Tourette’s syndrome (TS) is a disorder characterized by repetitive, involuntary movements, and vocalizations known as tics. While there are existing treatment options, there is a growing need for novel pharmacological approaches to manage the symptoms of TS effectively. This study delves into the emerging field of using cannabinoids as a potential treatment for Tourette’s syndrome.

The primary objectives of this review are to examine the current evidence base for the use of cannabinoids in the treatment of Tourette’s syndrome, to assess the biological rationale supporting the use of cannabinoids in managing tic severity, to provide insights into the results of existing clinical trials involving cannabinoids and Tourette’s syndrome, and to draw conclusions regarding the potential efficacy and safety of cannabinoid-based treatments for TS.

Narrative review of the available scientific literature.

There is a strong biological rationale for how cannabinoids could impact tic severity. The endocannabinoid system plays a crucial role in regulating various physiological processes, including motor control and neurotransmitter release. Activation of cannabinoid receptors in the brain may modulate these processes, potentially reducing tics. While limited, two small randomized, placebo-controlled trials of THC have been conducted in TS patients. These trials suggested potential benefits of cannabis-derived agents in reducing tic frequency and severity. Self-report and examiner rating scales demonstrated significant improvements in tic symptoms. The trials indicated that THC treatment did not result in significant adverse effects in TS patients.

The exploration of cannabinoids as a treatment option for Tourette’s syndrome is promising but requires further investigation. The biological mechanisms through which cannabinoids may affect tic severity in TS are sound, suggesting their potential as a therapeutic option. Existing trials with THC have shown encouraging results, demonstrating a reduction in tics without significant adverse effects. However, the limited number of trials warrants caution in drawing definitive conclusions. Despite the promising findings, the overall efficacy and safety of cannabinoid-based treatments remain largely unknown. Further trials are essential to address dosing, active ingredients, optimal administration, and potential long-term effects. Clinical use should be approached with caution. While early evidence is encouraging, additional rigorous studies are needed to establish the safety and efficacy of cannabinoid-based treatments for this disorder.

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Irvin D. Yalom defines existential psychotherapy as a dynamic therapeutic approach that focuses on concerns rooted in existence with the four ultimate concerns being death, isolation, meaning in life, and freedom. Patients in advanced stages of cancer often experience elevated levels of psychological distress, encompassing conditions such as depression, anxiety, and a sense of spiritual hopelessness. Recently, interest in spiritual well-being has prompted a new wave of interventions that directly target this population, namely logotherapy and other existential interventions based on existential principles.

In this review, the primary focus was to comprehend the current evidence on the application of existential psychotherapy for individuals coping with advanced cancer and give an overview of the therapy approaches used.

Narrative review of scientific literature using Pubmed search engine.

Terao and Satoh identified nine types of existential psychotherapies which were investigated using randomized controlled trials for patients with advanced cancer or in terminal care: Meaning-Centered Group Psychotherapy (MCGP), Individual Meaning-Centered Psychotherapy (IMCP), Meaning-Making intervention (MMi), Meaning of Life Intervention, Managing Cancer and Living Meaningfully (CALM), Hope Intervention, Cognitive and Existential Intervention, Dignity Therapy, and Life-Review Interviews. All deal with the issues pointed by Yalom. Existential or spiritual well-being improvements were validated in MCGP, IMCP, Meaning of Life intervention, and Life-Review intervention.

Current evidence is still based on a very limited number of studies. Additional research is needed to delve into the impact of existential psychotherapy on individuals facing advanced cancer.

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Phenomenology is one of the fundamental tools in the clinical practice of psychiatrists, constituting one of the touchstones regarding the diagnostic framework in which clinicians navigate.

For Husserl, Phenomenology provided access to the structure of pure consciousness, experience and existence. These are conditions of possibility for the object of Psychiatry, ontologically prior to it. Thus, clarification of the object and method of Phenomenology is preliminary to understanding the object of Psychiatry.

Phenomenology, being a direct tributary of Philosophy, evolves dialectically, constantly dialoguing with its predecessors. While it is taken as a philosophical current, it is also considered a method. It is precisely as a method that we can see how the methodology changes in different phenomenological traditions.

To compare how the main phenomenological traditions operate.

