Current Psychopharmacology - Volume 8, Issue 1, 2019

The investigation of the efficacy and safety of drugs requires assessments of their effects on alertness/sleepiness. Unfortunately, there is confusion about the nature of ‘sleepiness’, the factors which influence it, and how it can be measured under different circumstances. This review aims to clarify these matters and to offer some suggestions about how current difficulties might be overcome. Different meanings of the word ‘s Read More

Calcium is a versatile signaling molecule; a key regulator of an array of diverse cellular processes ranging from transcription to motility to apoptosis. It plays a critical role in neuronal signal transmission and energy metabolism through specialized mechanisms. Dysregulation of the Ca2+ signaling pathways has been linked to major psychiatric diseases. Here, we focus on molecular psychiatry, exploring the role of cal Read More

Background: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a modern neuromodulation method used in the treatment of advanced movement disorders such as Parkinson’s disease (PD) and dystonia. Patients with PD may have multiple psychiatric comorbidities, notably anxiety, depression, mania or hypomania, and psychosis. DBS surgery may indirectly alleviate psychiatric symptoms by allowing reduction of dopaminergic medication Read More

Background: The role of dopamine receptor sub-families in the rewarding and reinforcing effects of drugs of abuse has been established in numerous studies. Objectives: In view of the extensive role of mesolimbic dopaminergic transmission in rewarding and reinforcing effect of abused drugs including ethanol, the present study evaluated three mechanistically different drugs viz a partial dopaminergic agonist (PDA, aripip Read More

Background: Kratom is a traditional medicinal herb with mild addictive properties. Nevertheless, current available data on substance use disorder related to kratom use is scarce. This study aims to clinically evaluate and identify factors that are associated with kratom use disorder among regular kratom tea/juice users in traditional settings in Malaysia. Method: 150 regular kratom users were recruited through convenient s Read More

Background: Essential Tremor (ET) is a disease present in neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson´s disease. Besides the motor dysfunction, ET also causes sleep problems, including excessive daytime sleepiness. To manage ET, several compounds are prescripted, such as primidone. However, no evidence is available regarding the effects of primidone on sleep. Objective: We analyzed the effects of systemi Read More

Background: Aescin or β-escin is the main and active constituent of horse chestnut seed (Aesculus hippocastanum) used for the treatment of inflammatory edema, venous insufficiency and ischemic ulcerations. Aescin has many actions due to induction of endothelial nitric oxide and prostaglandin F2-α production moreover; aescin antagonizes the effect of histamine and 5HT at receptor levels. Objective: The aim of th Read More