J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci
· 2026 · PMID 40134270
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OBJECTIVE: Hyperorality is a core feature of behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD); however, the cognitive, psychiatric, and neuroanatomical correlates of hyperorality across the bvFTD stages remain unclear....OBJECTIVE: Hyperorality is a core feature of behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD); however, the cognitive, psychiatric, and neuroanatomical correlates of hyperorality across the bvFTD stages remain unclear. The authors explored these associations in early- and advanced-stage bvFTD. METHODS: Participants with sporadic or genetic bvFTD were enrolled in the ARTFL LEFFTDS Longitudinal Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration (ALLFTD) consortium study. Baseline cognitive and psychiatric symptoms of participants with or without hyperorality were compared after stratification by disease severity. Linear multivariable regressions adjusted for age and total intracranial volume were used to examine associations between regional gray matter volume (GMV) and hyperorality status. Five anatomical regions of interest were preselected for analysis on the basis of previously identified neuroanatomical correlates of hyperorality in bvFTD. RESULTS: Hyperorality was present in 50% of early-stage bvFTD participants (N=136) and was associated with higher rates of ritualistic-compulsive behavior and difficulty detecting social-emotional expressions. Hyperorality was present in 63% of advanced-stage participants (N=208) and was associated with higher rates of apathy, ritualistic-compulsive behavior, and socially aberrant behavior. Regional GMV was similar for those with or without hyperorality among early-stage participants. Among advanced-stage participants, hyperorality was associated with lower GMV in the right dorsal and ventral striatum. CONCLUSIONS: Hyperorality emerged early in bvFTD and was accompanied by deficits in social cognition and complex-ritualistic behavior before clinically significant GMV loss. These findings suggest that early identification and management of hyperorality could improve neuropsychiatric trajectories in bvFTD.
J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci
· 2025 · PMID 40017241
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The American Neuropsychiatric Association’s Sleep Special Interest Group (https://www.anpaonline.org/SIGs) and the National Sleep Foundation (NSF; www.thensf.org) have collaborated to raise awareness of the vital importa...The American Neuropsychiatric Association’s Sleep Special Interest Group (https://www.anpaonline.org/SIGs) and the National Sleep Foundation (NSF; www.thensf.org) have collaborated to raise awareness of the vital importance of sleep health, particularly for people with neuropsychiatric disorders. Sleep health, as defined below, requires focused attention for diagnostic conceptualization and management of patients’ emotional and cognitive functioning. Similarly, the separate but related evaluation of sleep disorders by trained clinicians may also be important for diagnostic conceptualization and management. Neglecting sleep in psychiatric services can result in fragmented, incomplete care. This call to action seeks to elevate sleep health as a core focus within the clinical practice, research, and educational efforts of behavioral neurology and neuropsychiatry.
Jones MB, Broadway DE, Gimenez-Zapiola M
… +1 more, Jorge RE
J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci
· 2025 · PMID 39962979
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In this narrative review, the authors examine the multidimensional nature and presentations of impulsivity after stroke. Impulsivity manifests as immediate or premature responses, impaired delayed gratification, persever...In this narrative review, the authors examine the multidimensional nature and presentations of impulsivity after stroke. Impulsivity manifests as immediate or premature responses, impaired delayed gratification, perseverance despite punishment, and other displays of impaired emotional and behavioral regulation. The literature on the assessments, outcomes, and treatment of patients with these various manifestations after a cerebrovascular injury is reviewed. Findings from case reports indicate that poststroke impulsivity may manifest across neurobehavioral syndromes that are not well defined in the psychiatric nomenclature, such as alien hand syndrome and atypical impulse control disorders. Overall, impulse control disorders appear to be rare poststroke. Therapeutic approaches for poststroke impulsivity require further evidence. The field would benefit from refinement of impulsivity definitions and integration with psychiatric nomenclature.