Comparative analysis between the phenomenological reductions in key figures of the phenomenological tradition, resorting to the corpus of the Husserliana, Being and Time, Phenomenology of Perception and General Psychopathology. Additionally, a non-systematic literature review of papers on the database Philpapers, using the keywords “critical phenomenology”, “eidetic reduction”, “phenomenological reduction”.

While there is a multiplicity of ways of taxonomizing phenomenological currents, we divide it in: pure, existential, embodied, jasperian, psychopathological, and critical.

Husserl’s pure phenomenology uses the free variation in phantasy and epoché as operators, starting from the natural attitude.

Heidegger’s existential phenomenology makes no reference to a reduction of any kind. For him, it is necessary to take a step back, to a more primordial mode of being through which we can access Being, where the world is given and constituted.

Embodied phenomenology, of Merleaupontinian provenance, recognizes the reduction, but cannot be fully achieve it.

Jasperian phenomenology uses empathy and co-experience as its operators, through which it gains access to the subjective states of the other, with the aim of systematizing and taxonomizing subjective phenomena.

Phenomenological psychopathology tentatively uses Husserlian reductions to identify the a priori structures of the human, be it Biswanger’s forms of manifestation of failed human existence or Blakenburg’s anthropological disproportions.

Critical phenomenology uses a historical-transcendental analysis of experience as its operator, through which it accesses transcendental intersubjectivity.

At a time when the DSM and ICD are increasingly seen as inadequate, limited and dogmatic, the resurgence of interest in Phenomenology is evident. It is important to avoid falling back on new presuppositions without constant revision and questioning, at the risk of simply mutating dogmas and missing the original legacy of pure phenomenology, the suspension of presuppositions.

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A variety of peer support workers have been integrated in the mental health workforce in several countries. The effectiveness of this approach is still inconclusive. However, some data reveals promising results. Some projects have integrated peer support intervention in the treatment of psychosis. In fact, UK clinical guidelines for psychosis advise the inclusion of peer support within Early Intervention in Psychosis services.

The current study aims to evaluate how peer support may assist the intervention in psychosis and highlight challenges ahead in this field.

Narrative review of the available scientific literature.

Research suggests that consistent and frequent peer support enhances social support and boosts self-confidence and the overall quality of life for people going through psychosis. Individuals diagnosed with severe mental illnesses who receive peer support reportedly experience an increased sense of control, hopefulness, and empowerment, enabling them to initiate positive changes in their lives. People going through psychosis experience internalized stigma. Destigmatization of psychotic experiences is a central theme of intervention in psychosis. Participants viewed peer support as a valuable form of assistance that could offer advantages to both peers (service users) and peer support workers.

Peer support makes a strong contribution to destigmatising psychosis. The available date is promising and supports the effectiveness of peer support in such instances. As projects of peer support in psychosis continue to be implemented, further research should provide additional insight into the effectiveness and inherent challenges of this type of intervention.

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Psychotherapy serves as the foundation of care for individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD), with pharmacotherapy being regarded as a supplementary measure to be considered when necessary. In clinical practice, however, most of BPD patients receive medication.

A major problem in the treatment of BPD is the lack of compliance derived from the pathological impulsivity of BPD patients. The use of long-acting antipsychotics (LAI) may be an option.

This work aims to address the use of long-acting injectables in borderline personality disorder.

Non-systematic review of literature using the PubMed ® database, based on terms “Borderline Personality Disorder” and “Long-acting antipsychotics”. Only six articles were found.

Several studies have shown promising results in the treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) with long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotics. A six-month study using IM risperidone demonstrated significant improvement, while LAI Aripiprazole also exhibited positive outcomes in individuals with BPD and Substance Abuse. Additionally, Palomares et al. (2015) found that palmitate paliperidone LAI reduced impulsive-disruptive behaviors and enhanced overall functioning in BPD patients. Carmona et al. (2021) compared oral and LAI antipsychotics and concluded that LAIs may have a role to play in the management of BPD.

Treatment with LAIs may play an important role in clinical and functional improvement in BPD patients.

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Koro, also known in Cantonese as Shook Yang, which literally translates to “shrinking penis”, has its roots in a cultural belief that a mythological figure would steal the penis of his victims. Predominantly reported in Southeast Asia, it involves an acute fear of genital retraction, often accompanied by the belief that this retraction may lead to death. Over the last two centuries, Koro has undergone several attempts to establish its definition and classification, without a true consensus having been reached.

