021, 11(4), 305; https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm11040305 - 15 Apr 2021
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 4628
Abstract
This research consists of two studies which aimed to: (1) evaluate the psychometric properties of a new self-report measure for the assessment of mentalizing, the Multidimensional Mentalizing Questionnaire (MMQ); and (2) investigate the ability of the instrument to discriminate between community and clinical [...] Read more.
This research consists of two studies which aimed to: (1) evaluate the psychometric properties of a new self-report measure for the assessment of mentalizing, the Multidimensional Mentalizing Questionnaire (MMQ); and (2) investigate the ability of the instrument to discriminate between community and clinical populations. A sample of 349 participants (19% male, 81% female; Mage = 38.6, SD = 15.3) filled in the MMQ and other self-report measures, in order to assess the factor structure, reliability and some aspects of construct validity of the measure. Then, a clinical sample (N = 46; 52% male and 48% female; Mage = 33.33, SD = 12.257) and a community one (N = 50; 42% male and 58% female; Mage = 38.86, SD = 16.008) filled in the MMQ, to assess its clinical sensitivity. The factorial analysis identified six principal dimensions of the measure: reflexivity, ego-strength, relational attunement, relational discomfort, distrust, and emotional dyscontrol. The MMQ showed satisfactory psychometric properties and a theoretically relevant factor structure. Furthermore, significantly greater impairment in mentalizing was found in the clinical sample in respect of the community one. The findings are discussed in terms of clinical implications, emphasizing the usefulness of the MMQ in both research and clinical practice. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Predicting Psychopathological Onset: Early Signs of Neuropsychiatric Diseases)
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12 pages, 616 KiB  
Article
The Link between Attachment and Gambling in Adolescence: A Multiple Mediation Analysis with Developmental Perspective, Theory of Mind (Friend) and Adaptive Response
by Grazia Terrone, Alessio Gori, Eleonora Topino, Alessandro Musetti, Alessia Scarinci, Camilla Guccione and Vincenzo Caretti
J. Pers. Med. 2021, 11(3), 228; https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm11030228 - 22 Mar 2021
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2730
Abstract
Introduction: Several studies have supported the evidence that attachment styles are a central factor in adolescent gambling problems. On this theoretical basis, the aim of the present study is to analyze a hypothesized mediation model exploring both the direct and indirect effects [...] Read more.
Introduction: Several studies have supported the evidence that attachment styles are a central factor in adolescent gambling problems. On this theoretical basis, the aim of the present study is to analyze a hypothesized mediation model exploring both the direct and indirect effects of insecure attachment on gambling disorder by investigating the role of the developmental perspective, theory of mind (friend) and adaptive response in that relationship. Method: The sample consists of 178 adolescents who underwent the Measures: South Oaks Gambling Screen—Revised for Adolescents and Friends and Family Interview. Result: The mediation analysis was conducted following Hayes’ (2018) procedure, using Model 6. The results showed a significant association between insecure attachment and gambling disorder (β = 0.669; p < 0.001). The findings also highlighted a significant chained mediation model in which insecure attachment negatively influenced the developmental perspective (β = −0.742; p < 0.001), which affected the theory of mind toward one’s own best friend (β = 0.352; p < 0.001). Conclusions: The results highlighted a significant role of insecure attachment in predicting the symptomatic expression of gambling among adolescents, specifically impacting the development perspective, theory of mind toward one’s best friend and adaptive response to stress, which were linked to each other by a sequential influence. Therefore, our results showed that a poor developmental self-vision predicted a dysfunctional theory of mind toward the best friend. This could hinder the formation of positive peer relationships, which are crucial for the development of one’s identity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Predicting Psychopathological Onset: Early Signs of Neuropsychiatric Diseases)
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8 pages, 588 KiB  
Article
Genetic Variants Allegedly Linked to Antisocial Behaviour Are Equally Distributed Across Different Populations
by Stefania Zampatti, Michele Ragazzo, Carlo Fabrizio, Andrea Termine, Giulia Campoli, Valerio Caputo, Claudia Strafella, Raffaella Cascella, Carlo Caltagirone and Emiliano Giardina
J. Pers. Med. 2021, 11(3), 213; https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm11030213 - 16 Mar 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2520
Abstract
Human behaviour is determined by a complex interaction of genetic and environmental factors. Several studies have demonstrated different associations between human behaviour and numerous genetic variants. In particular, allelic variants in SLC6A4, MAOA, DRD4, and DRD2 showed statistical associations with major depressive disorder, [...] Read more.
