Psychodynamic therapy of depression

Optogenetics and chemogenetics: key tools for modulating neural circuits in rodent models of depression

Optogenetics and chemogenetics are emerging neuromodulation techniques that have attracted significant attention in recent years. These techniques enable the precise control of specific neuronal types and neural circuits, allowing researchers to investigate the cellular mechanisms underlying depression. The advancement in these techniques has significantly contributed to the understanding of the neural circuits involved in depression; when combined with other emerging technologies, they provide novel therapeutic targets and diagnostic tools for the clinical treatment of depression. Additionally, these techniques have provided theoretical support for the development of novel antidepressants. This review primarily focuses on the application of optogenetics and chemogenetics in several brain regions closely associated with depressive-like behaviors in rodent models, such as the ventral tegmental area, nucleus accumbens, prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, dorsal raphe nucleus, and lateral habenula and discusses the potential and challenges of optogenetics and chemogenetics in future research. Furthermore, this review discusses the potential and challenges these techniques pose for future research and describes the current state of research on sonogenetics and odourgenetics developed based on optogenetics and chemogenetics. Specifically, this study aimed to provide reliable insights and directions for future research on the role of optogenetics and chemogenetics in the neural circuits of depressive rodent models.

Mentalization-Based Treatment for Adolescent Depression

Depression is a very common mental health problem in adolescence. Although over the past decades a number of psychological interventions for depression in adolescence have been developed and empirically evaluated, recent systematic reviews and meta-analyses suggest that there is considerable room for improvement of their effectiveness. This is particularly true for the treatment of adolescents with "complex" depression, that is, those where depression is embedded within broader personality and relational problems, often related to a history of attachment trauma. Mentalization-based treatment (MBT) may be particularly effective in these cases, as it has a strong focus on temporary and long-term impairments in mentalizing (i.e., the capacity to understand the self and others in terms of intentional mental states), which are very typical of adolescents with depression. This article outlines a continuum of severity of depression as seen from a mentalizing perspective, ranging from the mild to moderate to the more severe end of the spectrum. This is followed by a summary of the mentalizing approach to understanding depression along the spectrum of severity, the empirical evidence supporting this approach, and a description of the basic principles of MBT for depression. We close with some thoughts about the future of MBT in the treatment of depression in adolescents.

Pathogenesis and treatment of depression: Role of diet in prevention and therapy

In recent years, there has been a significant increase in depression, which is related to, among other things, the COVID-19 pandemic. Depression can be fatal if not treated or if treated inappropriately. Depression is the leading cause of suicide attempts. The disease is multifactorial, and pharmacotherapy often fails to bring satisfactory results. Therefore, increasingly more importance is attached to the natural healing substances and nutrients in food, which can significantly affect the therapy process and prevention of depressive disorders. A proper diet is vital to preventing depression and can be a valuable addition to psychological and pharmacologic treatment. An inadequate diet may reduce the effectiveness of antidepressants or increase their side effects, leading to life-threatening symptoms. This study aimed to review the literature on the pathogenesis of the development and treatment of depression, with particular emphasis on dietary supplements and the role of nutrition in the prevention and treatment of depressive disorders.

Policy, professionalism and psychotherapy; the clinical practice guidelines' dilemma

OBJECTIVE

To review a rebuttal to widely published concerns that the Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPG) devalues the role of long-term psychodynamic psychotherapy as a treatment in mood disorders.

CONCLUSION

There is a wider context to this debate. The CPG presents the RANZCP with a dilemma about treatments, professionalism and policy; it requires amendment.

Clinical practice guidelines, psychotherapy and implications for psychiatry

OBJECTIVE

The 2020 RANZCP clinical practice guidelines (CPG) for mood disorders, published in January 2021, raise important questions for practice and teaching. The objective of this review is to critically appraise the content of the CPG to examine if it reflects contemporary practice-based evidence.

CONCLUSION

Our review identifies factual error and notes international criticism. Retraction and amendment of the CPG is needed, particularly in the current political climate.