The individual sensitivity of a person to the effects of alcohol is defined as the possibility of adaptive reactions, which are controlled by various factors associated in their manifestation with characteristics in various ethnic populations.

To determine biological profile of medical response in alcoholic patients of different ethnic groups.

168 alcoholic men, aged 17 to 62 years were examined. For the therapeutic correction of withdrawal and post-withdrawal symptoms of patients from two different ethnic groups (Tatars and Russians in Siberia), the original anticonvulsant galodif (M-chloro-benzhydrylurea) was used. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated a model-independent method of statistical moments: half-life (T1/2,h), total clearance (Clt,ml/min), average time of the residual drug in the body (MRI,h), average elimination time (MET,h), the area under the pharmacokinetic curve (AUC, μg/ml).

Galodif causes a reduction in almost half T1/2, a significant decrease in the average time of the residual drug in the body MRI, and the average elimination time MET. Overall clearance increased. Under the influence of the course with Galodif, antipyrine elimination intensified, which indicates the induction of the cytochrome P-450 system of microsomal liver monooxygenases in Russian alcoholic patients. Galodif causes a reduction of almost five-fold T1/2, a significant decrease MRI and MET. Activation of oxidative metabolism of xenobiotics in Tatar alcoholic patients is more significant.

The increased sensitivity of P-450 cytochrome system to anticonvulsants action with inductive detoxification properties reflects differences in adaptive mechanisms in human from various ethnic groups, what is significant in the therapy.

No significant relationships.

Dissociative identity disorder is a quite popular psychiatric diagnosis in general public but in actuality has a very low prevalence rate. Dissociative identity disorders are characterized by disruption of identity characterized by two or more distinct personality states with its own memories, behaviour, and preferences.

Authors present a case report about a patient of Dissociative identity disorder with Elektra complex as unconscious conflict.

A case report along with literature review forms the basis of discussion.

Mrs A, 30 years female, a housewife, belonging to low socioeconomic status, reported to the OPD, along with her husband. About 1 year ago her family members noticed that her behaviour and action became altered. Such alteration in behaviour was only episodic. A detailed evaluation was done and a diagnosis of Dissociative identity disorder was established. The treatment included psychotherapy facilitated by hypnosis addressing the conflict along with escitalopram 10 mg once a day and clonazepam 0.5mg at night, clonazepam was tapered and stopped within 1 month while escitalopram was hiked upto 20 mg and patient improved along with decrease DES scores.

In Freudian psychology the girl child identifies with her mother and represses her sexual feelings toward her father commonly known as the Elektra complex. In spite of trance and possession syndrome being more prevalent in countries like India, we urge to keep dissociative identity disorder as a differential in order to catch the eye of the clinicians and researchers on the recognition of clinical manifestation and exploration of therapeutic strategies.

No significant relationships.

It is necessary to consider the religious worldview and spiritual needs of patients with mental illness in the course of psychotherapy and rehabilitation.

The explication of value-meaning formations (VMF) in mental patients with a religious worldview.

G. Kelly’s methodology of personal constructs (Method of Triads, Hinkle’s laddering technique, the assessment repertory grid by F.Fransella&D.Bannister) and statistical analyses were applied.

1. The structure of the value-meaning formations (VMF) of patients with religious worldview was characterized by its integrity, which is prerequisite for coping. 2. Opposite, patients with absence of religious belief had substantial destruction of integrity and plurality of relationships between VMF. 3. The content of the VMF of mental patients with religious worldview and healthy believers had similarities. 4. In the content of VMF meta-values were: 1. active aspiration to God and the realization of own existence; 2. material well-being in the earthly world; 3. “unselfish” ability to get along without causing harm; 4. feeling of inner confidence.

Mental disease affects VMF of believers and unbelievers in different way. In unbelievers, the structure of VMF in the course of disease significantly changes. In believers, the disease does not destroy the basis of VMF and allows to keep safe the key elements. The stability of VMF in the believers may be explained by the meaningfulness of life. The concepts of “health” and “disease” are included in the worldview of believers, in the general context of their spiritual, psychic and physical life.

No significant relationships.

Migration is a highly defining life event which can lead to mental distress. It constitutes an overall risk factor for psychiatric disorders. However, psychotherapeutic treatment in immigrant patients is considered to be more complex, and the outcome appears to be less favorable than in patients without a migration background.

The aim of this study is to compare psychotherapy assessment between immigrant and non-immigrant psychotic patients in Barcelona.

