Tardive dyskinesia (TD) is an involuntary movement disorder that can result from exposure to dopamine-receptor antagonists (DRAs). Deutetrabenazine demonstrated significant improvements in Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS) scores in the 12-week pivotal trials (ARM-TD/AIM-TD). This post hoc analysis assessed the long-term efficacy and safety of deutetrabenazine by baseline DRA use.

Patients who completed ARM-TD or AIM-TD enrolled in the 3-year, open-label extension (OLE) study, with deutetrabenazine dose titrated based on dyskinesia control and tolerability. Change from baseline in total motor AIMS score, Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC), Clinical Global Impression of Change (CGIC), and adverse event (AE) rates were analyzed in subgroups by baseline DRA use.

Of 337 patients in the OLE study, 254 were taking DRAs at baseline (mean age, 56 years; 48% male; 6.0 years since diagnosis) and 83 were not (mean age, 60 years; 31% male; 4.9 years since diagnosis). Mean ± SE dose at week 145 was 39.9 ± 1.0 mg/day in patients taking DRAs (n = 108) and 38.5 ± 1.5 mg/day in patients not taking DRAs (n = 53). At week 145, mean ± SE change from baseline in AIMS score was −6.1 ± 0.43 and −7.5 ± 0.71; 64% and 62% achieved PGIC treatment success; and 69% and 81% achieved CGIC treatment success, respectively. Overall AE incidence was low (exposure-adjusted incidence rates [incidence/patient-years]: any, 1.08 and 1.97; serious, 0.10 and 0.12; leading to discontinuation, 0.06 and 0.05).

This analysis suggests that deutetrabenazine for long-term treatment of TD is beneficial, with a favorable safety profile, regardless of concomitant DRA use.

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Petach Tikva, Israel

Vortioxetine induced monoarticular pain has not heretofore been described. Such a case is presented.

Case study: A 49 year old right handed female with a past history of multiple hospitalizations for chronic severe migraine, presented with complaints of depression and stress. She has had depression for 20 years, which has been constant and worsened in the past 5 years. As her migraines became more frequent, her depression also worsened. She has never been suicidal, but does endorse sadness, crying spells, fatigue, demotivation, lack of interest, poor concentration, irritability, anger, guilt, hopelessness, helplessness, anorexia, PM insomnia with frequent awakenings, absent libido and racing thoughts.

Abnormalities in her mental status examination: Orientated times 2. Disheveled. Defensive. Motor retardation. Mood: depressed, anxious and irritable with blunted affect. Remote memory: President: Obama,?. Beck Depression Inventory II: 23 (moderate depression). Beck Anxiety Inventory: 25 (moderate anxiety).

The patient was begun on 5 mg of vortioxetine every night. Within two days, she developed pain and swelling of the distal interphalangeal joint of the left great toe. The pain was so severe that she demonstrated an antalgic gait. After five days the medication was discontinued and two days later, there was full resolution of the swelling and pain, and ambulation returned to normal.

The mechanism whereby vortioxetine induced this monoarticular pain is unclear. Underlying depression alone can precipitate arthritic exacerbation (Trivedi, 2004). This was unlikely given the long duration of her depression as well as the timing of the precipitant (vortioxetine use) and resolution shortly after the medication was discontinued. Alternatively, in the depressed state, there may be a greater perception of somatic pain, which allowed her to appreciate any arthritic pain which may have pre-existed the use of vortioxetine (Howard, 1991). As such, this may have represented a correspondence bias (Gilbert, 1995). Furthermore, mild new pain is perceived as more intense in those who are depressed (Howard, 1991). Thus, any minimal arthritic injury may be viewed as more intense. Vortioxetine may have paradoxically exacerbated anxiety and anxiety can precipitate pain (Narasimhan & Campbell). Alternatively, vortioxetine could have caused a generalized allergic reaction, which may have initially manifest in the great toe. If the patient continued the medication, she may have developed a generalized systemic reaction including involvement of multiple joints. Another possibility is that it caused an allergic histamine mediated hive like reaction, generalized, as well as on the toe. Continued use of the joint may have caused this to be intensified, with associated swelling, while the general reaction subsided. Inquiry about monoarticular involvement in those taking vortioxetine is warranted.

Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation

Tardive dyskinesia (TD) is associated with prolonged exposure to dopamine receptor blockers including antipsychotics. This registry describes the prevalence and impact of involuntary movements (possible TD) in a real-world population of patients taking antipsychotics.

RE-KINECT (NCT03062033) aims to enroll 1,000 patients from 70 US psychiatric practices. Adults with ≥3 months lifetime exposure to antipsychotic(s) and ≥1 psychiatric disorder are eligible for two-tier screening: informal observation, and then clinician observation of abnormal involuntary movements in general body regions (head/face, neck/trunk, upper/lower limbs) and confirmation of possible TD. Based on clinician assessment, patients are assigned to Cohort 1 or Cohort 2 (without or with abnormal involuntary movements, respectively). In both cohorts, the following baseline assessments are included: clinician’s assessment of clinical psychiatric severity, patient perceived health‐related quality of life (EuroQOL 5-Dimensions), social burden/disability questionnaire (Sheehan Disability Scale), and 12-month retrospective chart review ofmedical and treatment history. Cohort 2 also participate in 12-month longitudinal evaluation. Interim baseline data are available from four sites.

Baseline data are currently available for 116 patients—mean age, 49.6 years; female, 60.3%; schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder, 32.8%; at least 1 mood disorder, 84.5%, and 10.4 years mean cumulative lifetime exposure to antipsychotic(s). The most concerning health condition for both cohorts is their mental health (69.0%), followed by physical activity and nutrition (33.6%). 32.8% of subjects had clinician confirmation of possible TD.

This novel registry aims to evaluate the real-world potential impact/burden of TD. Preliminary analyses suggest that TD is common in patients with schizophrenia and mood disorders taking antipsychotics. Further analyses will explore the burden of illness in this population.

This study was funded by Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc.

Anxiety disorder is a common psychological disorder, manifested as excessive worry, fear, fear and other emotions, seriously affect the quality of life of patients. The therapeutic methods of psychological counseling include cognitive behavior therapy, interpersonal therapy, psychodynamic therapy and so on. Compared with drug treatment, psychological counseling does not produce drug dependence, fewer side effects, and good long-term effects. This study is based on psychological counseling to explore the anxiety of technical personnel in strategic emerging industries in Fujian province, China.

In this study, 338 technical personnel in strategic emerging industries in Fujian Province were selected as the research subjects and divided into experimental groups and control groups with same number. The control group did not take any intervention measures, and the experimental group received psychological counseling. The scores of Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), self-rating Depression Scale (SDS), Wechsler Adult Intelligence Test (WAIS-RC) and Health Survey Summary Form (SF-36) were compared between the two groups. T-test was performed on the measurement data.

Before the experiment, there was no significant difference in SAS and SDS scores between the two groups (P > 0.05). After the experiment, SAS and SDS scores of the experimental group were significantly lower than those of the control group (P < 0.05). The scores of verbal comprehension, memory and attention in the experimental group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05). The scores of physiological function, mental function, mental health and vitality of the experimental group were significantly higher than those of the control group (P < 0.05).

Reply: Thank you for pointing out this issue. We have rewritten the methods and results section of another article.

Psychological counseling can effectively alleviate the anxiety of technical personnel in strategic emerging industries in Fujian Province and improve their quality of life.

Xiamen Institute of Technology 2023 University-level Research Fund Project (No.KYZX2023028); The 2022 “I contribute good ideas to the construction of A New Fujian” (No.JAT22128).

This analysis assessed the relative efficacy and tolerability of lurasidone versus other atypical antipsychotics in the treatment of pediatricschizophrenia.