Human behaviour is determined by a complex interaction of genetic and environmental factors. Several studies have demonstrated different associations between human behaviour and numerous genetic variants. In particular, allelic variants in SLC6A4, MAOA, DRD4, and DRD2 showed statistical associations with major depressive disorder, antisocial behaviour, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder; BDNF polymorphic variants were associated with depressive, bipolar, and schizophrenia diseases, and TPH2 variants were found both in people with unipolar depression and in children with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Independent studies have failed to confirm polymorphic variants associated with criminal and aggressive behaviour. In the present study, a set of genetic variants involved in serotoninergic, dopaminergic, and neurobiological pathways were selected from those previously associated with criminal behaviour. The distribution of these genetic variants was compared across worldwide populations. While data on single polymorphic variants showed differential distribution across populations, these differences failed to be significant when a comprehensive analysis was conducted on the total number of published variants. The lack of reproducibility of the genetic association data published to date, the weakness of statistical associations, the heterogeneity of the phenotype, and the massive influence of the environment on human behaviour do not allow us to consider these genetic variants as undoubtedly associated with antisocial behaviour. Moreover, these data confirm the absence of ethnic predisposition to aggressive and criminal behaviour. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Predicting Psychopathological Onset: Early Signs of Neuropsychiatric Diseases)
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13 pages, 852 KiB  
Article
The Attentional Boost Effect in Young and Adult Euthymic Bipolar Patients and Healthy Controls
by Giulia Bechi Gabrielli, Clelia Rossi-Arnaud, Pietro Spataro, Fabrizio Doricchi, Marco Costanzi, Alessandro Santirocchi, Gloria Angeletti, Gabriele Sani and Vincenzo Cestari
J. Pers. Med. 2021, 11(3), 185; https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm11030185 - 6 Mar 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2099
Abstract
In the Attentional Boost Effect (ABE), stimuli encoded with to-be-responded targets are later recognized more accurately than stimuli encoded with to-be-ignored distractors. While this effect is robust in young adults, evidence regarding healthy older adults and clinical populations is sparse. The present study [...] Read more.
In the Attentional Boost Effect (ABE), stimuli encoded with to-be-responded targets are later recognized more accurately than stimuli encoded with to-be-ignored distractors. While this effect is robust in young adults, evidence regarding healthy older adults and clinical populations is sparse. The present study investigated whether a significant ABE is present in bipolar patients (BP), who, even in the euthymic phase, suffer from attentional deficits, and whether the effect is modulated by age. Young and adult euthymic BP and healthy controls (HC) presented with a sequence of pictures paired with target or distractor squares were asked to pay attention to the pictures and press the spacebar when a target square appeared. After a 15-min interval, their memory of the pictures was tested in a recognition task. The performance in the detection task was lower in BP than in HC, in both age groups. More importantly, neither young nor adult BP exhibited a significant ABE; for HC, a robust ABE was only found in young participants. The results suggest that the increase in the attentional demands of the detection task in BP and in adult HC draws resources away from the encoding of target-associated stimuli, resulting in elimination of the ABE. Clinical implications are discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Predicting Psychopathological Onset: Early Signs of Neuropsychiatric Diseases)
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22 pages, 3586 KiB  
Article
Gut-Brain Axis Cross-Talk and Limbic Disorders as Biological Basis of Secondary TMAU
by Luigi Donato, Simona Alibrandi, Concetta Scimone, Andrea Castagnetti, Giacomo Rao, Antonina Sidoti and Rosalia D’Angelo
J. Pers. Med. 2021, 11(2), 87; https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm11020087 - 31 Jan 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3861
Abstract
Background: Trimethylaminuria (TMAU) is a rare metabolic syndrome characterized by the accumulation and the excretion of trimethylamine (TMA), a volatile diet compound produced by gut microbiota. Gut microbiota alterations are mainly involved in the secondary TMAU, whose patients show also different psychiatric [...] Read more.