Patients who have presented, according DSM-V criteria, one or more non-affective psychotic episodes, were recruited in Acute and Chronic inpatients units at Hospital del Mar (Barcelona), leading to a total sample of 77 patients. Demographic characteristics of patients, clinical data and main pharmacological treatment were recorded through a questionnaire. Database information was completed with electronic medical records. Comparative analysis was performed with IBM SPSS using Chi-Square and t-Student test

From a total of 77 patients, 43 were immigrants and 34 were non-immigrants. From the total immigrants only 30,2% received psychotherapy compared to 79,4% from the non-immigrants. The most prevalent therapy received in both groups was cognitive behavioural therapy. From the immigrants group only 2,3% received psychoeducation compared to 11,8% from the non-immigrant group.

According to our results, there are important and significant differences in psychotherapy assessment in migrant psychotic patients. In order to improve the mental health treatment of immigrant patients, the reasons for this poor outcome need to be investigated. These results should be considered by clinicians in order to design assessment program for this population.

No significant relationships.

A communication gap exists between psychiatry and indigenous people about views of mind and mental health, which often becomes an obstacle to optimal care and a source of distrust.

We aimed to explore the utility of the concept of two-eyed seeing for facilitating communication among traditional cultural practitioners (TCP) and conventional mental health practitioners (CMHP).

“Two-eyed seeing” is spreading across North America as a metaphor for explanatory pluralism. Albert Marshall, a M’iqmaq from Nova, Scotia, Canada, developed this traditional concept (eptuamptamuk in M’iqmaq) to speak to the idea that indigenous knowledge is as valid as contemporary science for conceptualizing phenomena. We taught the concept to 100 practitioners, equally balanced between CMHP’s and TCP’s, and obtained ongoing feedback about the results of their applying these ideas to their ongoing collaborations. Qualitative research methods were used to evaluate this feedback.

Using the two-eyed seeing concept allowed CMHP’s to better listen to TCP’s descriptions of their concepts of mind and of mental suffering. TCP’s felt more respected by CMHP’s. While concepts such as spirit visitation, the breaking of taboos, and intergenerational curses are inherently foreign to CMHP’s, the two-eyed seeing concept allowed them to bracket these ideas as interesting and to interact with the TCP in a more productive way, while allowing them to observe the effects of the TCP’s interventions in a less judgmental way.

Two-eyed seeing allowed a rich dialogue between CMHP’s and TCP’s that enabled each to appreciate the other’s perspectives, leading to greater cooperation and collaborative treatment. Outcomes improved.

No significant relationships.

How traditional cultural healing works is difficult for biomedical science to understand. Outcomes do occur that defy the conventional logic of materialistic, reductionistic cause-and-effect.

We aimed to understand how participants understood what happens in traditional cultural healing.

We identified 26 cases of results in which improvement occurred beyond what biomedicine would expect from a placebo response. We interviewed the healers and their clients to understand their experience and how they saw what had happened.

Seven cases involved resolution of cancer; 2 cases, musculoskeletal disorders; 9 cases of rheumatological disorders; 8, other disorders. Each person spoke about the importance of spiritual transformation and described such an experience. They spoke about an attitude of the cultural healer that involved what could best be translated as radical empathy coupled with non-judgmental listening without interpretation. Many of healers had been initiated into their healing roles via a life-threatening illness that resolved when an extra-ordinary being(s) (a spirit or god, or God) entered their life world and became an integral part of their being. This was also a common description given by the participants for what had happened. The healers often described themselves as a hollow bone, a conduit through which spiritual forces flow.

Traditional cultural healing remains important to psychiatry because it defies explanation in our usual paradigm. Spiritual transformation and radical empathy may be necessary, though not sufficient components. For the person who undergoes a profound spiritual transformation, extensive changes in self and world view may occur.

No significant relationships.

Religious obsessions constitute an interesting component of the phenomenology of obsessive-compulsive disorder(OCD). Scrupulosity can be phenomenologically similar to other OCD subtypes but the ultimate feared consequence is religious or moral in nature.

To develop a reflexion about religion, belief and its interaction with psychopathology, focusing on a clinical case.

Review of the clinical case and literature.

