In light of the recent changes in the legal status of cannabis in Canada, the understanding of the potential impact of the use of cannabis by individuals suffering from depression is increasingly considered as being important. It is fundamental that we look into the existing literature to examine the influence of cannabis on psychiatric conditions, including mood disorders. In this article, we will explore the relationship that exists between depression and cannabis. We will examine the impact of cannabis on the onset and course of depression, and its treatment. We have undertaken a wide-ranging review of the literature in order to address these questions. The evidence from longitudinal studies suggest that there is a bidirectional relationship between cannabis use and depression, such that cannabis use increases the risk for depression and vice-versa. This risk is possibly higher in heavy users having initiated their consumption in early adolescence. Clinical evidence also suggests that cannabis use is associated with a worse prognosis in individuals with major depressive disorder. The link with suicide remains controversial. Moreover, there is insufficient data to determine the impact of cannabis use on cognition in individuals with major depression disorder. Preliminary evidence suggesting that the endogenous cannabinoid system is involved in the pathophysiology of depression. This will need to be confirmed in future positron emission tomography studies. Randomized controlled trials are needed to investigate the potential efficacy of motivational interviewing and/or cognitive behavioral therapy for the treatment of cannabis use disorder in individuals with major depressive major disorder. Finally, although there is preclinical evidence suggesting that cannabidiol has antidepressant properties, randomized controlled trials will need to properly investigate this possibility in humans.
Background: Measuring cognition in clinical practice is clearly essential to the appropriate characterisation of patients' clinical status and to the development of a personalised care plan. The Screen for Cognitive Impairment in Psychiatry (SCIP) has been developed in order to provide a brief and accessible tool allowing the evaluation of cognitive function in psychiatric conditions. Objective: We present a validation of a French version of the SCIP. Method: Translation from English into French is carried out using the accepted back-translation method. Seventy-two healthy volunteers are characterised by demographic questionnaires and a neuropsychological battery. The French version of the SCIP is then administered on two separate occasions separated by at least a one-week interval. Results: High internal consistencies as well as strong correlations with comparable neuropsychological tests are obtained. A normalised Cronbach's α = 0.66 is obtained. Conclusions: The French version of the SCIP (SCIP-F) yields results comparable to the English version. The SCIP represents an essential tool for the preliminary evaluation of cognition. Its characteristics, brevity and the lack of need for a technological platform, allow for its integration into clinical practice. Further testing of SCIP-F in various psychiatric conditions will yield valuable information on its potential in clinical settings.
Duloxetine could be an option for patients who either do not tolerate or show resistance to more common pharmacological choices. Randomized controlled trials are needed to assess the efficacy of duloxetine in treating ADHD symptoms.
Noting concerns for a comprehensive conceptualization of alexithymic characteristics, the present study examines the potential utility of considering these characteristics as manifestations of deficits in cognitive schemata. Research guided by this conceptualization has identified physiological, subjective, and personality features of alexithymic characteristics. It is reasoned that if this conceptualization has merit, it should be possible to predict the presence of alexithymic characteristics from these features. Results of the present study indicate that a combination of physiological, subjective, and personality variables significantly predicts the presence of alexithymic characteristics as measured by the Schalling-Sifneos Personality Scale. These results are discussed in terms of their implications for a more comprehensive description of alexithymia and the value of the cognitive schema conceptualization.
surgeries and have standard early postoperative courses. The dearth of information underlines the need for more systematic observational studies to allow appropriate recommendations regarding this issue, as suggested by the evolution of the patients presented here who both presented a relapse of their psychiatric condition.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Chiari malformations (CM), first described approximately a hundred years ago, refer to a spectrum of hindbrain malformations characterized by cerebellar herniation through the foramen magnum. We present the case of a 28-year-old woman with ADHD and concurrent Chiari malformation type I (CM-I) that was diagnosed by CT scan. There is growing evidence supporting the role of the cerebellum and its associated structures in the pathophysiology of ADHD. Thus, a cerebellar malformation such as CM may impact neurological circuitry in a manner favoring the development of a neuropsychiatric disorder such as ADHD. Our case highlights the need for further studies pertaining to the role of the cerebellum in the pathophysiology of ADHD and the importance of considering the presence of CM when evaluating a patient with ADHD.
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