A systematic literature review identified 13 randomized-controlled trials for the treatment of pediatric schizophrenia. A Bayesian network meta-analysis compared the efficacy and tolerability of the following atypical antipsychotics: aripiprazole, asenapine, clozapine, lurasidone, olanzapine, paliperidone, quetiapine, risperidone, andziprasidone. Patients were 7-17 years old and trial duration ranged from 6-12 weeks. Outcomes included Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Clinical Global Impressions-Severity (CGI-S), weight gain, all-cause treatment discontinuation, and extrapyramidal symptoms. Results from the fixed effect models were reported as mean differences for continuous outcomes and odds ratios for binary outcomes; each with a 95% credible interval.

Lurasidone had significantly greater improvement compared with placebo for PANSS (-7.95 [-11.76, -4.16]) and CGI-S (-0.44 [-0.67, -0.22]), but did not differ from comparators. The differences in weight gain for lurasidone relative to comparators were as follows: clozapine (-3.81kg [-8.03, 0.42]), olanzapine (-3.62kg [-4.84, -2.41]), quetiapine (-2.13kg [-3.20, -1.08]), risperidone (-1.16kg [-2.14, -0.17]), asenapine (-0.98kg [-1.71, -0.24]), paliperidone (-0.85kg [-1.57, -0.14]), aripiprazole (-0.15kg [-0.88, 0.58]), and ziprasidone (0.38kg [-0.49, 1.24]); all were statistically significant except for clozapine, aripiprazole, and ziprasidone. Rates of all-cause discontinuation andextrapyramidal symptoms were similar for lurasidone and comparators, except aripiprazole and paliperidone, which had higher rates of all-cause discontinuation.

In this network meta-analysis of atypical antipsychotics for the treatment of adolescent schizophrenia, lurasidone was associated with similar efficacy, but less weight gain than active comparators.

This study was funded by Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Pixelated vision or visual snow has been associated with schizophrenia (Silverstein 2011). The impact of viewing a 3D motion picture on such a visualphenomenon has not heretofore been described.

Case Study: A 28 year old right handed single male three years prior to presentation noticed that all his vision was pixelated. The pixelated vision is panoramic, involving the entire visual field. The pixels are characterized by 10,000 flat white and gray dots measuring 1mm x 1mm. No changes in color, shape, or size were noted in high and low intensity light. White, dark, gray, or multicolored backgrounds had no effect on his vision. The visual distortions are not impacted by head movements, emotions, degree of tiredness, driving, or his hedonic perception of the object being visualized. The pixels were noted to disappear upon closure of both eyes but persisted during monocular vision with either eye. These visual hallucinations were sporadic during the first year and became continuous over the following two years. Two weeks after onset ofpixelated vision he developed auditory hallucinations and hyperacusis. These increased in intensity and frequency to 500-600 times per day. He denied palinopsia, migraines, tinnitus, and photophobia. These hallucinations persisted despite treatment with aripiprazole, paliperidone, lurasidone, olanzapine, clozapine, ziprasidone, benztropine, bupropion, lamotrigine, modafinil, trazodone, atomoxetine, and amphetamine.

Abnormalities in Examination: Hypoverbal, blunted affect, impaired concentration, preoccupied with racing thoughts. Admitted to actively having auditory and visualhallucinations, without suicidal or homicidal ideations. Memory testing: Able to recall 2 out of 4 objects in 3 minutes and 3 out of 4 with reinforcement. Similarities interpreted concretely. Visual Acuity: 20/20 OU. Retinal examination: Normal. Intraocular Pressure: 19 mm OD, 20 mm OS (normal). Automotive Perimetry Testing: Normal. Cover/Uncover: Normal. Near Convergence: 3 inches (normal). Lens or filtered prism have no effect on visual snow. MRI of his brain, EEG, BAER, liver function tests, CBC, vitamin B12, folate, and thyroid function tests were normal. MRA: mild hypoplasia of distal right vertebral artery.