37-year-old female patient with 4 prior psychiatric admissions. Stable until May 2020. After a brief online relationship patient develops subsequent guilt, anxiety and obsessive images with religious/sexual content. Abruptly, on the day of admission to the ER, the patient eats garlic in penitence and self-flagellate. At inpatient-unit she presented in mutism and total oral refusal, needing nasogastric tube for feeding and medication administration. She was medicated with diazepam and olanzapine, being added fluoxetine later on. In later interviews, a primordial idea based on the prevailing religious beliefs was found: “sex before marriage is a mortal sin”. This itself generated doubt “have I been forgiven” with compulsions of verification/purification (eg. repeated confession) and punishment, and this doubt almost reached a delirious character during the acute episode. Partial egodistonia, lived with suffering although with some continuity with her beliefs. At discharge patient showed insight for the unrealism of this dyad, though the primary idea remained immovable.

Although the pharmacological approach managed to control the most disturbing symptoms presented by the patient, it’s worthwhile to review and to reflect on this report in a wider perspective, within in the light of the relevance to the clinical practice.

No significant relationships.

Éric Satie was a French classical music composer born in May of 1866. He composed several music pieces that did not fit the contemporaneous musical standard once he did not follow the orthodox rules of composition and harmonic expression.

To analyse Erik Satie personality traits and possible psychopathological findings.

A narrative review was performed using Google Scholar database.

His music, as it occurs in most musical composers, was said to translate his own personality and state of mind at the time. He was described as an eccentric with multiple descriptions demonstrating unstable and explosive personality traits of pride, determination, perfectionism and a hatred for convention that would put him near a Cluster A type of personality.

Although some authors conclude that Satie could be diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome I believe that his specificities represent more of personality traits than pathological findings.

No significant relationships.

It is knowed the relationship between psychological problems and cardiovascular disease. Pychological alterations can cause cardiovascular diseases, and a cardiovascular event can trigger psychological alterations.

The aim was to present a clinical case about a young man with cardiovascular alterations and depressive symptoms and to analyze the role played by cardiovascular drugs, psychoactive drugs, and their interactions.

We present the clinical case and search the relation between cardiovascular disease and depressive symptoms and treatment at scientific literature of last five years.

A 38-year-old man comes to the emergency room with symptoms of palpitations, fatigue and shortness of breath for 2 weeks. An electrocardiogram is performed showing premature ventricular beats. The patient reports that he is sadder recently due to the loss of work, for which he is prescribed sertraline 50 mg daily and is referred to cardiology. No medical history or consumption of alcohol, tobacco or other toxins. The cardiologist requests ergometry, echocardiography, and Holter monitoring, resulting in all normal tests, with no evidence of ischemia. Bisoprolol 2.5 mg daily is prescribed and sertraline 50 mg daily is maintained. After two months, the patient reports feeling better in spirit. The control electrocardiogram is normal and the patient reports disappearance of palpitations. You are referred to your family doctor.

Elevation of cortisol, platelet hyperactivity, and alteration in heart rate variability were found in depressives. The SSRIs would be the ones of choice. Dual serotonin and noraderaline reuptake inhibitors should be avoided. Other atypical drugs such as bupropion or trazodone should be considered.

No significant relationships.

Cognitive depressive disorder (or depressive pseudodementia) is a condition defined by functional impairment, similar to dementias or other neurodegenerative disorders, in the context of psychiatric patients. It is important to consider a differential diagnosis in patients with cognitive impairment.

Presentation of a clinical case of a patient with depression with psychotic symptoms who presents cognitive impairment.

Bibliographic review of the differential diagnosis between cognitive depressive disorder and real dementia by searching for articles in PubMed.

We present a 51-year-old woman, previously diagnosed with adjustment disorder (with mixed anxiety and depressed mood) and unspecific anxiety disorder, who was admitted to the hospital due to delusional ideation of harm and Capgras syndrome, ensuring that her relatives had been replaced and the rest of the patients were not real patients, but actors who conspired against her. The MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) was strictly normal (tumors or acute injuries as stroke or hemorrhage were discarded), and a MoCA (Montreal Cognitive Assesment) test was performed to screen any cognitive impairments (obtaining a score of 19/30, with language fluency and abstraction particularly affected). It would be convenient to repeat the test when this episode and the psychotic symptoms are resolved or improved.

1. Some patients may have cognitive impairment in the context of a mood disorder. 2. A differential diagnosis and follow-up of these patients should be performed to assess prognosis, reversibility and treatment. 3. Depressive cognitive impairment may precede the development and establishment of a dementia or neurodegenerative picture.

No significant relationships.

Several studies of normobaric hyperoxia in some neurological conditions have demonstrated clinical benefits. Oxygen enriched air may increase oxygen pressure in brain tissue and have biochemical effects such as on brain erythropoietin gene expression, even in patients without lung disease.