Substance use disorders, including methamphetamine use disorder, are prevalent, causing extensive morbidity and death. Despite advances in evidence-based treatments for methamphetamine use disorder, many patients do not...Substance use disorders, including methamphetamine use disorder, are prevalent, causing extensive morbidity and death. Despite advances in evidence-based treatments for methamphetamine use disorder, many patients do not respond to these interventions, and new approaches are needed. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) involves the surgical implantation of a device to modulate nervous system function and has proven efficacy in the management of movement disorders. Recent studies of DBS for the management of substance use disorders have shown promise, and the authors of this review are currently investigating DBS for the treatment of patients with methamphetamine use disorder. However, acute and chronic intoxication with methamphetamine can result in various systemic abnormalities and medical comorbid conditions, presenting challenges for the neurosurgeon, the anesthesiologist, and other medical providers. This narrative review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of methamphetamine's systemic effects and associated medical comorbid conditions for clinicians engaged in the perioperative care of this patient population. The systemic effects and related medical comorbid conditions that may complicate the perioperative course of patients with methamphetamine use disorder are presented by organ system. With diligent preoperative planning and perioperative management, patients with methamphetamine use disorder can be successfully treated with DBS surgery. A thorough understanding of these effects and comorbid conditions is crucial for both the prevention and the rapid recognition of perioperative complications, resulting in improved outcomes in this patient population.
OBJECTIVE: Interpersonal conflicts are among the most prevalent stressors before the onset of functional neurological disorder (FND), possibly reflecting maladaptive anger regulation. The authors examined whether FND pat...OBJECTIVE: Interpersonal conflicts are among the most prevalent stressors before the onset of functional neurological disorder (FND), possibly reflecting maladaptive anger regulation. The authors examined whether FND patients have higher scores on anger-related measures compared with healthy control individuals and how anger regulation relates to personality factors. METHODS: FND patients (N=73, mean±SD age=44.2±16.7 years, 67% women) and healthy control individuals (N=43, mean age=43.3±17.0 years, 56% women) completed the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory-2 (STAXI-2) to measure state and trait components of anger. Personality factors were assessed with the Personality Inventory for DSM-5-Brief Form and a structured interview to explore conflict and anger-related measures. RESULTS: Compared with control individuals, FND patients had significantly higher levels of state anger (U=1,031.5). After adjustment of analyses for trait anger, patients with FND still had higher levels of state anger than did control individuals (Wald χ=6.97), an association that remained statistically significant after adjustment for other personality factors (Wald χ=7.69). Exploration of the Alternative Model of Personality Disorders factors showed that FND patients scored significantly higher on negative affectivity, disinhibition, detachment, and psychoticism but not on antagonism (U=1,244.0). Trait anger, assessed with the STAXI-2, did not differ significantly between FND patients and control individuals (U=1,317.5). Interview data analysis revealed that patients had more anger outbursts during childhood compared with control individuals (U=1,141.0). CONCLUSIONS: FND patients reported higher levels of state anger than did healthy control individuals, even after analyses were adjusted for demographic and personality factors and trait anger. These findings emphasize the importance of anger regulation and personality factors in FND assessment and management.
OBJECTIVE: Anxiety and depression are common among individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) but are often undertreated. Little is known about factors that influence the odds of antidepressant treatment for MS. The author...OBJECTIVE: Anxiety and depression are common among individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) but are often undertreated. Little is known about factors that influence the odds of antidepressant treatment for MS. The authors aimed to identify predictors of antidepressant use among people with MS. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was undertaken for a consecutive sample of 315 individuals with MS attending a tertiary neuropsychiatry clinic in Toronto. Predictor variables of antidepressant use included age, sex, MS duration and subtype, disease-modifying therapy use, psychotropic medication use, Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score (for neurological disability), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale subscale score (for anxiety and depression), and the abbreviated five-item Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS-5) score (for fatigue). Independent predictors of antidepressant use were identified with backward stepwise regression analyses (p<0.05). RESULTS: Participants' mean±SD age was 45.5±11.4 years, 74% were female, the mean EDSS score was 2.8±1.9 out of 10.0, and 70% had a relapsing-remitting subtype of MS. Psychotropic medication use such as antipsychotics and anxiolytics (OR=1.77, p<0.01), increased EDSS scores (OR=1.20, p<0.01), and increased MFIS-5 scores (OR=1.11, p<0.01) independently predicted antidepressant use. CONCLUSIONS: Polypharmacy, neurological disability, and fatigue may increase the odds of antidepressant use among people with MS. These findings clarify differences between people with MS who use or do not use antidepressants, shedding light on the factors that may influence antidepressant use among people with MS.
