Article
Clinical Neurology
Katharina Schiller, Saoussen Berrahmoune, Christelle Dassi, Isabelle Corriveau, Taghreed A. Ayash, Bradley Osterman, Chantal Poulin, Michael Shevell, Elisabeth Simard-Tremblay, Guillaume Sebire, Kenneth A. Myers
Summary: This randomized double-blind placebo-controlled crossover trial showed that memantine is a safe and effective treatment for children with developmental and epileptic encephalopathy, improving both seizure control and cognitive function.
Article
Psychiatry
Katharina O. Sandstrom, Olga B. Baltzersen, Anouk Marsman, Cecilie K. Lemvigh, Vincent O. Boer, Kirsten B. Bojesen, Mette O. Nielsen, Henrik Lundell, Daban K. Sulaiman, Mikkel E. Sorensen, Birgitte Fagerlund, Adrienne C. Lahti, Warda T. Syeda, Christos Pantelis, Esben T. Petersen, Birte Y. Glenthoj, Hartwig R. Siebner, Bjorn H. Ebdrup
Summary: This trial aims to investigate the clinical effects of adding memantine to antipsychotic medication in treating negative symptoms and to characterize the neurobiological responses. The results of this trial could potentially optimize the treatment of schizophrenia.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHIATRY
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Kwang-Hyun Hur, Seong-Eon Kim, Shi-Xun Ma, Bo-Ram Lee, Yong-Hyun Ko, Jee-Yeon Seo, Seon-Kyung Kim, Young-Jung Kim, Su-Jeong Sung, Youyoung Lee, Young Hoon Jung, Yong-Sup Lee, Seok-Yong Lee, Choon-Gon Jang
Summary: The study demonstrates that methoxphenidine exhibits addictive and schizophrenia-like behaviors, inducing neurochemical changes in brain regions associated with these behaviors. These findings suggest that methoxphenidine could be utilized in developing animal disease models and calls for legal restrictions on its recreational use.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Psychiatry
Sergey N. Mosolov, Polina A. Yaltonskaya
Summary: The negative symptoms of schizophrenia, such as avolition, anhedonia, social withdrawal, and emotional disorders, have a negative impact on patients' quality of life and functioning. It is important to differentiate between primary and secondary negative symptoms in order to choose the correct therapeutic strategy. Furthermore, the longitudinal trajectories of primary and secondary negative symptoms in different stages of schizophrenia are important additional factors for discrimination.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHIATRY
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Ignazia Mocci, Maria Antonietta Casu, Valeria Sogos, Anna Liscia, Rossella Angius, Francesca Cadeddu, Maura Fanti, Patrizia Muroni, Giuseppe Talani, Andrea Diana, Maria Collu, Maria Dolores Setzu
Summary: This study investigated the anti-manic properties of the NMDA receptor antagonist memantine in a fruit fly model of bipolar disorder and found that memantine can improve behavioral abnormalities and reduce glutamate receptor overexpression. The results suggest that the fruit fly model is a promising tool for studying the neurobiology of bipolar disorders. Memantine may be a disease-modifying therapy with new mechanisms of action.
CNS NEUROSCIENCE & THERAPEUTICS
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Alasdair J. Gibb
Summary: NMDA receptors, specifically the triheteromeric structure of GluN1/GluN2B/GluN2D receptors, play fundamental roles in synaptic physiology and have implications for pharmacological research. This study reviews the mechanism of action of drugs targeting allosteric antagonists at these receptors.
Article
Psychiatry
Naren P. Rao, Padmavati Ramachandran, Arpitha Jacob, Albert Joseph, Umesh Thonse, Bhargavi Nagendra, Dona M. Chako, Sahana Shiri, Habla Hassan, Vamsi Sreenivas, Sindhu Maran, Dwarakanath Durgam, Kiruthika Nandakumar, Shivarama Varambally, Bangalore N. Gangadhar
Summary: The study suggests that adding yoga as a treatment can significantly improve negative symptoms of schizophrenia, providing an effective adjunct therapy.
