Antisocial Personality Disorder

Researchers are conducting the GENESIS clinical study to map the HLA genomic region in the Greek population and explore its possible links with various underlying diseases. This non-interventional, multicenter study aims to provide a pilot map of genetic variation in HLA that may be useful in medical research and clinical applications related to selected diseases. The study plans to include 12,000 participants over a total duration of 36 months. Each participant will attend one visit at a participating site during which they will provide demographic data, lifestyle information such as smoking and alcohol use, blood pressure measurements, details on diagnosed diseases and treatments, and recent laboratory test results if available. Buccal swab samples will be collected from each participant to extract DNA for HLA genotyping analysis. Selected samples will undergo further whole genome sequencing to investigate associations with autoimmune diseases. Participants will receive a personalized ancestry report after analysis completion. During the study visit, data collection includes demographic and health information, as well as laboratory and clinical test results from the past year. The genetic material from buccal swabs will be stored and processed for genetic analysis. Researchers will measure allele frequency of HLA alleles in the Greek population and assess the prevalence and risk associations of selected HLA-related diseases. The study's total duration is 36 months with results available at the end of this period.

Researchers are investigating the effects of a multidomain lifestyle intervention to slow cognitive decline and dementia risk in elderly residents aged 60 to 80 in Zhejiang Province, China. The study builds on findings from Finland, where a similar approach combining physical activity, nutrition, cognitive training, social activities, and vascular risk management showed promise in healthy older adults at risk of cognitive decline. This trial aims to explore how such an intervention may change brain structure and function as well as cognitive abilities in an Asian population. Participants are randomly assigned to either a structured multidomain intervention group or a self-guided control group. The intervention group receives tailored nutritional guidance, cognitive training, physical exercises, and vascular risk monitoring, all adapted to Chinese cultural norms. The control group receives regular health education campaigns and basic health monitoring every 6 to 12 months. This trial runs for two years with ongoing assessments to evaluate the impact of these lifestyle changes. During the study, participants undergo various evaluations including cognitive tests measuring global and domain-specific cognition, neuroimaging scans like MRI and fMRI, laboratory blood tests, and physical performance measures such as grip strength and gait speed. Questionnaires assess quality of life, depression, sleep quality, and daily activities. Researchers also monitor cardiovascular health, dementia onset, and falls. This comprehensive monitoring will help determine the intervention's effects on brain health and daily functioning over the 24-month period.

This research aims to understand the needs and preferences of patients and their caregivers regarding different forms of antipsychotic medications, specifically focusing on risperidone. It seeks to clarify the clinical value of a patch-form antipsychotic for conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, autism spectrum disorder, conduct disorder, and mental retardation. The study is observational and sponsored by the Shanghai Mental Health Center. Participants include patients diagnosed with the mentioned psychiatric disorders or their primary caregivers. The study observes their preferences for risperidone dosage forms, particularly the patch form, without administering any investigational treatment. The study is planned to last for about six months, during which researchers will track patient and caregiver preferences. During the study, participants will be asked about their preferences for risperidone patch-form medicine and related factors influencing these preferences. Researchers will collect data through questionnaires or interviews over the six-month period. The primary measure is the proportion of patients and caregivers who prefer the patch form, with secondary measures focusing on factors influencing this preference. Participation involves ongoing observation without intervention, ensuring safety and respect for individual choices.

Researchers are evaluating a mentalization-based parenting program called the Lighthouse MBT Parenting Program for parents with various mental disorders who are receiving adult mental health services. This trial compares this program to the usual care provided to these parents. The goal is to study both the short- and long-term effects of this intervention on parenting stress and related outcomes, addressing the high need for evidence-based support for parents with mental health conditions and their children. The study involves two groups: one receives the Lighthouse MBT Parenting Program, which includes a preparatory individual session followed by twelve weekly group sessions of two hours each. The other group receives care as usual, consisting of one or two sessions with family members, commonly offered in adult mental health services. Both interventions are provided alongside the participants' regular outpatient treatment. Participants will be assessed at the start of the study and again at 6, 12, and 24 months after starting the program. The research team will measure parenting stress using a standardized index and evaluate other factors such as children's psychological adjustment, family functioning, quality of life, parenting competence, and the severity of psychiatric symptoms. The study includes careful follow-up to monitor these outcomes over two years.

This research aims to develop and scientifically evaluate a set of self-assessment scales to support psychiatric diagnostics and follow-up in adults with psychiatric problems. These scales collect detailed information on symptoms, age of onset, symptom development, relation to external stress, and the impact on function and suffering. The goal is to create validated tools that help clinicians classify psychiatric conditions more effectively using fewer, optimized questions. Participants are recruited consecutively from five specific sites and asked to complete various item sets measuring relevant psychiatric symptoms. The study involves multiple groups, each responding to different item sets that are refined and validated over time using statistical methods. After optimizing individual item sets, the scales are combined and further tested to reduce the number of questions and dimensions needed for accurate assessment. Participants will answer sets of questions about their symptoms and experiences during multiple recruitment phases. Researchers analyze the responses to refine the scales, aiming for concise and reliable tools. The main outcome measure is the Scalability H index, which assesses the measurement quality of the scales. Participation involves completing questionnaires, with ongoing evaluation to improve the diagnostic support system.