Background: Trimethylaminuria (TMAU) is a rare metabolic syndrome characterized by the accumulation and the excretion of trimethylamine (TMA), a volatile diet compound produced by gut microbiota. Gut microbiota alterations are mainly involved in the secondary TMAU, whose patients show also different psychiatric conditions. We hypothesized that the biological activity of several molecules acting as intermediate in TMA metabolic reaction might be at the basis of TMAU psychiatric comorbidities. Methods: To corroborate this hypothesis, we performed the analysis of microbiota of both psychiatric suffering secondary TMAU patients and TMAU “mentally ill” controls, comparing the alteration of metabolites produced by their gut bacteria possibly involved in neurotransmission and, in the same time, belonging to biochemical pathways leading to TMA accumulation. Results: Microbiota analyses showed that Clostridiaceae, Lachnospiraceae and Coriobacteriaceae alterations represented the bacterial families with highest variations. This results in an excessive release of serotonin and an hyperactivation of the vagus nerve that might determine the widest spectrum of psychiatric disorders shown by affected patients. These metabolites, as short chain fatty acids, lactate and neurotransmitter precursors, are also related to TMA accumulation. Conclusions: Knowledge of microbiota-gut-brain axis may become a potential new strategy for improving metabolic diseases and to treat linked psychiatric disorders. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Predicting Psychopathological Onset: Early Signs of Neuropsychiatric Diseases)
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15 pages, 267 KiB  
Article
Screening for Early Signs of Paternal Perinatal Affective Disorder in Expectant Fathers: A Cluster Analysis Approach
by Sonia Mangialavori, Michele Giannotti, Marco Cacioppo, Federico Spelzini and Franco Baldoni
J. Pers. Med. 2021, 11(1), 10; https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm11010010 - 23 Dec 2020
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3023
Abstract
Previous studies documented gender-related differences in the expression of Perinatal Affective Disorders. However, little attention has been paid to screening the male population during the perinatal period. This study was based on three aims: (1) to investigate the mental health of expectant fathers [...] Read more.
Previous studies documented gender-related differences in the expression of Perinatal Affective Disorders. However, little attention has been paid to screening the male population during the perinatal period. This study was based on three aims: (1) to investigate the mental health of expectant fathers based on their levels of depression, anxiety, addiction, anger attacks/hostility, and somatization, identifying psychological profiles; (2) to analyze the association between these profiles and the individual variable of perceived stress; (3) and to examine the association between these profiles and the couple’s variable of marital adjustment. A total of 350 Italian expectant fathers in the last trimester of pregnancy were asked to fill in questionnaires concerning perceived stress, dyadic adjustment, psychiatric symptomatology, and depression. Three different clusters were found: “psychologically healthy men” (68%) with low levels of symptoms on all the scales; “men at risk of externalized behavioral problems” (17.1%), characterized by one or more addictive or risky behaviors and moderate levels of scales scores; and “men experiencing psychological distress” (14.9%), with the highest scores on all the scales. A significant association emerged among the perceived stress, marital adjustment, and cluster membership. These results highlight the importance of screening fathers in perinatal health services, which are still predominantly mother-centered, and underscore the necessity to create tailored and personalized interventions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Predicting Psychopathological Onset: Early Signs of Neuropsychiatric Diseases)
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19 pages, 1475 KiB  
Article
Autism Spectrum Disorder and Childhood Apraxia of Speech: Early Language-Related Hallmarks across Structural MRI Study
by Eugenia Conti, Alessandra Retico, Letizia Palumbo, Giovanna Spera, Paolo Bosco, Laura Biagi, Simona Fiori, Michela Tosetti, Paola Cipriani, Giovanni Cioni, Filippo Muratori, Anna Chilosi and Sara Calderoni
J. Pers. Med. 2020, 10(4), 275; https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm10040275 - 12 Dec 2020
Cited by 22 | Viewed by 6691
Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) are developmental disorders with distinct diagnostic criteria and different epidemiology. However, a common genetic background as well as overlapping clinical features between ASD and CAS have been recently reported. To date, brain structural [...] Read more.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) are developmental disorders with distinct diagnostic criteria and different epidemiology. However, a common genetic background as well as overlapping clinical features between ASD and CAS have been recently reported. To date, brain structural language-related abnormalities have been detected in both the conditions, but no study directly compared young children with ASD, CAS and typical development (TD). In the current work, we aim: (i) to test the hypothesis that ASD and CAS display neurostructural differences in comparison with TD through morphometric Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)-based measures (ASD vs. TD and CAS vs. TD); (ii) to investigate early possible disease-specific brain structural patterns in the two clinical groups (ASD vs. CAS); (iii) to evaluate predictive power of machine-learning (ML) techniques in differentiating the three samples (ASD, CAS, TD). We retrospectively analyzed the T1-weighted brain MRI scans of 68 children (age range: 34–74 months) grouped into three cohorts: (1) 26 children with ASD (mean age ± standard deviation: 56 ± 11 months); (2) 24 children with CAS (57 ± 10 months); (3) 18 children with TD (55 ± 13 months). Furthermore, a ML