Watson KH, Ciriegio AE, Pfalzer AC
… +7 more, Snow ALB, Diehl S, McDonell KE, Vnencak-Jones CL, Long JD, Compas BE, Claassen DO
J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci
· 2025 · PMID 39885721
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OBJECTIVE: Using a multi-informant approach, the authors assessed the psychiatric symptoms of adolescents and young adults with or without the huntingtin gene expansion and examined the association of psychiatric symptom...OBJECTIVE: Using a multi-informant approach, the authors assessed the psychiatric symptoms of adolescents and young adults with or without the huntingtin gene expansion and examined the association of psychiatric symptoms with cumulative disease exposure, a measure taking into account age and genetic data. METHODS: The sample included 110 participants with (N=71) or without (N=39) the gene expansion, along with 85 family members who provided collateral reports. Saliva samples were used for genetic testing. Participants reported psychiatric symptoms with the age- and informant-appropriate Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment measure. RESULTS: Family member ratings indicated that young people (ages 10-39) with the gene expansion were more likely to exhibit depression symptoms, attention difficulties, and behavior problems compared with those without the gene expansion. Self-reports of these symptoms did not differ between the two groups and indicated elevated depression symptoms, attention difficulties, thought problems, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms in both groups. In family member reports, 25% and 15% of the individuals with the gene expansion exceeded the clinical cutoffs for internalizing and attention difficulties, respectively. Little support was found for an association between psychiatric symptoms and cumulative disease exposure. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that young people from families affected by Huntington's disease are at elevated risk for psychiatric symptoms regardless of gene status or cumulative disease exposure. However, findings differed depending on the informant type. These results emphasize a need to screen for and monitor the psychiatric symptoms of all young people from families affected by Huntington's disease regardless of gene status.
OBJECTIVE: The investigators compared neuropsychiatric symptoms among COVID-19 patients at hospital admission and at discharge. METHODS: Clinical data on neuropsychiatric syndromes were prospectively collected from 103 C...OBJECTIVE: The investigators compared neuropsychiatric symptoms among COVID-19 patients at hospital admission and at discharge. METHODS: Clinical data on neuropsychiatric syndromes were prospectively collected from 103 COVID-19 patients at admission and immediately before discharge. Clinical evaluations and serum biomarkers were analyzed to assess their relationship with neuropsychiatric symptoms and patient survival. RESULTS: Neuropsychiatric symptoms had improved by the time of hospital discharge (N=81) compared with admission. Depression scores decreased from 5.0 to 3.8 points on the Beck Depression Inventory (t=3.04); anxiety scores decreased from 12.3 to 10.0 points on the Beck Anxiety Inventory (t=2.75); and cognitive scores increased from 21.8 to 23.6 points on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (t=-4.07). Delirium was present among 24% of patients upon admission but only among 12% before discharge. Markers of inflammation were correlated with neuropsychiatric symptoms. Longer hospital stays significantly predicted depression (R=0.06), and gender and procalcitonin levels were significantly associated with anxiety (R=0.05). Cognitive impairment was linked to depression and the need for endotracheal intubation. Both cognitive impairment and endotracheal intubation were associated with lower survival rates (R=0.10 and 0.18, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: These findings reveal that a significant number of COVID-19 patients continued to exhibit affective symptoms, delirium, and cognitive deficits at discharge, with delirium and cognitive deficits being linked to lower survival rates and inflammation markers being significantly associated with these symptoms. Factors such as gender, hospital stay length, and mechanical ventilation predicted neuropsychiatric symptoms.