This study aims to explore the cultural nuances surrounding Koro and reflect on the various conceptualizations that modulated its definition and nosological classification, from Ancient China until the present.

A non-systematic literature review with the keywords “koro” and “culture” was conducted.

Koro was only introduced to the Western world during colonial expansion, drawing the attention of several psychiatrists who, in Asian territory, reported numerous cases in natives, making the very first attempts at a nosological classification, whether as an anxiety neurosis, or as an obsessive-compulsive disorder. The literature reveals significant cultural variations in the manifestation of Koro, challenging the traditional psychiatric understanding rooted in Western diagnostic categories. Cultural factors, including societal beliefs, religious practices, and regional variations, emerged as influential contributors to the prevalence and presentation of Koro. Additionally, the study identified instances of Koro evolving in response to cultural shifts and globalization, emphasizing the dynamic nature of this syndrome.

This review underscores the need for a comprehensive understanding of Koro that acknowledges its diverse conceptualizations across cultures. Its occurrence, not only in multiple parts of the world, but also in close relation with various comorbidities, has contributed to the dissolution of its primary identity as a culture-bound syndrome, turning Koro into a moving target.

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The population ageing is a reality associated with an increase in prevalence of Dementia. The use of benzodiazepines is often postulated as a risk factor in these syndromes.

Contrary to recommendations for its short-time use, long-term and chronic use are common, with an estimated 8,7% of elderly people in the US taking benzodiazepines.

To clarify the most recent evidence on the use of benzodiazepines and the risk of developing dementia.

Non-systematic review of literature, using PubMed as database and filtering the results for meta-analysis.

Four articles were included in this review.

Zhong G et al. concluded that risk of dementia increased in consumers of benzodiazepines and it was associated with higher doses.

In turn, AlDawasari A et al., when trying to clarify the use of different sedative-hypnotic drugs, found and increased risk with the consumption of benzodiazepines. After exclusion of articles with confounders and adjustment for protopathic bias, the risk was not maintained.

Lucchetta RC et al. concluded that the risk exists but without inferring differences between doses or duration of action.

Finally, Penninkilampi R e Eslick GD investigated this association, after controlling for the protopathic bias, concluding, contrary to AlDawasari et al., that the association benzodiazepines consumption and dementia do not result from this bias.

We cannot draw robust and concrete conclusions between benzodiazepines consumption and the pathogenesis of dementia because not only is the literature limited, but results are also heterogeneous.

However, these prescriptions must be carried out cautiously, especially in the elderly, due to the known adverse effects associated with them.

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Suicide occurs throughout all the life course, but in 2019 it was the fourth leading cause of death among 15-29 years old worldwide.

In Brazil, between 2010 and 2019, 112,230 deaths from suicide were recorded, with a 43% increase in the annual number of deaths from the beginning to the end of that period in all age groups. (SAÚDE, 2021).

To accomplish a space-time analysis of the rate of suicide deaths in the state of Paraná and in its 15th Health Regional, from 2010 to 2020, in the population aged 20 to 69 years, contrasting the pre-pandemic periods (2010 to 2019) and during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020).

This is an ecological, observational, cross-sectional, retrospective study, using spatial and temporal analysis tools, based on secondary data obtained from the Department of Informatics of the Unified Health System (DATASUS), in the period 2010 and 2020, referring to the 5568 Brazilian cities, with emphasis on the 399 of the state of Paraná and the 30 cities of its 15th Health Regional (HR).

Exploratory Spatial Data Analysis (AEDE) techniques were used through GeoDA (version 1.20.0.8) and QGis (version 3.22.4) software to determine the existence of Spatial Autocorrelation (Moran’s Global Index or Moran I) and to calculation and visualization of the Local Spatial Association Indicator (LISA).

Global (Moran I) and local (LISA) spatial autocorrelation coefficients were considered significant when p < 0.05 at a 95% confidence level.

The Space Time Cube is a simultaneous spatial and temporal analysis methodology of ArcGIS Pro Software (ESRI, 2011) that evaluates the behavior of a value in space over a defined time interval.

