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Advancements in Psychiatry: Exploring New Horizons in Mental Health
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Advancements in Psychiatry: Exploring New Horizons in Mental Health

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 May 2026 | Viewed by 3368

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Octavian Vasiliu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Psychiatry, “Dr. Carol Davila” University Emergency Central Military Hospital, 010816 Bucharest, Romania
Interests: psychiatry; psychopharmacology; psychooncology; cognitive behavioral therapy; eating disorders
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Rajendra D. Badgaiyan

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Psychiatry, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Midland, TX 79705, USA
Interests: neuroimaging; psychiatry; cognitive neuroscience

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

According to the World Health Organization, one in every eight people is living with a mental disorder, making these illnesses among the most frequently met health problems worldwide. New approaches in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders are acutely needed due to the high prevalence and important rates of treatment resistance of severe psychiatric disorders (SPDs) and their significant social and economic impact. Also, the post-modernistic society creates a vulnerable terrain for the development of new diagnostic entities that could significantly impact the quality of life and overall functionality of affected individuals; therefore, mental health specialists have to be aware of these new diagnostic challenges.

This topic aims to expand the current scientific knowledge on five important dimensions related to the new frontiers in psychiatry:

(1) Diagnostic entities such as ultra-processed food addiction, social network site addiction, or problematic use of the internet have been explored in the last two decades, and an increase in awareness about the existence of such disorders in vulnerable populations (e.g., children and adolescents and patients with other psychiatric diagnoses) is needed.

(2) Changes in the nosographic classifications (DSM-5 TR and ICD-11) are important to explore comparatively because this approach is expected to have an impact on clinical and epidemiological research in psychiatry, e.g., dimensional vs. categorical models of personality disorders (ICD-11 vs. ICD-10), or adding gambling disorder in the chapter dedicated to “substance-related and addictive disorders” (DSM-5 vs. DSM-IV TR).

(3) New psychotropic drugs are in the pipeline, and they represent important hopes for patients with SPDs, e.g., new antipsychotics with non-dopaminergic mechanisms, new antidepressants with glutamatergic modulating properties, new anxiolytics derived from androstadienol, immune therapy for Alzheimer’s neurocognitive disorder, etc. 

(4) A lack of validated biomarkers for the diagnosis and monitoring of mental disorders is a major obstacle to formulating adequate prophylactic and diagnostic strategies for SPDs; therefore, clinical and translational research targeting such biomarkers is strongly needed.

(5) Non-pharmacological therapies for SPDs are also evolving, e.g., neuromodulation techniques, nutritional interventions, and new psychotherapies, and they can increase the chances of recovery in this population.  

We are inviting authors to submit their original work, which may represent clinical studies, translational research, epidemiological studies, literature reviews, and meta-analyses that approach the above-mentioned domains of interest, with the hope that exploring new frontiers of mental health will increase the chances for recovery in patients with psychiatric disorders.

Dr. Octavian Vasiliu
Prof. Dr. Rajendra D. Badgaiyan
Guest Editors

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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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

  • psychopharmacology
  • antipsychotics
  • antidepressants
  • major depressive disorder
  • schizophrenia spectrum disorders
  • anxiety disorders
  • gut microbiota
  • neuromodulation
  • nutritional psychiatry
  • nosographic classifications
  • biomarkers
  • new diagnoses
  • food addiction
  • behavioral addictions
  • gaming disorder
  • internet use disorder
  • gambling disorder
  • gut microbiota
  • avatar therapy
  • mindfulness therapy
  • transcranial magnetic stimulation

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 400 KB  
Article
The Role of Age at Onset on the Clinical Course and Biochemical Parameters of Anorexia Nervosa
by Lorenzo Ferrario, Andrea Costantino, Letizia Maria Affaticati, Massimo Clerici, Antonios Dakanalis, Enrico Capuzzi and Massimiliano Buoli
J. Pers. Med. 2025, 15(9), 442; https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm15090442 - 17 Sep 2025
Viewed by 867
Abstract
Background: Anorexia nervosa (AN) has the highest mortality rate among psychiatric disorders, making early diagnosis and tailored management crucial. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of age at onset (AAO)—childhood/adolescence versus adulthood—on the clinical course and associated biochemical parameters. Methods: Seventy-six female [...] Read more.
Background: Anorexia nervosa (AN) has the highest mortality rate among psychiatric disorders, making early diagnosis and tailored management crucial. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of age at onset (AAO)—childhood/adolescence versus adulthood—on the clinical course and associated biochemical parameters. Methods: Seventy-six female patients with AN were divided into two groups based on AAO (<18 years vs. ≥18 years). Group comparisons were performed using t-tests for continuous variables and χ2 tests for categorical variables. Correlation analyses assessed associations between AAO and continuous variables. Significant findings were entered into regression models, including a binary logistic regression with AAO as the dependent variable and a linear regression with significant correlations as predictors. Results: The early-onset group showed significantly higher potassium levels and a lower sodium/potassium ratio (Na+/K+) compared with the late-onset group (potassium: t = 0.93, p < 0.01; Na+/K+: t = 3.39, p < 0.01). AAO was strongly inversely correlated with potassium levels (r = −0.75, p < 0.01) and positively correlated with cholesterol (r = 0.574, p < 0.01) and Na+/K+ (r = 0.78, p = 0.01). Binary logistic regression correctly classified 87% of cases, showing that lower Na+/K+ was associated with earlier onset (OR = 2.23, p = 0.03). Linear regression confirmed significant associations of AAO with cholesterol levels (B = 0.07, p = 0.02) and Na+/K+ (B = 1.68, p < 0.01). Conclusions: AAO in AN is strongly associated with specific biochemical parameters. Early-onset patients exhibit more severe electrolyte imbalances, while late-onset cases show higher cholesterol levels, suggesting increased cardiovascular risk. These findings emphasize the importance of personalized treatment approaches according to AAO, although further studies are warranted to confirm these results. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancements in Psychiatry: Exploring New Horizons in Mental Health)
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Review

