A Novel Bio-Psychosocial-Behavioral Treatment Model of Panic Disorder

To conceptualize a novel bio-psychosocial-behavioral treatment model of panic disorder (PD), it is necessary to completely integrate behavioral, psychophysiological, neurobiological, and genetic data. Molecular genetic research on PD is specifically focused on neurotransmitters, including serotonin, neuropeptides, glucocorticoids, and neurotrophins. Although pharmacological interventions for PD are currently available, the need for more effective, faster-acting, and more tolerable pharmacological interventions is unmet. Thus, glutamatergic receptor modulators, orexin receptor antagonists, corticotrophin-releasing factor 1 receptor antagonists, and other novel mechanism-based anti-panic therapeutics have been proposed. Research on the neural correlates of PD is focused on the dysfunctional “cross-talk” between emotional drive (limbic structure) and cognitive inhibition (prefrontal cortex) and the fear circuit, which includes the amygdala-hippocampus-prefrontal axis. The neural perspective regarding PD supports the idea that cognitive-behavioral therapy normalizes alterations in top-down cognitive processing, including increased threat expectancy and attention to threat. Consistent with the concept of “personalized medicine,” it is speculated that Research Domain Criteria can enlighten further treatments targeting dysfunctions underlying PD more precisely and provide us with better definitions of moderators used to identify subgroups according to different responses to treatment. Structuring of the “negative valence systems” domain, which includes fear/anxiety, is required to define PD. Therefore, targeting glutamate- and orexin-related molecular mechanisms associated with the fear circuit, which includes the amygdala-hippocampus-prefrontal cortex axis, is required to define a novel bio-psychosocial-behavioral treatment model of PD.

Empirically supported interventions in psychology: contributions of Research Domain Criteria

Abstract Empirically supported interventions in psychological disorders should provide (1) evidence supporting the underlying psychological mechanisms of psychopathology to target in the intervention and (2) evidence supporting the efficacy of the intervention. However, research has been dedicated in a greater extent to efficacy than to the acquisition of empirical support for the theoretical basis of therapies. Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) emerges as a new framework to provide empirically based theories about psychological mechanisms that may be targeted in intervention and tested for its efficacy. The current review aims to demonstrate the possible applications of RDoC to design empirically supported interventions for psychological disorders. Two RDoC-inspired interventions are reviewed, and the RDoC framework is broadly explored in terms of its contributions and limitations. From preliminary evidence, RDoC offers many avenues for improving evidence-based interventions in psychology, but some limitations must be anticipated to increase the RDoC applicability to naturalistic settings. (AU)

In search of connection: towards a transdiagnostic view of dissociative phenomena through research domain criteria (RDOC) framework / Em busca de conexão: rumo a uma visão transdiagnóstica de fenômenos dissociativos mediante o paradigma do research domain criteria (RDOC) / En busca de conexión: hacia una visión transdiagnóstica de los fenómenos disociativos mediante el paradigma del research domain criteria (RDOC)

Current psychiatric nosological classifications maintain a heterogeneous categorical view of clinical presentations that contribute to overlapping symptoms across different disorders, thus influencing appropriate diagnosis and treatment. The United States National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) proposed the Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) project as an alternative dimensional approach that comprises different units of analysis across psychopathology. Although it may represent a paradigm shift, investigations of its application for dissociative phenomena that are present in various clinical conditions are still lacking. The present review examines theoretical models of dissociation and their presence in a wide range of clinical conditions. The literature review indicated the suitability of a transdiagnostic concept of altered states of consciousness by considering dimensions of temporality, narrative, embodiment, affect, and intersubjectivity.

As classificações nosológicas psiquiátricas atuais mantêm uma visão categórica heterogênea das apresentações clínicas que contribuem para a sobreposição de sintomas entre diferentes distúrbios, influenciando, assim, o diagnóstico e o tratamento adequados. O United States National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) propôs o projeto Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) como uma abordagem dimensional alternativa que engloba diferentes unidades de análise para a compreensão da psicopatologia. Embora essa perspectiva possa representar uma mudança de paradigma, ainda faltam investigações sobre sua aplicação para fenômenos dissociativos presentes em várias condições clínicas. A presente revisão analisa modelos teóricos de dissociação e sua presença em uma ampla gama de condições clínicas. A revisão da literatura indicou a adequação de um conceito transdiagnóstico de estados alterados de consciência, considerando dimensões de temporalidade, narrativa, corporificação, afeto e intersubjetividade.

Las clasificaciones nosológicas psiquiátricas actuales mantienen una visión categórica heterogénea de las presentaciones clínicas que contribuyen a la superposición de los síntomas en diferentes trastornos, lo que influye en el diagnóstico y el tratamiento adecuados. El United States National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) propuso el proyecto Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) como un enfoque dimensional alternativo que comprende diferentes unidades de análisis para la comprensión de la psicopatología. Aunque esta perspectiva puede representar un cambio de paradigma, aún faltan investigaciones sobre su aplicación para los fenómenos disociativos que están presentes en diversas condiciones clínicas. La presente revisión examina modelos teóricos de disociación y su presencia en una amplia gama de condiciones clínicas. La revisión de la literatura indicó la idoneidad de un concepto trans diagnóstico de estados alterados de conciencia al considerar dimensiones de temporalidad, narrativa, corporificación, afecto e intersubjetividad.

Extracellular Vesicles in Psychiatry Research in the Context of RDoC Criteria

The analysis of extracellular vesicles has been accelerated because of the technological advancements in omics methods in recent decades. Extracellular vesicles provide multifaceted information regarding the functional status of the cells. This information would be critical in case of central nervous system cells, which are confined in a relatively sealed biological compartment. This obstacle is more dramatic in psychiatric disorders since their diagnosis primarily depend on the symptoms and signs of the patients. In this paper, we reviewed this rapidly advancing field by discussing definition of extracellular vesicles, their biogenesis and potential use as clinical biomarkers. Then we focused on their potential use in psychiatric disorders in the context of diagnosis and treatment of these disorders. Finally, we tried to combine the RDoC (Research Domain Criteria) with the use of extracellular vesicles in psychiatry research and practice. This review may offer new insights in both basic and translational research focusing on psychiatric disorders.

Rumination in bipolar disorder: a systematic review

Objective:To conduct a systematic review of the literature about the symptom of rumination in bipolar disorder (BD).Methods:We searched the MEDLINE (PubMed), ISI Web of Knowledge, PsycINFO, and SciELO databases using the descriptors “rumination” and “bipolar disorder” and no time limits. This strategy yielded 105 references, of which 74 were selected. Inclusion criteria were studies involving patients with BD and the use of at least one validated scale for the assessment of rumination. Review articles were excluded. Seventeen articles were ultimately analyzed and included in the review.Results:Rumination is present in all BD phases, is a stable interepisodic symptom, is associated with symptoms of depression, anxiety, and hypomania, and may occur in response to both positive and negative affect. There is no research on rumination and neurobiological findings in patients with BD.Conclusions:Rumination seems to be independent of mood state, but shows close relationship with it. It is possible that rumination has a negative impact on cognitive and executive functions, particularly inhibitory control. Finally, rumination is an important symptom in both phases of BD, and, therefore, may be a useful target for further exploration as a dimensional domain and a transdiagnostic phenomenon in Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) projects.