The arithmetic mean of the age at death by suicide, from 2010 to 2020, was 41.1 years, with a standard deviation of 13.3 years and a median of 40 years. Most deaths in the pre-pandemic period occurred among men aged 20 to 29, followed by women aged 30 to 39 years and men aged 40 to 49 years.

Regarding the most common causes and modes of suicide in the State, there was no significant difference between the periods from 2010 to 2019, pre-pandemic reference, and 2020 (pandemic) in a global perspective. The three main causes of death were: 1) Hanging, strangulation or suffocation (ICD-10 X70, T71) were the majority and accounted for more than half of all causes; 2) Self-harm by gunshot (ICD- 10 X74 and X72); 3) Self-poisoning by pesticides and drugs, respectively (ICD-10 X68 and X61).

This study showed an increase in suicide deaths in the state of Paraná, when analyzing the periods before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The most affected population was men, aged 20 to 29 years.

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Depression during pregnancy can appear with a prevalence of up to 11% of pregnant women. Psychotherapeutic treatment in these cases is considered the first option, but treatment with antidepressants is sometimes required in these cases.

To present a clinical case of a pregnant patient diagnosed with depression.

Literature review of the psychopharmacological treatment of depression during pregnancy and possible complications.

A 25y Year old woman, 22 weeks pregnant, who lives with her partner. She has no background in mental health. Paternal aunt diagnosed with type I Bipolar Disorder. She goes to the Mental Health Center for evaluation, due to anxiety and depressive symptoms of 4 weeks of evolution, she refers sadness and apathy, continuous crying, somatic anxiety and obsessive ruminations in relation to childbirth and inability to care for your child. Suicidal ideation as a resolution of her discomfort. She presents with global insomnia and a significant loss of appetite, with a weight loss of 3 kg. Treatment with sertraline 50 mg/day was started, with good tolerance and clinical response

The psychopharmacological treatment of antenatal depression is a challenge for the psychiatric professional. In all cases, an adequate balance must be made between the risks and complications for the fetus and the psychopathological stability of the pregnant woman. Among the main risks of untreated depression are: preterm delivery and low birth weight, an increased risk of suicide and alterations in the development during the baby’s infancy. The most used antidepressants are the SSRIs, with sertraline being a good option. Paroxetine has been associated with cardiac defects in the newborn. There are studies with tricyclics and duals but no specific teratogenic pattern has been seen. They are associated with an increased risk of spontaneous abortion. Exposure during the third trimester may be associated with obstetric complications.

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Psychotic symptoms have long been known to show up earlier in life, typically during adolescence and early adulthood. Late Onset Psychosis (LOP), in which symptoms start between 40 and 60 years of age, and Very Late Onset Psychosis (VLOP), in which onset of symptoms happens after 60 years of age, although classically rare, have had a growing prevalence in the last decades.

To access the definition and main etiologies of LOP and VLOP, based on the current literature.

Non-systematic review of literature using the terms “late onset psychosis” and “very late onset psychosis”. Case report of a patient who was admitted and treated in our inward patient field.

51-year-old female patient. She is divorced (two previous marriages) and has two daughters (26 and 16, respectively). She was brought by police officers because of behavior problems at the shelter where she was living. She was evicted from the house she was living in because of delay in paying the rent. On observation, she verbalizes persecutory and prejudicial delusions and auditory hallucinations on the 2nd and 3rd person (commenting voices) with at least 5 years of duration. She was hospitalized for almost 3 months, with slow but progressive clinical improvement on haloperidol 7,5mg/day. At the date of discharge, she did not spontaneously verbalize her symptoms, although she did not recognize them as delusional. Recent studies have shown that the prevalence of Schizophrenia in the typical age range is 75-80%, which means that an important proportion of diagnosis is made after that age span. Primary causes of LOP and VLOP are schizophrenia (of late onset), schizophrenia-like very late onset psychosis, delusion disorder, unipolar depression with psychotic symptoms and bipolar disorder. Secondary causes should also be considered, such as delirium, dementia (Alzheimer’s, Lewi bodies and vascular), and substances abuse; even more rare, other conditions should be considered, as cerebrovascular accident, encephalitis, epilepsy, and multiple sclerosis.

