Current Psychiatry Research and Reviews - Volume 19, Issue 2, 2023

Obesity is a multifactorial metabolic condition characterized by an abnormal or excessive accumulation of fat in the adipose tissue, capable of decreasing life expectancy. Chronically, the exacerbated inflammatory response interferes with the proper functioning of organs and tissues, becoming the cornerstone of various major metabolic imbalances in different systems, such as the central nervous system. Considering this, obesity’s meta-inflammation indirectly affects brain regions related to psychiatric illnesses and cognitive function. Also, it has been established that several neurobiological mechanisms related to appetite regulation and impulse control disorders could explain the onset of obesity. Thus, due to the high prevalence of mental illnesses linked to obese patients and the fact that a bidirectional relation between these two entities has been observed, many efforts have been made to establish an effective and secure pharmacological approach to obesity. In this context, several psychotropics and appetite- suppressant drugs, along with lifestyle changes, have been highlighted as promising therapeutic tools against obesity.

The emergence of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has significantly impacted the world's population, disrupting healthcare systems around the globe and leading to human and material losses. While different vaccines have been approved in record time, there continues to be a high number of daily new cases, and patients face a wide range of presentations of the disease, from asymptomatic to potentially fatal. Therefore, the search for therapeutic agents that can aid in the management and control of the disease has become one of the main goals for researchers and clinicians. As an inflammatory disease, targets for the treatment of COVID-19 have largely involved the immune system. Inflammation has also been associated with mental health disorders, and studies have shown the potential involvement of inflammatory pathways in the pathophysiology of depression. As a consequence, the hypothesis of using antidepressants and other psychotropics for the treatment of COVID-19 has emerged. In this review, we aim to summarize the molecular pathways that could be involved as well as the emergent evidence that has been reported by studies performed since the appearance of SARS-CoV-2 in 2019. While it has been observed that there are potential therapeutic pathways for the use of antidepressants in the treatment of COVID-19, additional studies are needed to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of psychotropics in this disease.

Background: Understanding how people respond to societal problems requires analyzing the experience and expression of moral emotions (ME). Despite the fact that various research on moral emotions have been conducted in Latin America, this analysis has yet to be completed, despite the fact that it is particularly important due to its link to violence and inequality. Methods: The goal of this paper is to evaluate ME research in Latin America and discuss it within the context of a socio-cultural and socio-economic analysis of this region of the world. The PRISMA searching method was applied in Scopus, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scielo, and Redalyc databases. Results: The findings revealed 58 publications in Latin America that dealt with moral feelings and were consequently studied. Colombia, Mexico, Brazil, and Chile are the countries that have tackled the issue the most. Compassion, devotion, and gratitude were the three most explored MS and associated themes. Conclusion: The impact of moral emotions on persons living in various Latin American environments, as well as their prosocial acts aimed at combating violence and inequality, is revealed.

Background: The world health organization has indicated that the problem of COVID-19 and confinement generated strong psychological impacts on the world population. Much of the research has focused on studying mental health in different population groups, leaving aside a positive mental health perspective. Objective: The present research intended to establish positive mental health profiles in confined women due to COVID-19 during 2020. Methods: The factors of personal satisfaction, prosocial attitude, self-control, autonomy, problem- solving, self-actualization, and interpersonal relationships were assessed through the application of Lluch's positive mental health scale, in a sample of 202 confined women in the Department of Sucre, Colombia, selected by non-probabilistic convenience sampling. In addition, cluster analysis models were applied to identify psychological profiles of positive mental health and characterize sociodemographic variables, the selected model was evaluated and validated using the statistical technique of discriminant analysis using Minitab 18 software. Results and Discussion: A positive mental health differentiation in women is shown from which four psychological profiles of positive mental health could be identified, with scores of 14.10 in profile 1, 11.41 in profile 2, 9.15 in profile 3, and 7.56 in profile 4. The positive mental health factors used showed an ability to discriminate in 92.6% of the cases in the profiles. Conclusion: The identified profiles are significant and important to characterize psychometric profiles of positive mental health of confined women, which are important results for their diagnosis and the development of public policies for their treatment.