SCHIZOPHRENIA RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Cristina Delgado-Sallent, Pau Nebot, Thomas Gener, Amanda B. Fath, Melina Timplalexi, M. Victoria Puig
Summary: Neural synchrony and functional connectivity are disrupted in schizophrenia. Atypical antipsychotic drugs, but not typical antipsychotic drugs, can reduce prefrontal and cortical-hippocampal hypersynchrony induced by psychosis-like states, suggesting that atypical antipsychotic drugs target prefrontal-hippocampal pathways for antipsychotic action. Serotonin receptors may play a selective role in the distinct effects of atypical antipsychotic drugs compared to typical antipsychotic drugs.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Chiara Montemitro, Alexandra Angebrandt, Tzu-Yun Wang, Mauro Pettorruso, Osama A. Abulseoud
Summary: Memantine has shown efficacy in reducing alcohol and opiate cravings, consumption, and withdrawal severity, but not significant effect on cocaine and nicotine use disorders. Possible mechanisms behind this variability need further study for a better understanding of its efficacy in treating drug addiction.
PROGRESS IN NEURO-PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY & BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Maxim Nikolaev, Anton Chizhov, Denis B. Tikhonov
Summary: The study compared the effects of different NMDAR antagonists on epileptiform activity induced by picrotoxin in rat brain slices. The results showed that memantine had a stronger inhibitory effect on PDS in fast-spiking interneurons (FSI) compared to pyramidal cells (PC), which could be explained by the use dependence of its action.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Varun Reddy, Andrea Hernandez, Leah Grossman, Debra Angelo, Johnathan Frunzi
Summary: Korsakoff syndrome, often associated with long-term alcohol abuse, is characterized by cognitive impairments and executive function deficits. Management focuses on nutritional replenishment and electrolyte maintenance, with some off-label use of FDA-approved drugs for Alzheimer's showing potential benefits in treating neurocognitive deficits in Korsakoff patients.
CUREUS JOURNAL OF MEDICAL SCIENCE
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Chitra Vinnakota, Matthew R. R. Hudson, Nigel C. C. Jones, Suresh Sundram, Rachel A. A. Hill
Summary: Glutamate N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) hypofunction is believed to be responsible for schizophrenia symptoms. Among the NMDAR subunits, the GluN2D subunit is implicated in schizophrenia-related phenotypes, and further research into this subunit may lead to novel therapeutic targets for the disease.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Psychiatry
Kasumi Yasuda, Shinya Uenishi, Hiroshi Sakamoto, Kohei Hori, Jinsoo Koh, Shun Takahashi
Summary: This article presents a case of a woman diagnosed with schizophrenia without antiNMDAR antibodies after experiencing NMDAR encephalitis. The study suggests that NMDAR dysfunction may be associated with the onset of schizophrenia.
ASIAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Chrislean Jun Botanas, Raly James Perez Custodio, Hee Jin Kim, June Bryan de la Pena, Leandro Val Sayson, Darlene Mae Ortiz, Mikyung Kim, Hyun Jun Lee, Srijan Acharya, Kyeong-Man Kim, Cheol Jung Lee, Jong Hoon Ryu, Yong Sup Lee, Jae Hoon Cheong
Summary: The study reveals that both S-MXE and R-MXE exhibit antidepressant effects in mice, possibly mediated via glutamatergic and serotonergic mechanisms. R-MXE induces fewer behavioral side effects compared to S-MXE, making it a safer antidepressant option.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Mary E. Moya-Mendez, David M. Mueller, Milton Pratt, Melanie Bonner, Courtney Elliott, Arsen Hunanyan, Gary Kucera, Cheryl Bock, Lyndsey Prange, Joan Jasien, Karen Keough, Vandana Shashi, Marie McDonald, Mohamad A. Mikati
Summary: ATP1A2 mutations can cause early-onset severe epileptic encephalopathy, leading to symptoms such as drug-resistant seizures and developmental delay. Memantine therapy, an NMDA receptor antagonist, showed tolerability and some improvements in patients with ATP1A2 mutations. Future studies on NMDAR antagonist therapy in ATP1A2-encephalopathy are warranted.
EPILEPSY & BEHAVIOR
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Faezeh Zarezadeh, Mohammad Arbabi, Ahmad Shamabadi, Sina Naderi, Alireza Hasanzadeh, Mahsa Ostadpour, Faraneh-Sadat Samsami, Shahin Akhondzadeh
Summary: This study evaluated the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of adjunctive levetiracetam in combination with quetiapine for the treatment of mania. The results showed that levetiracetam was effective in reducing symptoms and improving treatment response, without significant adverse events.
