Oince the discovery in the late 1950's of imipramine (Tofranil®), the first tricyclic antidepressant (TCA), and iproniazid, the first monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI), many other TCAs and MAOIs, now being considered the classical antidepressants, have become available. Their effectiveness has been shown in numerous studies, although according to nowadays standards well designed studies (placebo-controlled, defined diagnostic groups, the use of standardized rating scales) with these compounds are relatively scarce.

From the early 1980's the so called modern antidepressants have been introduced: the selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs), the reversible selective monoamine oxidase-A inhibitors (RIMAs) and a variety of other compounds. All these drugs have been registered after their effectiveness had been shown in well designed, placebo-controlled studies. In defining the efficacy of antidepressants, registration authorities consider two aspects important: statistical evidence and clinical relevance.

Child development is strongly influenced by maternal characteristics. Maternal sensitivity, as well as risks to and outcomes of sensitive maternal style, are well studied in industrialised western contexts, but it is unclear if this is the case for other contexts. Sub-Saharan Africa has been subjected to and continues to negotiate socio-economic and psychological sequelae of colonial and race-based politics: exploring the nature and outcomes of early caregiver input in such challenging conditions is imperative. This scoping review thus aims to 1) evaluate the nature and extent of quantified observational assessments of dyadic interactions, with a focus on maternal sensitivity, in Sub-Saharan Africa and 2) ascertain which risk and outcome factors have been examined in relation to maternal sensitivity. Study quality and cross-cultural appropriateness will also be considered. The search using expanded search terms yielded 20 papers –four characterizing maternal sensitivity or style, eight examining maternal sensitivity in relation to risks and outcomes, and eight intervention studies examining efforts to improve maternal sensitivity. Most research was conducted in South Africa – only seven studies were conducted in four other countries. Researchers used a wide array of coding schemes, mostly developed in the west. Ten studies made some adaptations to measures. Language issues and cultural considerations were often not explicitly addressed. Taken together, very limited research on this important topic exists. For the work that does exist, questions around westernized assumptions, language, and appropriateness of measures remain. Substantially more research, informed by both culturally flexible conceptualizations and methodological rigour, is required.

To assess the psychosocial functioning concerning obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS) and/or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) comorbidity in people with schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or bipolar disorder diagnosed in a large case register database in Southeast London. Data were retrieved from the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust Biomedical Research Centre (SLaM BRC) register using Clinical Record Interactive Search (CRIS) system, a platform allowing research on full but de-identified electronic health records for secondary and tertiary mental healthcare services. Information of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder diagnosis and OCS/OCD status was ascertained from structural or free-text fields through natural language processing (NLP) algorithms based on artificial intelligence techniques during the observation window of January 2007 to December 2016. Associations between comorbid OCS/OCD and recorded Health of the Nation Outcome Scales (HoNOS) for problems with activities of daily living (ADLs), living conditions, occupational and recreational activities, and relationships were estimated by logistic regression with socio-demographic confounders controlled. Of 15,412 subjects diagnosed with schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or bipolar disorder, 2,358 (15.3%) experienced OCS without OCD, and 2,586 (16.8%) had OCD recorded. The presence of OCS/OCD was associated with more problems with relationships (adj.OR = 1.34, 95% CI: 1.25–1.44), ADLs (adj.OR = 1.31, 95%CI: 1.22–1.41), and living conditions (adj.OR = 1.31, 95% CI: 1.22–1.41). Sensitivity analysis revealed similar outcomes. Comorbid OCS/OCD was associated with poorer psychosocial functioning in people with schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or bipolar disorder. This finding highlights the importance of identification and treatment of comorbid OCS among this vulnerable patient group.

From a neuroscientific point of view, one of the unique archetypes of substance use disorders is its road to relapse, in which the reward system plays a crucial role. Studies on the neurobiology of substance use disorders have highlighted the central role of a protein belonging to the Fos family of transcription factors, ΔFosB. Relying on the roles ΔFosB plays in the pathophysiology of substance use disorders, we endeavour to present some evidence demonstrating that N-acetylcysteine, a low-cost and well-tolerated over-the-counter medicine, may influence the downstream pathway of ΔFosB, thereby serving as a treatment strategy to mitigate the risk of relapse in cases of substance use.

A review is given of the neuropsychological conceptualizations of aphasia and apraxia in SDAT. In the beginning of this century localisationism was prevailing. Later, developmental and cognitive psychology gave an important impetus to reconsider these symptoms in an holistic framework. More recently, since the application of new brain imaging techniques, there is a revival of localizing conceptualizations.

The purpose of this article is to give a comprehensive review of biological theories about the development of panic disorder.

Noradrenergic, serotonergic and GABA-ergic models of panic disorder are discussed, together with the role of peptides and neuroanatomical hypotheses.

The conclusion is that there is no unitary biological explanation of panic disorder.

An intergrative bio-psycho-social model seems for the moment the most usefull.

According to interpersonal theories on depression, the type of interaction between depression-prone subjects and their social environment plays a causal role in the development and course of depression (e.g. Coyne et al.). So far, interpersonal theories have been tackled mostly by psychometrical methods. However, non-verbal behaviour plays an important role in human social interactions. It is assumed that 60-65% of human communication is non-verbal. Ethological observations have shown that non-verbal interpersonal behaviour of depressed subjects, as assessed prior to treatment, is related to treatment-response or subsequent course of depression. These results are in line with an interpersonal approach of depression.

Decades of research into the etiology of schizophrenia on a phenotypic level, i.e. studies of neuroanatomy, neuropathology, neurophysiology and other areas such as immunology have yielded only fragmentary results. A contribution of genetic factors, has been consistently shown, however, beginning with E. Kraepelin's pioneering studies at the turn of the century. Evidence has accumulated from family-, twin-, and adoption studies. Identical twins have a 48% risk of developing schizophrenia if one of them is affected. In contrast, a 17 % risk is reported for nonidentical twins. These rates are similar to other complex genetic disorders such as diabetes, hypertension and asthma. Advances in the genetic analysis of complex traits as well as progress in the Human Genome Project should provide a basis for uncovering the molecular causes of schizophrenic disorders and for investigating the neuropathology of this individually and socially devastating neuropsychiatrie disorder. There is no doubt, that discovery of the genetic variation associated with the illness would help in identifying specific targets for development of more effective, targeted treatments.

Cognitive and behavioural processes may constitute a risk for onset and persistence of depression. People who become depressed frequently show enduring negative cognitions which predispose them to depression. In addition, interpersonal processes are supposed to contribute to the etiology and maintenance of depression. Depression-prone persons are presumed to display deficient or problematic social behaviours that elicit negative reactions in others, finally resulting in withdrawal by family and friends.

About 60% of human communication is non-verbal. An ethological approach may therefore contribute to reveal behavioural and cognitive vulnerability factors for depression onset or persistence. Various studies support this presumption: High levels of patients' observed behaviour indicating involvement in the interaction between depressives and clinicians at admission are related with persistence of depression.

Description of psychopathological symptoms in mentally retarded subjects is of great heuristic value because of the association with a known genetic disorder as well as the heterogenous and atypical phenomenology. The concept of behavioural phenotypes postulates a specific relationship between gene defect and behaviour, although considerable overlap between syndromes and differences within syndromes concerning behavioural manifestations are frequently observed. Since syndrome specific psychiatric disorders can be established too, the term psychopathological phenotype seems to be appropriate.