This pilot, randomized, double-blind study examined the efficacy of normobaric hyperoxia as a treatment for depression.

Fifty-five consenting patients aged 18-65 years with mild to moderate depression were included in the study. Participants underwent a psychiatric inclusion assessment and a clinical evaluation by a psychiatric nurse at baseline, 2 and 4 weeks after commencement of study intervention. Participants were randomly assigned to normobaric hyperoxia of 35% fraction of inspired oxygen or 21% fraction of inspired oxygen (room air), through a nasal tube, for 4 weeks, during the night. Patients were rated blindly using the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD); Clinical Global Impression (CGI) questionnaire; Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS).

The present study showed a significant improvement in HRSD (p<0.0001), CGI (p<0.01) and in SDS (p<0.05) among patients with depression who were treated with oxygen-enriched air, as compared to patients who were treated with room air. In CGI, 69% of the patients who were treated with oxygen-enriched air improved compared to 23% patients who were treated with room air.

This small pilot study showed a beneficial effect of normobaric hyperoxia on some symptoms of depression.

No significant relationships.

A stroke is a potentially debilitating event which can render the victim unable to perform many tasks and functions, significantly decreasing their quality of life. This, in addition to emotional/mental changes post-stroke, can lead to a phenomenon known as “post stroke depression” (PSD), characterised by persistent low mood following a stroke.

This study aims to amalgamate recommendations based on national guidelines and previous literature, in addition to an original inpatient study of stroke patients within a hospital, to construct a standardised protocol of the management of PSD in the hospital setting.

248 patients who had been treated for stroke within a hospital were analysed using hospital notes to assess for incidence of PSD, in-hospital management, and outpatient follow-up. In addition a literature search was conducted and national guidelines were consulted to develop a PSD management protocol.

Figure 1: Post stroke depression management protocol.

While 8% (20/248) of stroke patients experienced low mood immediately post stroke, 45% (9/20) of these patients did not receive any therapy or drug treatment, 80% (16/20) did not receive any outpatient monitoring of their mood and 100% of patients received no outpatient monitoring of newly commenced antidepressants.

Using the results and literature search, a PSD management protocol, encompassing both appropriate in-hospital therapy and robust outpatient monitoring, was developed (Figure 1). We hope that through this, hospital care of PSD can be improved and optimised, in order for victims of PSD to receive the best possible, evidence-based care available to treat this potentially devastating condition.

No significant relationships.

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is today one of the main treatments available and used in psychiatry for serious mental illnesses. Eighty years after its introduction, the ECT procedure has evolved to become a safe option based on scientific evidence. Nowadays there are no absolute contraindications for ECT, regardless of the type of population and clinical situation.

To illustrate the electroconvulsive therapy in medical comorbidities context with a case report.

Descriptive case study.

We present a 66 years old patient who suffers from a psychiatric decompensation with a diagnosis of major depressive disorder with psychotic symptoms. Due to her cardiological history (prolongation of the QT interval of possible psycopharmacological origin and a 2:1 AV block, that required the implantation of a definitive pacemaker) and partial response to psychotropic medication, the initiation of electroconvulsive therapy is proposed as the best alternative. The pacemaker was previously studied by cardiology for a very complete analysis before the procedure. It was recommended to convert it to fixed rate pacing by using a magnet. To do this, we placed it over the pacemaker during the technique. While waiting for a clinical improvement, no incidence has been produced during the sessions.

ECT should not be postponed as a last resort. Numerous studies conclude that ECT is globally the treatment of choice (70-85% response) in severe depressive conditions, over and above antidepressant drugs. The incidence of relevant cardiac complications on ECT is relatively rare (0.9%). Regarding the use of pacemakers, electroconvulsive therapy represents an effective and safe option for the patient.

No significant relationships.

Existing literature supports the association between depression and self-harm, a prominent risk factor of suicide.

Аnalysis of psychological characteristics of women with depression and self-harming behavior and their differences from patients with depression without self-harm.

The study involved 62 women with depression (age 16–23), 36 with self-harming, 26 did not have episodes of self-harm. Hamilton Scale (HDRS), Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), Iowa Gambling Task (IGT), SCL-90-R, Rosenberg self-esteem scale, Body Investment Scale (BIS) were used.