Luccarelli J, Smith JR, Kalinich M
… +2 more, Amad A, Rogers JP
J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci
· 2025 · PMID 39789943
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OBJECTIVE: Catatonia is a neuropsychiatric disorder that is associated with a range of medical and psychiatric illnesses. Although many single-center studies have been conducted, uncertainty over the population-based inc...OBJECTIVE: Catatonia is a neuropsychiatric disorder that is associated with a range of medical and psychiatric illnesses. Although many single-center studies have been conducted, uncertainty over the population-based incidence and prevalence of the disorder remains. This study reports on the incidence and prevalence rates of catatonia extrapolated from two large epidemiologic studies in the United Kingdom and United States. METHODS: Incidence rates (defined as the number of catatonic episodes per 100,000 person-years) and prevalence rates (defined as the proportion of individuals with catatonia in a given year) were calculated from the two studies. RESULTS: U.K. data showed an incidence of 4.34 (95% CI=3.98-4.72) catatonic episodes per 100,000 person-years with an average 1-year prevalence of 4.39 (95% CI=4.03-4.77) catatonic episodes per 100,000 persons. U.S. data revealed a 1-year prevalence of 5.15 (95% CI=5.08-5.23) catatonia-related hospitalizations per 100,000 persons. CONCLUSIONS: Catatonia is a rare disorder, qualifying as an orphan disease under both European Medicines Agency and U.S. Food and Drug Administration criteria. Further research is needed to rigorously define the epidemiology of catatonia in other populations.
OBJECTIVE: Social cognition is defined as the ability to construct mental representations about oneself, others, and one's relationships with others to guide social behaviors, including referring to mental states (cognit...OBJECTIVE: Social cognition is defined as the ability to construct mental representations about oneself, others, and one's relationships with others to guide social behaviors, including referring to mental states (cognitive factor) and understanding emotional states (affective factor). Difficulties in social cognition may be symptoms of schizophrenia. The authors examined associations between two factors of social cognition and specific schizophrenia symptoms, as well as a potential path from low-level affective perceptual social cognition to high-level social cognition, which may be associated with schizophrenia symptoms. METHODS: The authors compared IQ, executive function, and social cognition scores of 41 patients with schizophrenia with those of a community-based group of 30 healthy individuals by using the Diagnostic Analysis of Nonverbal Accuracy 2-Taiwan version, the Movie for the Assessment of Social Cognition-Taiwan version, and the Chinese version of the theory of mind task. RESULTS: In analyses controlled for IQ and executive function scores, patients with schizophrenia were found to perform more poorly than individuals in the healthy comparison group on all social cognition tasks. Disorganized symptoms were associated with lower accuracy of recognizing happy and angry faces, a lower verbal theory of mind score, and altered low- and high-level social cognition scores. A potential causal link was identified between low-level affective perceptual social cognition and high-level social cognition, resulting in disorganized symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate distinct roles of two factors of social cognition in schizophrenia symptomatology and provide a new direction for alleviating symptoms of this disorder by enhancing social cognition.
Ryczek CA, Rivas R, Hemphill L
… +4 more, Zanotelli Z, Renteria N, Dashtipour K, Jones JD
J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci
· 2025 · PMID 39789939
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OBJECTIVE: Cognitive impairment is a common nonmotor symptom among individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD). Although cognitive impairment generally develops progressively, individuals with PD-associated mild cognitive...OBJECTIVE: Cognitive impairment is a common nonmotor symptom among individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD). Although cognitive impairment generally develops progressively, individuals with PD-associated mild cognitive impairment (PD-MCI) may revert to being cognitively normal (CN), which is referred to as PD-MCI reversion. Previous studies are inconsistent in whether PD-MCI reverters are at greater risk for PD-MCI recurrence relative to CN individuals. Even less is known about how PD-MCI reverters compare with CN individuals or PD-MCI nonreverters in terms of neurodegenerative biomarkers. The authors examined group differences (CN, PD-MCI reversion, and PD-MCI nonreversion) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) markers of Alzheimer's disease (AD), including amyloid beta, tau (total [t-tau] and phosphorylated [p-tau]), and alpha-synuclein. METHODS: Data from the longitudinal international multisite Parkinson Progression Marker Initiative were used. Participants were newly diagnosed as having PD (N=430) and completed a battery of neurocognitive assessments at baseline and annual follow-ups for up to 5 years. Participants were classified as CN, PD-MCI reverters, or PD-MCI nonreverters on the basis of the first two neurocognitive assessments. RESULTS: The PD-MCI nonreversion group had greater p-tau:amyloid beta and t-tau:amyloid beta ratios relative to the PD-MCI reversion group. The CN and PD-MCI reversion groups did not significantly differ in any of the CSF markers. CONCLUSIONS: PD-MCI reverters may have a more favorable trajectory in terms of AD pathology relative to PD-MCI nonreverters. Future studies are needed to verify whether PD-MCI reversion may represent an intermediate prognostic group between CN individuals and those with MCI nonreversion.