INTERNATIONAL CLINICAL PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Ali Talaei, Masumeh Sadat Dastgheib, Atefeh Soltanifar, Naghmeh Mokhber, Shahin Akhondzadeh, Fahimeh Afzaljavan
Summary: This study aimed to compare the efficacy of oxcarbazepine and sodium valproate in treating acute mania in the Iranian population. The results showed no significant difference in reducing mania symptoms between the two drugs and they had similar adverse effects.
INTERNATIONAL CLINICAL PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Aida Khadivi, Parnian Shobeiri, Sara Momtazmaneh, Farhaneh-Sadat Samsami, Mohammadreza Shalbafan, Elham Shirazi, Shahin Akhondzadeh
Summary: This study investigated the safety and efficacy of combining phosphodiesterase-3 inhibitor cilostazol with sertraline in the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD). The results showed that patients in the cilostazol group had lower depression severity scores, higher remission rate, and faster response time compared to the placebo group. No serious adverse effects were observed.
PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Substance Abuse
Michael Jae Song, Jean Nicolas Westenberg, Kiana Kianpoor, Mohammadali Nikoo, Alireza Kazemi, Christian Schuetz, Kerry Jang, Ali Gholami, Shahin Akhondzadeh, Michael Krausz
Summary: In the Middle East and Asia, the use of illicit opioids, ranging from heroin to opium, varies greatly. However, the impact of the primary opioid of choice on opioid agonist treatment retention has not been thoroughly examined. This study investigated the relationship between primary opioid of choice (heroin or opium) and retention in opium tincture and methadone treatment. The results suggest that positive factors, such as employment, housing, and family support, may explain the higher retention in treatment among those who primarily use opium.
DRUG AND ALCOHOL REVIEW
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Mahsa Motamed, Hanieh Karimi, Hossein Sanjari Moghaddam, Sina Taherzadeh Boroujeni, Zahra Sanatian, Alireza Hasanzadeh, Mohammad-Reza Khodaei Ardakani, Shahin Akhondzadeh
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of adalimumab therapy in patients with chronic schizophrenia. The results showed that adalimumab adjunctive therapy was effective in improving negative and general psychopathology symptoms of schizophrenia, with no side effects. However, it did not significantly improve positive symptoms. There were no significant differences in inflammatory biomarker levels between the adalimumab and placebo groups.
INTERNATIONAL CLINICAL PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Psychiatry
Jerome Sarris, Arun Ravindran, Lakshmi N. Yatham, Wolfgang Marx, Julia J. Rucklidge, Roger S. McIntyre, Shahin Akhondzadeh, Francesco Benedetti, Constanza Caneo, Holger Cramer, Lachlan Cribb, Michael de Manincor, Olivia Dean, Andrea Camaz Deslandes, Marlene P. Freeman, Bangalore Gangadhar, Brian H. Harvey, Siegfried Kasper, James Lake, Adrian Lopresti, Lin Lu, Najwa-Joelle Metri, David Mischoulon, Chee H. Ng, Daisuke Nishi, Roja Rahimi, Soraya Seedat, Justin Sinclair, Kuan-Pin Su, Zhang-Jin Zhang, Michael Berk
Summary: The study aimed to provide definitive evidence-informed clinical guidelines for the use of nutrient-based 'nutraceuticals' and plant-based 'phytoceuticals' in treating major psychiatric disorders. These guidelines were developed by an international task force involving leading experts from 15 countries to assist clinicians in making informed decisions.
WORLD JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY
(2022)
Article
Integrative & Complementary Medicine
Borna Tadayon Najafabadi, Maryam Farsinejad, Kamyar Shokraee, Sara Momtazmanesh, Philippe Denis Violette, Sophia Esalatmanesh, Ladan Kashani, Morteza Jafarinia, Shahin Akhondzadeh
Summary: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of saffron in improving erectile function. The results showed that saffron significantly improved erectile function compared to placebo, with similar adverse events between the two groups. Therefore, saffron may be a safe and effective option for treating erectile dysfunction, especially for patients who are unwilling to use other medications.