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13 pages, 393 KB  
Review
A Critical Overview of the Validity of the Current Concept of Bipolar Disorder
by Diego J. Martino, Alejandro G. Szmulewicz and Boris Birmaher
J. Pers. Med. 2025, 15(12), 624; https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm15120624 - 12 Dec 2025
Viewed by 992
Abstract
Objectives: The main aim was to evaluate the origin and empirical support of the current diagnostic criteria for (hypo)manic and depressive episodes in BD focusing on their nosological (i.e., is it a real entity?) and diagnostic validity (i.e., how well do the [...] Read more.
Objectives: The main aim was to evaluate the origin and empirical support of the current diagnostic criteria for (hypo)manic and depressive episodes in BD focusing on their nosological (i.e., is it a real entity?) and diagnostic validity (i.e., how well do the criteria for the category portray the entity?). Methods: A narrative review of relevant textbooks/reports and articles published in peer-reviewed English-language journals (from the online databases PubMed and PsycInfo), covering the period 1900–2024 and using the terms “validity” OR “diagnosis” AND “manic-depressive”; “mania”; “hypomania”; “depression”; and “melancholia” was performed. Results: Mania appears to be a valid construct in nosological terms, although its validity in the diagnostic domain requires further research. There are scant and controversial empirical data on the nosological validity of separating hypomania from mania as different episodes. The current concept of bipolar depression combines different forms of episodes (melancholic and non-melancholic, with or without psychosis, recurrent or not) without conclusive evidence that all of them are necessarily part of the illness (i.e., limited nosological validity). Conclusions: The validity of the current definition of BD is limited and should be the focus of future research. A valid definition of BD would improve our ability to understand the pathophysiological basis of the illness and contribute to more tailored therapeutic approaches. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancements in Psychiatry: Exploring New Horizons in Mental Health)
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19 pages, 376 KB  
Review
Enhancing Traumatic Stress Recovery Through Nonattachment Principles: A Scoping Review
by Lindsay Tremblay, William Van Gordon and James Elander
J. Pers. Med. 2025, 15(12), 614; https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm15120614 - 9 Dec 2025
Viewed by 698
Abstract
Background: Nonattachment is an important component of Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBIs), including its application within post-traumatic stress (PTS) contexts. However, within trauma contexts, there is limited understanding of the role and effectiveness of MBIs that integrate nonattachment. Objective: This study aimed to [...] Read more.
Background: Nonattachment is an important component of Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBIs), including its application within post-traumatic stress (PTS) contexts. However, within trauma contexts, there is limited understanding of the role and effectiveness of MBIs that integrate nonattachment. Objective: This study aimed to identify and evaluate evidence regarding the effectiveness of MBIs with nonattachment elements used with PTS populations. Methods: This review followed the PRISMA scoping guideline framework with searches conducted using Science Direct, PsycINFO, PubMed, and Google Scholar for peer-reviewed studies of MBIs with nonattachment principles or practices, and outcome measures related to PTS. The final search was conducted in January 2024, with no date restrictions for eligible studies. Results: Fourteen studies met the inclusion criteria including 7 randomized controlled trials, 4 cohort studies, and 1 quasi-experimental, 1 cross-sectional, and 1 qualitative study. Individual study samples ranged from 9 to 209 participants (n = 913). All studies showed promising results for interventions integrating nonattachment applied to PTS populations, with the MBI outperforming control conditions in 6 of 7 RCTs, and all cohort studies showing significant improvements. Improvements included reductions in PTSD assessment scores, stress and anxiety, negative self-concept, disturbances in relationships, expressive suppression and rumination, and experiential avoidance, as well as increased acceptance and compassion. Various quality issues were identified such as a lack of or poorly defined randomization, blinding procedures, controls for confounding variables, and small sample sizes. MBIs integrating nonattachment that target physiological stabilization, coupled with participant input into intervention decisions, appear most promising. Conclusions: MBIs that incorporate nonattachment elements may offer meaningful support for individuals experiencing PTS, particularly by fostering more flexible and less self-fixated ways of relating to thoughts and emotions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancements in Psychiatry: Exploring New Horizons in Mental Health)
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