Visual snow has been anecdotally described as static, continuous, and independent of the specific visual environment (McKendrick, 2017). However, thepersistence of visual snow in the presence of 3D movies has never been reported. The visual snow paralleled auditory hallucinations and hyperacusis in frequency and intensity, which suggests there may be generalized hyperexcitability of the brain inducing both auditory and visual hallucinations. Agents that reduce cortical hyperexcitability (i.e., anticonvulsants, anxiolytics) may have efficacy. Treatment with these agents has been described (Ghannam, 2017), warrants further investigation.

No funding.

Naloxone use has increased in recent years in response to the nation’s opioid crisis. Once only available to health care professionals, it is now obtainable by prescription for persons at risk for substance overdose and their families. Increasing its availability is seen by some as an “over-the-counter solution” to the opioid problem. However, while naloxone has been viewed as relatively safe, with a low side effect profile when appropriately dosed and monitored, it is not without safety concerns that may go unrecognized or misattributed to other causes.

Here we present a case study of a 41-year-old female who presented to our medication-assisted treatment (MAT) clinic complaining of sudden onset weight gain, shortness of breath, upper and lower extremity peripheral edema, tachycardia, insomnia, and nocturnal enuresis. These symptoms made it difficult for her to work at her housekeeping job, resulting in missed workdays. She had seen a primary care provider for her symptoms and been prescribed a rescue inhaler for her shortness of breath. This patient had previously been treated for opioid use disorder with buprenorphine/naloxone and experienced similar symptoms, which disappeared when she relapsed on opioids. However, symptoms reappeared upon resuming her prescribed treatment.

The patient was identified as experiencing side effects to naloxone, causing noncardiogenic edema. Her MAT medication was switched to buprenorphine. Within two weeks her heart rate had returned to normal, she had lost weight, and she no longer had nocturnal enuresis or needed the rescue inhaler. Her peripheral edema resolved so she was able to walk better and resume work. At the same time, buprenorphine continued to relieve her cravings.

There is a dearth of information related to naloxone-induced edema. Our patient had not received a formal evaluation of pulmonary edema, but her pulmonary and cardiac symptoms were consistent with that diagnosis. Although pulmonary edema is mentioned in the product literature, peripheral edema is not. A literature search indicates that the number of case studies on naloxone-induced pulmonary edema have increased since 2018, but only one other case of naloxone-induced peripheral edema was discovered.

Naloxone is used in a variety of settings by differing types of health care providers. As the number of persons treated with naloxone increases, there will likely be a corresponding increase in incidences of pulmonary and/or peripheral edema as side effects. Providers and patients who are not aware of these manifestations and their relationship to naloxone treatment may easily attribute presenting symptoms to cardiogenic or other causes, as this case illustrates. It is important for providers in all settings to consider new onset shortness of breath and edema within the context of the person’s whole health and to be aware of their implications for mental as well as physical health.

No Funding

Art therapy is a unique and magical psychological treatment method with a particularly significant therapeutic effect on patients with mental illness. Under the pressure of employment and life, many students may experience psychological problems to some extent. And the psychological development of educational teaching methods is the future academic development trend. The research focuses on the music curriculum system, combining it with educational psychology theory to explore teaching paths and teaching courses with drug therapy to assist in treatment.

The study selected 200 college students with borderline disorders and personality split as the subjects and divided them into experimental and control groups. The control group received traditional medication treatment and received routine music education. Based on the control group, the experimental group reformed the music teaching curriculum system to assist in therapy. The treatment cycle is 16 weeks.

The study used the Personality Diagnosis Questionnaire (PDQ-4+) as an evaluation tool and processed the data using SPSS23.0 software. The results showed no statistically significant difference in the baseline PDQ-4+edge subscale scores between the two groups of patients before intervention (P>0.05). After intervention treatment, the marginal symptoms of both groups of patients were improved, and the improvement effect of the experimental group was significantly better than that of the control group (P<0.05).

Considering the path reform of educational psychology in the construction of the music curriculum system and incorporating it into the treatment of students with borderline personality and personality split can effectively alleviate their symptoms.