JOURNAL OF HERBAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Substance Abuse
Mohammadali Nikoo, Kiana Kianpoor, Nooshin Nikoo, Sanam Javidanbardan, Alireza Kazemi, Fiona Choi, Marc Vogel, Ali Gholami, Saeed Tavakoli, James S. H. Wong, Ehsan Moazen-Zadeh, Reza Givaki, Majid Jazani, Fatemeh Mohammadian, Nader Markazi Moghaddam, Christian Schuetz, Kerry Jang, Shahin Akhondzadeh, Michael Krausz
Summary: This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of opium tincture (OT) and methadone in retaining participants in opioid agonist treatment (OAT). The results showed that OT retained 60% of participants to the end of the 85-day follow-up period and was superior to methadone in reducing self-reported opioid use outside of treatment. However, the study did not find sufficient evidence to conclude the non-inferiority of OT compared to methadone.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Parnia Ebrahimi, Homa Seyedmirzaei, Kamyar Moradi, Sayna Bagheri, Mahdi Moeini, Mohammad-Reza Mohammadi, Shahin Akhondzadeh
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effects of cilostazol on aberrant behaviors in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and its safety profile. A double-blind, randomized clinical trial was conducted with 66 confirmed ASD children. The results showed that cilostazol had beneficial effects on hyperactivity in children with ASD and higher levels of hyperactivity, with no significant adverse effects observed.
INTERNATIONAL CLINICAL PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Letter
Clinical Neurology
Hossein Sanjari Moghaddam, Shahin Akhondzadeh
PSYCHIATRY AND CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Mehran Nematizadeh, Hossein Ghorbanzadeh, Hossein Sanjari Moghaddam, Mohammadreza Shalbafan, Mahsa Boroon, Amir-Abbas Keshavarz-Akhlaghi, Shahin Akhondzadeh
Summary: The main aim of this study was to investigate the additional effects of L-theanine on OCD symptoms in combination with fluvoxamine. The results suggest that L-theanine can be a relatively safe and effective adjuvant therapy for moderate to severe OCD.
PSYCHIATRY AND CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Ahmad Shamabadi, Farnaz Kafi, Melika Arab Bafrani, Hassan Asadigandomani, Fatemeh A. Basti, Shahin Akhondzadeh
Summary: This study found that adjunctive L-theanine, when combined with sertraline, showed better efficacy in treating major depressive disorder (MDD) compared to placebo. The L-theanine group demonstrated significant improvement in depression symptoms and a greater reduction in depression scores compared to the placebo group at weeks 2, 4, and 6. Furthermore, the L-theanine group had higher remission and response rates at week 6. These findings suggest that L-theanine is a safe and effective adjunctive therapy for MDD.
JOURNAL OF AFFECTIVE DISORDERS
(2023)
Article
Psychiatry
Sara Momtazmanesh, Sahar Ansari, Zahra Izadi, Parnian Shobeiri, Venus Vatankhah, Arash Seifi, Fereshteh Ghiasvand, Mahboobeh Bahrami, Mohammdreza Salehi, Ahmad Ali Noorbala, Shahin Akhondzadeh
Summary: This study investigates the efficacy and safety of famotidine in improving cognitive impairment, depression, and anxiety symptoms post-COVID-19. The results show that patients in the famotidine group had significantly higher MMSE and MoCA scores, as well as reduced HAM-D and HAM-A scores, compared to the placebo group. The study suggests that famotidine is safe and effective in treating cognitive impairment, depression, and anxiety symptoms induced by COVID-19.
JOURNAL OF PSYCHOSOMATIC RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Sophia Esalatmanesh, Ladan Kashani, Maryam Khooshideh, Hossein Sanjari Moghaddam, Sahar Ansari, Shahin Akhondzadeh
Summary: The study aimed to assess the effects of adjunctive celecoxib with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), an anti-inflammatory agent, in the treatment of postpartum depression. The results showed that adjunctive celecoxib is effective in improving postpartum depressive symptoms.
ARCHIVES OF GYNECOLOGY AND OBSTETRICS
(2023)
Article
Integrative & Complementary Medicine
Benyamin Pazoki, Nadia Zandi, Zeinab Assaf, Hossein Sanjari Moghaddam, Arefeh Zeinoddini, Mohammad Reza Mohammadi, Shahin Akhondzadeh
Summary: This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of saffron as an adjuvant to Ritalin for improving symptoms in adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The results showed that saffron combination therapy with Ritalin can effectively improve symptoms of patients with ADHD.
ADVANCES IN INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE
(2022)