Researchers are evaluating an adapted version of the Helping Ovarian Cancer Patients Cope (HOPE) intervention called HOPE-C, designed to address burnout among gynecologic oncology clinicians. Burnout in these clinicians can negatively impact mental health, professional performance, patient outcomes, and healthcare systems. The original HOPE intervention promotes hope in ovarian cancer patients through positive narratives; HOPE-C tailors these concepts to clinicians by fostering peer support and helping them reframe challenging experiences. The study involves three main objectives. First, clinicians review HOPE-C materials and provide feedback through interviews and questionnaires to help develop the intervention. Next, in a pilot trial, clinicians attend four weekly HOPE-C sessions, each lasting about 30 to 45 minutes, focusing on changing narratives, managing uncertainty, and finding meaning. Before and after these sessions, clinicians complete questionnaires. Finally, clinicians may participate in interviews after completing HOPE-C to further optimize and evaluate the intervention. Participants will be involved in reviewing materials, attending sessions, and completing questionnaires and interviews. Researchers will assess feasibility by tracking accrual rates, intervention completion, and survey completion. They will also measure acceptability, satisfaction, and delivery of the intervention. Data collection occurs at enrollment, during the four-week intervention, and up to two weeks post-intervention. The trial is sponsored by Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center and includes clinicians working with ovarian cancer patients.

This research aims to improve neuropsychological diagnostics by developing, calibrating, and evaluating new clinical and forensic neuropsychological tests. These tests focus on both instrumental and non-instrumental functions and are being studied in neurologically healthy individuals representing the Italian population, as well as in patients with various neurological and neuropsychiatric conditions. The goal is to modernize and expand diagnostic tools to meet clinical and forensic needs, including remote testing and assessments of testamentary capacity. Participants include people with brain disorders and neurologically healthy controls. The study involves cognitive and behavioral tests and questionnaires designed to assess various mental functions. These tests will be administered at baseline, then repeated after one month for healthy participants, and at 6, 12, and 18 months for those with neurodegenerative disorders to evaluate changes over time. Throughout the study, participants will undergo multiple assessments including tests like the Brief Assessment of Social Skills-Dementia, Picture Interpretation Test, and Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status among others. These evaluations are done at enrollment and at scheduled intervals to monitor cognitive and behavioral changes. The study will track outcomes to understand test reliability and clinical usefulness over an extended period, with participation lasting up to 18 months for some individuals.

Researchers are collecting eye-tracking data and high-resolution images of the back of the eye (fundus imaging) from individuals seeking help for mental health issues. The study aims to use artificial intelligence techniques, including convolutional neural networks, to combine these dynamic and static data types. This approach hopes to develop models that can classify common mental disorders and provide early warnings, assisting clinicians with objective diagnosis and risk prediction for adverse outcomes. The study plans to recruit 1,000 individuals at clinical high risk for psychosis and 1,000 patients diagnosed with common mental disorders, including schizophrenia, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and cognitive impairment in the elderly. Participants will continue their routine clinical treatment as this is an observational study without additional interventions. The system developed will be integrated with hospital information systems and include real-time feedback reports to support clinical decision-making. Participants will undergo eye-tracking and fundus examinations over one year to collect data for analysis. Researchers will monitor eye-tracking fixation point trajectories and fundus images as the primary outcomes. The study will refine variables to improve diagnostic accuracy and integrate findings with previous research data. The total participation duration varies but involves natural follow-up alongside standard care, aiming to create tools for better mental disorder diagnosis and warning.

Researchers are exploring the reliability of a new model designed to understand personality disorders by using evolutionary concepts. This study aims to confirm that the initial validity findings of this model apply across different cultures and countries. It involves psychology students from China, Italy, Poland, Spain, and the United States. Participants will undergo specific training on the model through online sessions, including a recorded presentation, live experiential training with clinical cases, and exercises applying the model to case transcripts and assessment reports. A smaller group will participate in structured interviews to evaluate how acceptable and useful the model is. During the study, participants will be evaluated on how consistently they apply the model to the same patient cases, with supervisors scoring their adherence. The primary outcome is the cross-cultural agreement in assessments, measured within one month from recruitment. The study includes assessments of model acceptability and involves about 110 students in total.

Researchers are evaluating how pharmacological and psychotherapeutic group treatments affect clinical symptoms in children and adolescents diagnosed with ADHD, emotional-behavioral dysregulation, and externalizing disorders. This observational study aims to determine the effectiveness of these treatments on symptoms and explore associations between individual characteristics and treatment responses using behavioral, neuropsychological, and neurophysiological data. The study seeks to develop more personalized interventions based on these findings. Participants will receive either pharmacological treatment with methylphenidate or group psychological therapy. The drug treatment involves a test dose followed by a varying daily dose (5-20 mg) adjusted by a child neuropsychiatrist. The group psychological treatment includes 16 weekly sessions lasting 1.5 hours each over four months, divided into age-based groups. A control group of patients on a waiting list will undergo the same assessments but will not receive treatment. Participants will undergo assessments before treatment and at multiple follow-ups: at treatment start, end of treatment or drug titration phase (2-3 months), and six months post-treatment. Assessments include clinical and socio-demographic questionnaires, computerized neuropsychological tests, and neurophysiological recordings using near-infrared spectroscopy, EEG during attention tasks, and data from a smartwatch. Researchers will analyze clinical symptoms, emotion regulation, neuropsychological performance, and neurophysiological measures to assess changes and predict treatment outcomes.