Objective: The objective of this research was to reveal the feelings and tensions that characterize the family relationships of university students in times of pandemic and confinement conditions due to COVID-19. Methods: The method was qualitative, and the feelings and tensions in the family and educational context of 584 university students were evaluated, from a qualitative proposal and a hermeneutic approach, anchored to the question: How have the affective manifestations been, in terms of feelings and tensions, in the family relationships of university students, academically active, in the Caribbean Region of Colombia, during the mandatory confinement process derived from the COVID 19 pandemic? The methodological design was structured from the concepts of the Grounded Theory, applied to the data obtained through virtual techniques and instruments, such as an online survey. The organization of the information to generate the results was made from descriptive, analytical and interpretive coding, supported by matrices and theoretical maps. Results and Discussion: There are feelings and tensions in three directions: Negative Feelings (in tension) such as anxiety, stress and depression; positive feelings, joy, adaptation and ambiguous feelings, which show ambivalence and variability, which are reflected in family relationships and three senses: They have improved, remain the same and have worsened, according to each type, dynamics and characteristics of the family, associated with gender, coping mechanisms and socioeconomic level. Conclusion: Families were transformed due to the pandemic, and relationships and interactions were found that exacerbated tensions or factors of protection and care among family members, with emotional overload, with stress from work and study.

Background: Insomnia is considered one of the most common sleep disorders. One-third of the world’s population has one or more symptoms of insomnia, with 10% satisfying the criteria for clinical diagnosis. Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of insomnia among pharmacists working in Saudi Arabia and its association with self-medication. Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed online by the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties, targeting pharmacists from different working areas in Saudi Arabia. The survey included sociodemographic data, level of education, working area, and work experience; use of pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic sleeping aid; reasons for self-medication; and the Insomnia Severity Index questionnaire. Results: A total of 515 pharmacists participated in the study (male 53.4% vs. female 46.6%). The prevalence of clinically significant insomnia was 48.2%. Of these, 66.5% were mild, 29.8% were moderate, and 3.6% were severe. The prevalence of pharmacists currently using sleep aid medications was 22.7%. Factors associated with clinically significant insomnia were younger age (21-30 years), female sex, unmarried status, living in the central region, chronic diseases, history of psychiatric disorder, consultation with a health care professional, current use of sleep aid medications, and use of psychological and behavioral intervention as a sleeping aid. Conclusion: Insomnia is common among pharmacists in Saudi Arabia, but selfmedication is uncommon. Of all pharmacists, female young adults who were not married and had a previous history of psychiatric disorders were greatly affected by insomnia and self-medicated the most.

Background: Factitious Disorder is a condition included among psychiatric disorders, where symptoms are intentionally produced to seek medical attention. Its epidemiology, treatment, and outcome are largely unknown. Objective: To increase knowledge of the condition, we discuss a pediatric case where the patient feigned neuropsychiatric symptoms. Methods: A 15-year-old female adolescent presented with neuropsychiatric symptoms suggestive of rare conditions such as Delusional Misidentification Syndrome (i.e., Capgras and Fregoli syndromes) and Developmental Prosopagnosia as well as epileptic seizures. Results: When Delusional Misidentification Syndrome was suspected, she was treated with Risperidone. Due to suboptimal response, Alprazolam and Sertraline were added and then Risperidone was cross-titrated to Haloperidol. The condition severity led to her admission to an inpatient Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit. MRI scan and electroencephalographic recording were normal. The self- and parent-reported psychological assessment indicated several psychiatric symptoms. Instead, the clinician-administered Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-Adolescent and Structured Inventory of Malingered Symptomatology suggested a fake-bad profile and neuropsychiatric symptom simulation. Along with evidence of incongruent symptoms between the patient’s interviews, such investigations led to the diagnosis of Factitious Disorder. Psychopharmacological treatment was discontinued, and psychological support was offered to the patient and her parents. Conclusion: Increasing knowledge about Factitious Disorder is needed.