LOP and VLOP have been a growing diagnosis in the past decades. In the assessment of these patients, we must consider the importance of secondary etiologies besides the primary psychiatric ones. Primary psychosis is a diagnosis of exclusion, and the clinician must rule out secondary causes. Recent data point out these symptoms as markers for an increased risk of dementia in these patients. Further research involving individuals with LOP and VLOPs is required to increase the evidence base for treatment and improve outcomes of care.

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Sexual dysfunction (SD) is a prevalent side effect of antipsychotic drugs (AP), and it impairs patients’ quality of life. Because of the distress caused by it, it should be borne in mind when prescribed since it is responsible for treatment nonadherence or discontinuation. SD affects about 45- 80% of males and 30-80% of females that take it. In SD, all phases of the sexual response cycle may be compromised.

This non-systematic review of the literature aims to better understand the antipsychotic-induced SD and its management to better compliance of AP-treated patients without compromising their quality of life.

A semi-structured review on PubMed linking SD as a side effect of AP drugs.

All AP drugs can cause SD. It seems related to their mechanism of activity at receptors D2, 5-HT2, α1, H1, and M, which are also involved in sexual function. They do it by diminishing arousal, decreasing libido by blocking motivation and reward system and orgasm indirectly, provoking erectile dysfunction by vasodilatation, and decreasing woman lubrification. Hyperprolactinemia is a significant cause of sexual dysfunctions. Haloperidol, Risperidone, and Amisulpride (prolactin elevating AP) are more likely to cause SD than Olanzapine, Clozapine, Quetiapine, and Aripiprazole (prolactin sparing AP). Although psychotic disorders (Schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders) can impact sexual functioning, according to evidence, there is no denying the role of AP in this issue. Aripiprazole, a D2 partial agonist, has been associated with lower rates of SD and seems to reduce the rates of SD in patients previously treated with other AP. Other AP with the same potential dopamine agonist activity, such as Cariprazine and Brexpiprazole, can probably have the same effect. The management of SD induced by AP drugs should include measuring serum prolactin and modifying risk factors like hypertension, smoking, hyperglycemia, and hypercholesterolemia. In that regard, waiting for spontaneous remission, reducing the dose of the AP prescribed, or switching to Aripiprazole are all viable strategies, if possible. Although the evidence supporting the addition of symptomatic therapies is weak, adding dopaminergic drugs (amantadine, bromocriptine, cabergoline) or drugs with specific effects on sexual functioning (such as phosphodiesterase inhibitors or yohimbine) may be helpful in selected cases.

Although all AP drugs can cause sexual dysfunction, it is difficult to determine its true prevalence accurately. AP-induced sexual dysfunction can adversely affect compliance and is one of the factors that must be considered when selecting treatment. In summarizing, Aripiprazole has shown to be the AP with the most favorable profile concerning SD. Cariprazine and Brexpiprazole, being also D2 partial agonists, may cause less SD.

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In the early stages of schizophrenia the person experiences feelings of strangeness about themselves, difficulty in making sense of things and difficulty in interacting with their environment. Based on this, self-disorder assessment instruments have been developed and empirical studies have been conducted to assess people at risk of developing a schizophrenia spectrum disorder. These studies show that self-disorders are found in pre-psychotic stages and that their manifestation can predict the transition to schizophrenia spectrum disorders.

We present the case of a patient with multiple diagnoses and mainly dissociative symptoms who, after years of evolution, was diagnosed with schizophrenia.

Bibliographic review including the latest articles in Pubmed about self-disorders and schizophrenia.

We present the clinical case of a 51-year-old woman with a long history of follow-up in mental health consultations and with multiple hospital admissions to the psychiatric unit, with several diagnoses including: dissociative disorder, histrionic personality disorder, adaptive disorder unspecified psychotic disorder and, finally, schizophrenia. The patient during the first hospital admissions showed a clinical picture of intense anxiety, disorientation and claiming to be a different person. The patient related these episodes to stressors she had experienced, and they improved markedly after a short period of hospital admission. Later, psychotic symptoms appeared in the form of auditory and visual hallucinations and delusional ideation, mainly of harm, so that after several years of follow-up and study in mental health consultations and in the psychiatric day hospital, she was diagnosed with schizophrenia and treatment with antipsychotics was introduced, with a marked clinical improvement being observed.

It is important to take into account this type of symptoms (self-disorders), as they allow the identification of individuals in the early stages of the disorder and create the opportunity for early therapeutic interventions.

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