Pediatric psychiatric inpatients are among the most vulnerable individuals in society. While the use of seclusion and restraint is well chronicled in the field of research in this population, there is limited literature describing the effects, meaning, and attitudes of mandating the wear of clothing in hospital settings. This research explores the phenomenon of the practice of mandatory wear of hospital-issued clothing and its meaning to patients and the awareness and attitudes of this practice among staff caring for this population. This research aims to improve understanding of the experiences of patients regarding this practice at a large, urban hospital providing care for children using a mixed methods design. A qualitative, descriptive phenomenological analysis was conducted through individual interviews with adolescent patients (N = 5) on an inpatient psychiatric unit. Additionally, a cross-sectional self-reported questionnaire examined the awareness and attitudes toward this practice among unit staff (N = 41). The patients’ attitudes toward clothing restrictions was predominantly negative, noting a lack of self-expression, feeling like a mental health patient, desires to wear ones’ personal clothing, and feelings of shame and punishment. Among the staff there was a modest correlation between age, number of years practicing as a health professional, and years practicing in a pediatric setting with feelings of a need for a change in the clothing policy to allow patients to wear their own clothing on admission. Staff age and number of years working at the institution demonstrated a modest correlation between awareness of legal statutes regarding patients’ rights to their own clothing. This research found a readiness among staff to adopt a clothing policy that would permit patients to wear their own clothing on admission, which would improve the negative experiences described among the patients in the sample.

No Funding

Approximately 70% of patients with bipolar disorder (BPD) are initially misdiagnosed, resulting in significantly delayed diagnosis of 7–10 years on average. Misdiagnosis and diagnostic delay adversely affect health outcomes and lead to the use of inappropriate treatments. As depressive episodes and symptoms are the predominant symptom presentation in BPD, misdiagnosis as major depressive disorder (MDD) is common. Self-rated screening instruments for BPD exist but their length and reliance on past manic symptoms are barriers to implementation, especially in primary care settings where many of these patients initially present. We developed a brief, pragmatic bipolar I disorder (BPD-I) screening tool that not only screens for manic symptoms but also includes risk factors for BPD-I (eg, age of depression onset) to help clinicians reduce the misdiagnosis of BPD-I as MDD.

Existing questionnaires and risk factors were identified through a targeted literature search; a multidisciplinary panel of experts participated in 2 modified Delphi panels to select concepts thought to differentiate BPD-I from MDD. Individuals with self-reported BPD-I or MDD participated in cognitive debriefing interviews (N=12) to test and refine item wording. A multisite, cross-sectional, observational study was conducted to evaluate the screening tool’s predictive validity. Participants with clinical interview-confirmed diagnoses of BPD-I or MDD completed a draft 10-item screening tool and additional questionnaires/questions. Different combinations of item sets with various item permutations (eg, number of depressive episodes, age of onset) were simultaneously tested. The final combination of items and thresholds was selected based on multiple considerations including clinical validity, optimization of sensitivity and specificity, and pragmatism.

A total of 160 clinical interviews were conducted; 139 patients had clinical interview-confirmed BPD-I (n=67) or MDD (n=72). The screening tool was reduced from 10 to 6 items based on item-level analysis. When 4 items or more were endorsed (yes) in this analysis sample, the sensitivity of this tool for identifying patients with BPD-I was 0.88 and specificity was 0.80; positive and negative predictive values were 0.80 and 0.88, respectively. These properties represent an improvement over the Mood Disorder Questionnaire, while using >50% fewer items.

This new 6-item BPD-I screening tool serves to differentiate BPD-I from MDD in patients with depressive symptoms. Use of this tool can provide real-world guidance to primary care practitioners on whether more comprehensive assessment for BPD-I is warranted. Use of a brief and valid tool provides an opportunity to reduce misdiagnosis, improve treatment selection, and enhance health outcomes in busy clinical practices.

AbbVie Inc.