Computer test execution time is shorter in the self-harming group, the total time in WCST and IGT tests is significantly shorter (T Test p<0.001), «inhibition» (HDRS) in this group is significantly lower. The self-harmed group demonstrates higher feelings of guilt (2.222±1.141 versus 1.367±1.326 in the non-self-harm group, p=<0.001), suicidal ideation (2.653±1.302 versus 1.100±1.373 p<0.001), psychopathological symptoms in SCL90-R: sensitivity (1.812±0.861 versus 1.185±0.553), hostility (1.388±0.965 versus 0.729±0.700 p=0.004), GSI (1.539±0.705 versus 1.205±0.473 p=0.039), and a special attitude towards body - a decrease of somatic symptoms (HDRS), decreased parameter of “protection” of body and the «attitude to the body» in Body Investment Scale (BIS).

The study revealed psychological characteristics that distinguish a group of depressed women with self-harming: a mismatch of the severity of the components of depressive tirade - motor and ideator inhibition was less pronounced, while the affective component was significantly more pronounced. The body investment is reduced, the need to protect one’s own body is ignored. High level of guilt, and the increased sensitivity characteristic of these patients can be a vulnerability factor.

No significant relationships.

Pharmaceutical treatment and psychotherapy constitute the most common treatment methods for depression and anxiety. Physical training has been shown to have comparable effect to cognitive behavioral therapy in treatment of mild to moderate depression and anxiety. Physically active individuals also show lower risks to develop depression and relapse in depression.

The objectives are to evaluate how physical activity can affect depressive and anxiety symptoms, by examining biomarkers in the blood and from the gut and also by measuring cognitive functions. Hopefully, this can lead to new treatment strategies for patients with depression and anxiety.

102 patients are randomized to two groups and undergo 12 weeks intervention as add-on to standard outpatient psychiatric treatment. The first group will participate in physical training three times per week and the other group will receive relaxation therapy on a weekly basis. Daily activity intensity will be measured before and at the last week of intervention with an accelerometer. Blood and faeces sample collection, symptom grading by clinician together with self-rating scales and cognitive screening will be performed at baseline, week 12 and one year of follow-up. The cognitive screenings are performed digitally in cooperation with Mindmore.

The RCT is currently recruiting patients at the Department of Psychiatry of Örebro University Hospital.

The project aims to be holistic in its approach, combining the defining clinical psychiatric symptoms in patients who have both depression and anxiety with the finding and evaluation of new biomarkers from blood and gut to improve cognitive functions.

No significant relationships.

The presence of acquired speech disorders of varying evidence can cause maladjustment and job loss. Often there is no adequate psychological and psychotherapeutic assistance for these patients, which hinders the process of recovery and reintegration into the social environment.

To study the level of anxiety and depression in patients with dysarthria who have undergone various types of cerebrovascular accidents. To give practical recommendations regarding the correction of these conditions.

To assess the level of anxiety and depression, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) was used as the most convenient for application in clinical practice.

The study involved 42 people in the age group 45-60 years old with the consequences of cerebrovascular accident in the form of various types of dysarthria and without severe movement disorders. All participants had a university degree and a confirmed stroke of anamnesis. According to the data obtained, 45% of patients had symptoms of depression, 52% – anxiety. It should be clarified that specific weight of men with manifestations of depression and anxiety was higher (65% and 56%, respectively). The beginning of active antidepressant therapy in a hospital setting showed a positive subjective effect from such influences – in 38% of patients.

The use of modern methods for assessing the level of anxiety and depression in patients with speech disorders should become an obligatory stage of diagnostic measures. Psychological assistance and pharmacological correction not only helps patients to adapt to new social conditions, but also promotes prevention the progression of depressive manifestations.

No significant relationships.

The current COVID-19 pandemic brings social isolation to our daily lives that may elevate depression. The impact of major depressive disorder (MDD) on social cognitive functioning is far from understood, but essential for prevention and treatment of this neuropsychiatric condition.

Our aim was to examine (i) whether face tuning is lower in depression; and (ii) how it is related to other cognitive abilities (such as perceptional organization). Furthermore, we intended to clarify gender impact on face tuning in MDD, as twice more females are affected.

Using a recently developed paradigm, the Face-n-Food task, we examined face tuning in 26 patients with MDD and 26 person-by-person matched controls. The advantage of non-face images is that its single elements do not promote face processing.

Strikingly, MDD individuals showed intact face tuning. As sex ratio in our patient sample was about 2:1 (as in MDD population in general), we recruited additional male patients and found that MDD male patients were as good as female patients. Yet, while face tuning in MDD patients showed a significant correlation with perceptual organization abilities, in controls, it was linked with social cognition.

