Current Psychiatry Reviews - Volume 13, Issue 1, 2017

Background: Heart transplantation in children has revolutionized the care of young patients with congenital and acquired heart disease, with considerable improvements in survival and quality of life. Heart transplantation is now being offered as a potentially life-saving option to pediatric patients with many cardiac conditions, and yet the major limiting factor remains the lack of suitable donor hearts. Requirement: Transpl Read More

Purpose: To offer a uniform framework for the participation of psychiatrists and mental health professionals involved in the multidisciplinary evaluation leading to decision about listing patients for organ transplantation. Method: Literature review of evidence regarding the impact of psychiatric disease upon post- transplantation outcomes; literature review and opinion review regarding psychological implications of de Read More

Background: The epidemics of obesity, diabetes and hypertension as well as the high prevalence of Hepatitis C are the major contributors to end stage organ disease. Transplantation is the definitive cure for end stage organ failure. There is a high prevalence of depression, anxiety and substance abuse in transplant candidates and their caregivers. Integrating behavioral health into a transplant program helps to identify Read More

Background: Paranoid personality disorder refers to an extensive and enduring psychosocial dysfunction typified by a penetrating pattern of manifestations like hypersensitivity, selfreference, and mistrust. Even though it is continuously represented in DSM and ICD, its diagnostic status has been intermittently questioned. Objective: Provide a brief review on paranoid personality disorder with particular emphasis on sociodem Read More

Background: The increasing number of people living with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) constitutes a growing global concern. At present, nearly 44 million people suffer from AD worldwide, and these numbers are expected almost to double every 20 years. Given its high prevalence and growing incidence, AD is one of the top causes of disabilities in later life, and this takes an enormous toll on the caregivers. Importance: It is trem Read More

Background: Accurate prediction of a suicide attempt is a difficult task for clinicians. Inflammatory processes can explain, at least partly, suicidal symptoms such as agitation, anhedonia and hopelessness. Inflammation leads to secretion of mediator proteins, amongst which interleukin-6 (IL6) and arginine vasopressin (AVP) are of particular significance. The levels of both proteins can be monitored in blood. Consequence: Incre Read More

Background: Sex differences are observed in schizophrenia, with women exhibiting an overall better disease outcome, leading to the estrogen hypothesis of schizophrenia that postulates a protective role of estrogen against the development and severity of the disorder. Estrogen (17β- estradiol) is a sex steroid hormone; its primary mechanism of action is via binding to estrogen receptors and initiating gene expression. Read More

Background: Mental illness affects about 26.2 percent of the people in the United States in a 12 month period and has a life time prevalence of about 46 percent. This implies that a large number of patients depend largely on the emergency services among various other avenues for their mental health needs. This has led to the exploration of utilizing physician assistants, social workers and psychiatric nurses in emergency Read More