Catatonia is not only present in adults; children & adolescents can suffer from catatonia but are often misdiagnosed. A study by Ghaziuddin, Dhossche and Marcotte (2012) found that 18 of the 101 child and adolescent patients had symptoms of catatonia, but only 2 actually had been given a diagnosis by their providers.

17-year-old male who was recently discharged from the inpatient psychiatric unit with the diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder. His discharge medication was bupropion XL 150mg daily. Within 10 days of his discharge, he was back to the emergency room with worsening anxiety and manic symptoms. At the emergency room, patient’s sister reported that he was acting differently within the last 3–4 days, and making statements that he can save the world that everyone was talking about him. He was also speaking faster than usual, having decreased need for sleep. He reported hearing voices, seeing things. Patient was admitted again, and was given diagnosis of Bipolar Mood Disorder, type I, manic phase, with psychosis. He was started on divalproex 500mg bid for mood stabilization. His Bupropion was discontinued. Gradually his Divalproex was increased to 750mg bid. During his hospital stay he developed lack of spontaneous speech, sluggish responses to questions with automatic answers such as “I don’t know”. He also developed very sluggish motor movements. There was negativism. He needed one on one support for his daily activities of living, needed step by step instructions for all ADLs.

All the test results were negative including EEG, MRI and CT scan of the brain. Bush Francis catatonia rating scale was done and he scored 15. Lorazepam Challenge Test was performed, and the scale was repeated after the patient was given an IM dose of 2mg of Lorazepam, and he scored 2. At this point catatonia diagnosis was confirmed. He was started on scheduled doses of Lorazepam, gradually his Lorazepam dose was increased up to 9mg per day. His catatonia responded to Lorazepam treatment.

17 year old male who initially hospitalized for symptoms of MDD and discharged with antidepressant, came back to the ER within 10 day with symptoms of mania with psychosis. During in-patient’s 2nd in-patient stay he developed catatonia, which was promptly diagnosed and appropriately treated with Lorazepam.

Catatonia can happen in children & adolescents with mood disorders, or with other psychiatric or medical conditions. Timely diagnosis and treatment is very crucial to avoid poor outcome, especially because treatment options for catatonia are well understood; Benzodiazepines, electroconvulsive therapy and reduction or discontinuation of antipsychotics are successful in the treatment of catatonia (Ghaziuddin, Dhossche and Marcotte, 2012).

Patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) often have inadequate response to antidepressant treatment (ADT) requiring augmentation with other treatments. Cariprazine is a D3-preferring D3/D2 and serotonin 5-HT1A receptor partial agonist approved to treat schizophrenia and manic, mixed, and depressive episodes of bipolar I disorder. The efficacy of cariprazine as an adjunctive treatment for patients with MDD and inadequate response to ADT alone has been evaluated in phase 2/3 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials. Post hoc analyses of one phase 3 trial (NCT03738215) evaluated cariprazine + ADT for improving depressive symptoms in subgroups of patients categorized by 1) the level of response to ongoing ADT at baseline and 2) the number of ADTs associated with inadequate response during the current episode.

Patients were randomized to placebo + ADT (n=254), cariprazine 1.5 mg/d + ADT (n=252), or cariprazine 3 mg/d + ADT (n=253) for 6 weeks of double-blind treatment. Post hoc analyses evaluated change from baseline to week 6 in MADRS total score in subgroups of patients who had ≥25%–<50% or <25% response to ongoing ADT at baseline, and in subgroups of patients who had inadequate response to 1 or ≥2 ADTs in the current episode. Analyses used a mixed-effects model for repeated measures; least squares mean differences (LSMD) versus placebo with 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were calculated.