The outcome suggests that the origins of aberrant social functioning in MDD lie in maladaptive cognitive schemas rather than in a lack of sensitivity towards social signals per se. To elucidate neural circuits involved in face tuning in MDD, a magnetoencephalography (MEG) study with the Face-n-Food images is currently under progress.

No significant relationships.

There are different clinical forms combining anxiety and depression and it is essential to identify them because they will require different management. Among these clinical forms, there is that including anxiety as a symptom within the depressive episode: the anxious depression.

The objective is to find the characteristics of this anxious depression.

We conducted a literature review on the PubMed® site giving access to the MEDLINE® database, as well as on the Google Scholar® search engine and retained 127 articles.

By studying anxiety as a symptom of the depression, we identify on the pathophysiological level different neurobiological mechanisms (neuroanatomical, biological, immunological and endocrinological) involved in types of symptoms of different anxiety. Thus, by adopting a dimensional point of view, we can say that there are various anxiety symptoms which can be included in multiple forms of anxiety within the depression: psychic anxiety (anxiety and irritability), somatic anxiety (hypochondria, sweating, cardiological, respiratory, gastrointestinal and urinary symptoms), motor anxiety (agitation), anxious arousal (somatic anxiety, fear, panic) or anxious apprehension (anticipatory anxiety and worry). The prognosis which emerges from it is of a more pejorative evolution, and has specificities on which an increased attention is required, such as suicidal behavior which is more frequently described for example. The treatment must be psychotherapeutic, sociotherapeutic, and medication by antidepressant treatment, with SSRIs in the first line.

It is therefore essential to identify the clinical presentation of the anxious depression because it has specific semiological, neurobiological, prognostic and therapeutic characteristics.

No significant relationships.

It is common knowledge that depressive disorders are prevalent in cardiac patients. The fact of a prospective heart surgery can have a negative effect on depressive manifestations in cardiac patients.

To describe representation and structure of depression in preoperative cardiac surgery patients and its correlation with the patients’ personal time perspective

We used the Beck Depression Inventory to estimate the level and structure of depression in 60 cardiac surgery patients of both sexes and the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory to identify the patients’ personal time perspective.

We revealed depression of various manifestations in 53.4% of preoperative cardiac patients; 3.3% of them had severe depression, 11.7% – moderate depression, 8.3% – mild depression, 30.0% – minimal depression. The patients’ average level of depression was certainly higher than the standard one (t=3.295; р=.000). According to degree, the structure of depressive manifestations included asthenia, irritability, sleeping disorders, low sex drive, weight loss, pessimism, tearfulness, difficulty working, and difficulty taking decision. Two patients showed suicidal thoughts. We revealed a positive correlation between the depression level and a Negative-Past time perspective (r=.39) and a negative correlation with the Positive Past time perspective (r=-.27).

We identified depressive manifestations in every second preoperative cardiac patient. Every sixth one has moderate or severe depression, which calls for special attention. Research in personal time perspective has good prospects for psychological interventions.

No significant relationships.

Depression or Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is the most prevalent psychiatric disorder and a leading cause of disability worldwide. Currently affecting around 300 million people worldwide, depression is a major clinical, emotional, and socioeconomic strain for society. There is a growing interest in the biological underpinnings of depression, which are reflected by altered levels of biomarkers.

The aim of the study was to present an up-to-date review of potential MDD biomarkers.

PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were searched.

Enhanced inflammation has been reported in MDD, as reflected by increased concentrations of inflammatory markers – interleukin-6, C-reactive protein, tumor necrosis factor-α, and soluble interleukin-2 receptor. Dysregulation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenals axis, along with increased cortisol levels, have also been reported in MDD. Oxidative and nitrosative stress also plays an important role in the pathophysiology of MDD. Notably, increased levels of lipid peroxidation markers are characteristic of MDD. Kynurenine metabolites, increased glutamate and decreased total cholesterol are also features of MDD. Finally, alterations in growth factors, with a significant decrease in brain-derived neurotrophic factor and an increase in fibroblast growth factor-2 and insulin-like growth factor-1 concentrations have also been found in MDD.

A group of substances holds promise as reliable biomarkers for MDD. However, biomarker research in depression faces many difficulties, such as insufficient understanding of MDD etiopathogenesis, substantial heterogeneity of the disorder and low specificity of biomarkers. The construction of biomarker panels and their evaluation with use of new technologies may have the potential to overcome the above mentioned obstacles.

No significant relationships.