Current Issue : January-March Volume : 2026 Issue Number : 1 Articles : 6 Articles
Background/Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels, disease severity, and various psychiatric symptoms in adolescents with atopic dermatitis (AD), compared to a healthy control group. Methods: This study included 50 patients aged 10–18 years with AD, along with a control group matched for age and gender. Measurements included complete blood count, basal cortisol, serum immunoglobulin E (IgE), CRP, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and serum BDNF levels. Disease severity was evaluated using the Eczema Area and Severity Index. Participants also completed several instruments: the Beck Depression Inventory-II, the Body Appreciation Scale, the Children’s Dermatology Life Quality Index, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and the Social Anxiety Scale for Children—Revised. Results: The AD group experienced a more impaired dermatological quality of life, lower body appreciation, more severe depressive symptoms, and poorer sleep quality compared to the control group. However, there was no significant difference between the groups in serum BDNF, basal cortisol, and CRP levels. Furthermore, serum BDNF levels showed no significant correlation with disease severity or psychosocial parameters in patients with AD. Conclusions: The current findings do not suggest a link between serum BDNF levels and disease severity or psychiatric symptoms in adolescents with AD. Further research is necessary in this field....
This entry provides a brief introduction to some of the main aspects of the work of C.G. Jung, followed by a description of how his work was developed by others during his lifetime and afterward. This entry provides an overview of the Jungian tradition in Depth Psychology. It begins with a discussion of how Jung’s ideas differed from those of Freud and opened a distinct tradition of analytic (Jungian) psychology. By identifying the other influential people who contributed to the amplification of Jung’s work, this article then details how these ideas expanded beyond the work of training analysts to become a more influential, impactful, and widespread phenomenon....
Objective: To review studies on support for family caregivers of people with mental illnesses and outline the support purposes and methods of such support, in order to analyze effective practical elements. Methods: Four manuscripts were identified through screening of two databases (MEDLINE, CINAHL). Details regarding support for families of people with mental illnesses were sorted and analyzed. Results: Although there were various types of mental illness and subjects, four effective practical elements were identified: “opportunities for dialogue”, “continuous connection with supporters”, “understanding and supporting the challenges of caring for people with mental illness supporting family caregivers”, and “not implementing specialist-led support”. Discussion: Results suggested that the support offered by specialists needed to be modified based on an understanding of the challenges faced by family members....
Despite growing evidence supporting the efficacy of LSD-assisted psychotherapy in treating major depressive disorder (MDD), identifying reliable psychopharmacological biomarkers remains necessary. Oxytocin, a neuropeptide implicated in social bonding and flexibility, is a promising candidate due to its release following serotonergic psychedelic administration in healthy individuals; however, its dynamics in psychiatric populations are currently unexplored. This observational pilot study aimed to characterize salivary oxytocin dynamics during a single LSD-assisted psychotherapy session in our patients with treatment-resistant MDD. Participants received 100 or 150 μg LSD, and salivary oxytocin was measured at baseline, 60, 90, and 180 min post-LSD. Concurrently, participants rated subjective drug intensity (0–10 scale) at 60, 90, and 180 min. A linear mixed model revealed significant variation of oxytocin levels over time. Perceived psychedelic intensity also significantly varied over time. This supports oxytocin as a potential biomarker. Larger, controlled trials are warranted to replicate these findings and clarify the mechanistic links between oxytocin dynamics and clinical outcomes, including changes in depressive symptoms and mental flexibility....
Background: Antenatal depression is a prevalent and under-recognised mental health condition that affects pregnant women, particularly in low- and middle- income countries (LMICs). This can have serious consequences for both maternal well-being and fetal development. Objective: This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of antenatal depression and identify its psychosocial risk factors among pregnant women attending prenatal care at the Abass Ndao Hospital in Dakar, Senegal. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from June to August 2022, involving 100 pregnant women. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), while social support, anxiety, and intimate partner violence were measured using the MSPSS, PRAQ, and WAST tools respectively. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the independent predictors of antenatal depression. Results: The prevalence of depressive symptoms (EPDS score ≥ 10) was 27%. Independent risk factors included low perceived social support (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 4.5), pregnancy-related anxiety (aOR = 1.15), intimate partner violence (aOR = 2.5), recent stressful life events (aOR = 3.2), previous psychiatric history (aOR = 5.15), and low socioeconomic status (aOR = 1.6). Conclusion: Antenatal depression is common in urban Senegalese settings and is strongly influenced by psychosocial stressors. Routine screening for emotional distress and social vulnerability during prenatal care should be integrated into maternal health services....
This integrative review explores the emerging interdisciplinary approach of combining psychotherapy, artificial intelligence (AI), and kinesiology in the field of mental health care. The convergence of these domains presents transformative opportunities to improve diagnostic accuracy, enhance therapeutic precision, and personalize mental health interventions. AI contributes advanced data processing and real-time emotional analysis capabilities; kinesiology provides insight into the physiological manifestations of psychological states; and psychotherapy offers a human-centered framework for addressing emotional and cognitive well-being. Together, these elements support a more holistic and responsive model of care. Through an extensive literature review of peer-reviewed articles, theoretical papers, and clinical studies from 2010 to 2024, this paper synthesizes key findings and identifies practical, ethical, and methodological implications of this integration. Key themes emerging from the literature include the enhancement of emotion recognition, the role of biofeedback in somatic regulation, the predictive power of AI in therapy, and the potential of integrated models to bridge gaps in telehealth delivery. The review also highlights critical challenges such as data privacy, informed consent, algorithmic bias, equitable access to emerging technologies, and clinician readiness. It argues that addressing these challenges requires robust ethical governance, interdisciplinary collaboration, and inclusive innovation to ensure that the integration enhances rather than detracts from therapeutic relationships. Overall, the paper emphasizes the need for further empirical research, standardized clinical protocols, and inclusive implementation strate-gies. It concludes that the integration of AI, kinesiology, and psychotherapy holds significant promise for redefining the future of mental health care by making it more intelligent, embodied, and patient-centered....
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