Memory impairments are common chronic and functionally important consequences of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Among patients with persistent verbal memory impairments due to TBI-related cholinergic deficits, donepezil (...Memory impairments are common chronic and functionally important consequences of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Among patients with persistent verbal memory impairments due to TBI-related cholinergic deficits, donepezil (an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor) may improve these and related problems. The Multicenter Evaluation of Memory Remediation in TBI with Donepezil (MEMRI-TBI-D) study, a four-site, randomized, parallel-group, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 10-week clinical trial, evaluated the efficacy of donepezil on verbal memory impairments, co-occurring cognitive and noncognitive neuropsychiatric problems, and functional status among persons with severe, persistent, and functionally limiting verbal memory problems at least 6 months after mild, moderate, or severe TBI. Efficacy, safety, and tolerability measures were assessed. Seventy-five participants were randomly assigned to donepezil (N=37) and placebo (N=38) groups. In both modified intent-to-treat and per-protocol analyses, donepezil significantly improved memory (i.e., verbal learning, as measured by the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised Total Trials 1-3, the primary outcome measure) when compared with placebo. Treatment-responder rates in the donepezil and placebo groups were 42% and 18%, respectively, yielding a number needed to treat of 3.5. Among donepezil responders, delayed recall and processing speed also improved significantly. Treatment-emergent adverse event rates for donepezil and placebo were 46% and 8%, respectively, and mild or moderate (85%); diarrhea and nausea were significantly more common in the donepezil group, yielding a number needed to harm of 6.25 and a likelihood to be helped or harmed ratio of 1.79. These results suggest that donepezil is an efficacious treatment for severe, persistent memory impairments after predominantly severe TBI, with a relatively favorable safety and tolerability profile.
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare functional vision loss (FVL) among adults and children, including its presentation and the biopsychosocial factors that may contribute to FVL development. METHODS: PubM...OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare functional vision loss (FVL) among adults and children, including its presentation and the biopsychosocial factors that may contribute to FVL development. METHODS: PubMed, Scopus, and PsycInfo databases were searched in April 2023 for studies reporting data on visual acuity loss (VAL), visual field defects (VFDs), psychiatric disorders, or biopsychosocial stressors of patients with FVL. Studies were excluded if they did not report information on the specific outcomes for all patients or reported on only a subset of FVL patients. RESULTS: Overall, 27 studies were included, comprising 1,476 patients. Twenty-six articles reported on visual symptoms, 14 on psychiatric disorders, and 11 on biopsychosocial stressors. The prevalence of VAL was similar among adults (80%) compared with children (83%), but VFDs were significantly more common among adults (86% in adults vs. 50% in children). The prevalence of a history of psychiatric disorders was similar among both adults (42%) and children (23%). Adults most commonly reported accidents or physical trauma (31%) as predisposing or precipitating factors for VAL, whereas children most frequently reported family or home stress (19%). CONCLUSIONS: VFDs were found to be more common among adults than among children with FVL. Among adults and children with FVL, different psychiatric and biopsychosocial stressors were reported. This review was limited by the heterogeneous data among studies and unstandardized methods of data collection and reporting. Future research may seek to better understand the differences between adults and children with FVL and explore possible treatment options.