At baseline, 65.1% (n=486) of patients had an ADT response level between 25%–<50% and 34.9% (n=261) of patients had an ADT response level <25%. Mean MADRS total score reductions were greater for cariprazine 1.5 mg/d + ADT versus placebo + ADT in both ADT response subgroups (25%–<50% ADT response: -14.8 vs -11.9, LSMD [95% CI]=-2.3 [-4.2, -0.3]; <25% response to ADT: (-14.7 vs -11.7, LSMD [95% CI]=-2.6 [-5.5, 0.3]). For cariprazine 3 mg/d + ADT, mean change in MADRS total score was numerically greater versus placebo in both response subgroups (25%–<50% response=-14.2, LSMD [95% CI]=-1.5 [-3.5, 0.4]; <25% response= -12.3, LSMD [95% CI]=-0.74 [-3.6, 2.1]). Approximately 86% (n=644) and 14% (n=105) of patients in this study had inadequate response to 1 ADT or ≥2 ADTs, respectively, during the current episode. The LSMD (95% CI) in MADRS total score change for cariprazine 1.5 mg/d + ADT versus placebo + ADT was -2.3 (-4.1, -0.6) in the subgroup of patients with 1 previous ADT and -3.2 [-7.1, 0.8]) in the subgroup of patients with ≥2 previous ADTs. For cariprazine 3 mg/d + ADT, the LSMD (95% CI) in MADRS total score change versus placebo was -0.7 (-2.5, 1.0) in the 1 previous ADT subgroup and -4.7 (-8.8, -0.6) in the ≥2 previous ADTs subgroup.

In these post hoc analyses, cariprazine + ADT was associated with greater reductions in MADRS total score versus placebo regardless of the level of response to ongoing ADT at baseline or number of prior ADT failures in the current episode.

AbbVie

Mental disorders can have a major impact on brain development. Peripheral blood concentrations of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) are lower in adult psychiatric disorders. Serum BDNF concentrations and BDNF genotype have been associated with cortical maturation in children and adolescents. In 2 large independent samples, this study tests associations between serum BDNF concentrations, brain structure, and psychopathology, and the effects of BDNF genotype on BDNF serum concentrations in late childhood and early adolescence.

Children and adolescents (7-14 years old) from 2 cities (n = 267 in Porto Alegre; n = 273 in São Paulo) were evaluated as part of the Brazilian high-risk cohort (HRC) study. Serum BDNF concentrations were quantified by sandwich ELISA. Genotyping was conducted from blood or saliva samples using the SNParray Infinium HumanCore Array BeadChip. Subcortical volumes and cortical thickness were quantified using FreeSurfer. The Development and Well-Being Behavior Assessment was used to identify the presence of a psychiatric disorder.

Serum BDNF concentrations were not associated with subcortical volumes or with cortical thickness. Serum BDNF concentration did not differ between participants with and without mental disorders, or between Val homozygotes and Met carriers.

No evidence was found to support serum BDNF concentrations as a useful marker of developmental differences in brain and behavior in early life. Negative findings were replicated in 2 of the largest independent samples investigated to date.

This study examines the impact of ethnic music culture inheritance and music education on anxiety levels among college students. Anxiety is a prevalent issue affecting college students. Exploring the potential influence of ethnic music culture and music education could provide insights into effective interventions to address anxiety among this population.

The study involved a sample of 200 college students from different ethnic backgrounds, aged 18 to 25, studying at a university. Participants were divided into two groups: the experimental group (n=100) and the control group (n=100). The experimental group received ethnic music culture inheritance classes and music education programs, while the control group proceeded with their regular curriculum. Assessments of anxiety levels were conducted using standardized psychological scales, including the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS). The intervention period lasted for one academic semester.

Analysis using SPSS23.0 showed that the experimental group, which received ethnic music culture inheritance and music education, exhibited significantly lower anxiety levels compared to the control group (P<0.001). Both the STAI and DASS scores demonstrated a 30% reduction in anxiety symptoms among the experimental group, indicating the positive impact of ethnic music culture inheritance and music education on reducing anxiety among college students.

The results show that incorporating ethnic music cultural inheritance and music education into university curricula can effectively reduce students’ anxiety levels. The integration of cultural elements and music education not only promotes the preservation of national music culture but also contributes to the mental health of students.