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Background: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a disabling illness associated with significant functional and psychosocial impairment. Although many psychopharmacological agents are currently available for its treatment, many MDD patients suffer from treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Methods: A systematic review of the current literature (Pubmed/Medline, Scopus and ScienceDirect search) has been conducted with the primary aim to investigate the role of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in improving neurocognition in patients with TRD. Studies were included according to the following criteria: (a) being an original paper in a peer-reviewed journal and (b) having analyzed the effect of rTMS on neurocognitive functioning in TRD. Results: The combined search strategy yielded a total of 91 articles, of which, after a complete analysis, 22 fulfilled our inclusion criteria. Based on the main findings, most of the selected studies suggested the existence of a trend towards improvements in the neurocognitive profile using rTMS. Negative findings have also been reported. However, most studies were limited by their small sample size or included mixed samples, or the adopted single-blind designs potentially biased the blinding of the study design. Conclusion: rTMS is a noninvasive brain stimulation that may be considered a valuable and promising technique for cognitive enhancement in TRD.

Our data are consistent with worldwide literature showing a slow and variable implementation of early psychosis services in all nations. The main efforts to make these services diffused should be addressed to favour the process of localized adaptation to the guidelines, to demand possible and realistic implementation of the standard method, to stimulate policy endorsement and resources' allocation, and to particularly support the rural and the poorer zones.

The aim of this study is to gain insight into the individual experiences of patients who attempt suicide in order to better understand the reasons for and emotions behind a suicide attempt, thus also gaining insight, through the patients' own input, into the risk and protective factors which might influence possible repeat attempts and the attitude towards the assistance they receive. Two focus groups were conducted involving 17 participants, all hospitalized at the time of research for attempting suicide. The patients proved themselves competent, even expert in indicating reasons for, risk factors of and prevention strategies for suicide. The main findings suggest that the relational factor represents a key point both as a trigger for the suicide attempt and for promoting the communication of the intent or for preventing a repeat suicide attempt, as interpersonal relationships and an empathic environment were, in essence, what was perceived as therapeutic and protective and enabled the expression of thoughts and self-understanding. Accordingly psychotherapy, non-specific relationship 'monitoring' after discharge and tutored self-help groups have been suggested. Feasibility and implementing methods as well as the role of the nurse for such interventions were discussed.

The Stroop color and word test (SCWT) is widely used to evaluate attention, information processing speed, selective attention, and cognitive flexibility. Normative values for the Italian population are available only for selected age groups, or for the short version of the test. The aim of this study was to provide updated normal values for the full version, balancing groups across gender, age decades, and education. Two kinds of indexes were derived from the performance of 192 normal subjects, divided by decade (from 20 to 90) and level of education (4 levels: 3-5; 6-8; 9-13; >13 years). They were (i) the correct answers achieved for each table in the first 30 s (word items, WI; color items, CI; color word items, CWI) and (ii) the total time required for reading the three tables (word time, WT; color time, CT; color word time, CWT). For each index, the regression model was evaluated using age, education, and gender as independent variables. The normative data were then computed following the equivalent scores method. In the regression model, age and education significantly influenced the performance in each of the 6 indexes, whereas gender had no significant effect. This study confirms the effect of age and education on the main indexes of the Stroop test and provides updated normative data for an Italian healthy population, well balanced across age, education, and gender. It will be useful to Italian researchers studying attentional functions in health and disease.