analysis based on a linear-kernel Support Vector Machine (SVM) was performed. All but one brain structures displayed significant higher volumes in both ASD and CAS children than TD peers. Specifically, ASD alterations involved fronto-temporal regions together with basal ganglia and cerebellum, while CAS alterations are more focused and shifted to frontal regions, suggesting a possible speech-related anomalies distribution. Caudate, superior temporal and hippocampus volumes directly distinguished the two conditions in terms of greater values in ASD compared to CAS. The ML analysis identified significant differences in brain features between ASD and TD children, whereas only some trends in the ML classification capability were detected in CAS as compared to TD peers. Similarly, the MRI structural underpinnings of two clinical groups were not significantly different when evaluated with linear-kernel SVM. Our results may represent the first step towards understanding shared and specific neural substrate in ASD and CAS conditions, which subsequently may contribute to early differential diagnosis and tailoring specific early intervention. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Predicting Psychopathological Onset: Early Signs of Neuropsychiatric Diseases)
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Review

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15 pages, 721 KiB  
Review
Is Low Heart Rate Variability Associated with Emotional Dysregulation, Psychopathological Dimensions, and Prefrontal Dysfunctions? An Integrative View
by Lorena Angela Cattaneo, Anna Chiara Franquillo, Alessandro Grecucci, Laura Beccia, Vincenzo Caretti and Harold Dadomo
J. Pers. Med. 2021, 11(9), 872; https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm11090872 - 31 Aug 2021
Cited by 21 | Viewed by 6318
Abstract
Several studies have suggested a correlation between heart rate variability (HRV), emotion regulation (ER), psychopathological conditions, and cognitive functions in the past two decades. Specifically, recent data seem to support the hypothesis that low-frequency heart rate variability (LF-HRV), an index of sympathetic cardiac [...] Read more.
Several studies have suggested a correlation between heart rate variability (HRV), emotion regulation (ER), psychopathological conditions, and cognitive functions in the past two decades. Specifically, recent data seem to support the hypothesis that low-frequency heart rate variability (LF-HRV), an index of sympathetic cardiac control, correlates with worse executive performances, worse ER, and specific psychopathological dimensions. The present work aims to review the previous findings on these topics and integrate them from two main cornerstones of this perspective: Porges’ Polyvagal Theory and Thayer and Lane’s Neurovisceral Integration Model, which are necessary to understand these associations better. For this reason, based on these two approaches, we point out that low HRV is associated with emotional dysregulation, worse cognitive performance, and transversal psychopathological conditions. We report studies that underline the importance of considering the heart-brain relation in order to shed light on the necessity to implement psychophysiology into a broader perspective on emotions, mental health, and good cognitive functioning. This integration is beneficial not only as a theoretical ground from which to start for further research studies but as a starting point for new theoretical perspectives useful in clinical practice. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Predicting Psychopathological Onset: Early Signs of Neuropsychiatric Diseases)
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28 pages, 1917 KiB  
Review
Forgetting Unwanted Memories: Active Forgetting and Implications for the Development of Psychological Disorders
by Marco Costanzi, Beatrice Cianfanelli, Alessandro Santirocchi, Stefano Lasaponara, Pietro Spataro, Clelia Rossi-Arnaud and Vincenzo Cestari
J. Pers. Med. 2021, 11(4), 241; https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm11040241 - 26 Mar 2021
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 6643
Abstract
Intrusive memories are a common feature of many psychopathologies, and suppression-induced forgetting of unwanted memories appears as a critical ability to preserve mental health. In recent years, biological and cognitive studies converged in revealing that forgetting is due to active processes. Recent neurobiological [...] Read more.
Intrusive memories are a common feature of many psychopathologies, and suppression-induced forgetting of unwanted memories appears as a critical ability to preserve mental health. In recent years, biological and cognitive studies converged in revealing that forgetting is due to active processes. Recent neurobiological studies provide evidence on the active role of main neurotransmitter systems in forgetting, suggesting that the brain actively works to suppress retrieval of unwanted memories. On the cognitive side, there is evidence that voluntary and involuntary processes (here termed “intentional” and “incidental” forgetting, respectively) contribute to active forgetting. In intentional forgetting, an inhibitory control mechanism suppresses awareness of unwanted memories at encoding or retrieval. In incidental forgetting, retrieval practice of some memories involuntarily suppresses the retrieval of other related memories. In this review we describe recent findings on deficits in active forgetting observed in psychopathologies, like post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, schizophrenia, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Moreover, we report studies in which the role of neurotransmitter systems, known to be involved in the pathogenesis of mental disorders, has been investigated in active forgetting paradigms. The possibility that biological and cognitive mechanisms of active forgetting could be considered as hallmarks of the early onset of psychopathologies is also discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Predicting Psychopathological Onset: Early Signs of Neuropsychiatric Diseases)
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