Early studies of common mental disorders (CMDs) during the COVID-19 pandemic mainly report increases; however, more recent findings have been mixed. Also, studies assessing the effects of restriction measures on CMDs show varied results. The aim of this meta-analysis was to assess changes in levels of CMDs from pre-/early to during the pandemic and the effects of restriction policies in the European population.

We searched for studies assessing both pre-pandemic and peri-pandemic self-reported emotional distress and symptoms of depression or anxiety among nationally/regionally representative samples in Europe and collected microdata from those studies. Estimates of corona containment index were related to changes in CMDs using random-effects meta-regression.

Our search strategy resulted in findings from 15 datasets drawn from 8 European countries being included in the meta-analysis. There was no evidence of change in the prevalence of emotional distress, anxiety, or depression from before to during the pandemic; but from early pandemic periods to later periods, there were significant decreases in emotional distress and anxiety. Increased school restrictions and social distancing were associated with small increases in self-reported emotional distress.

Despite initial concerns of increased emotional distress and mental illness due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the results from this meta-analysis indicate that there was a decrease in emotional distress and no change in anxiety or depression in the general population in Europe. Overall, our findings support the importance of strong governance when implementing periodic and robust restriction measures to combat the spread of COVID-19.

Previous studies have explored the association between parenting style and offspring’s psychological well-being, and the association between offspring’s achievement attribution pattern and psychological well-being. However, little is known about the role of offspring’s achievement attribution in the relationship between parenting and offspring’s psychological well-being. We aimed to find the role of adolescents’ achievement attribution pattern in the relationship between parent–child communication quality and adolescents’ mental health.

A cross-sectional analysis was conducted on 2,725 adolescents aged from 9 to 18 years who are participating in the China Family Panel Studies. Participants supplied demographic information and completed a series of psychological scales including the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale, an adapted version of the Parental Bonding Instrument, an achievement attribution scale, and single-item measures of subjective well-being and subjective interpersonal popularity.

Linear regression analysis revealed that after controlling for demographic factors good parent–child communication negatively correlated with depression symptoms, and positively associated with subjective well-being and subjective interpersonal popularity. Next, mediation analysis found that internal attribution of achievement partly mediated the effects of parent–child communication quality on adolescents’ depression, subjective well-being, and subjective interpersonal popularity. The result was robust after controlling demographic variables.

An internal attribution pattern of achievement partially accounted for the associations between parent–child communication quality and adolescents’ psychological outcomes including depression, subjective well-being, and subjective interpersonal popularity. Future interventions for adolescents’ mental health promotion can target parent–child communication and adolescents’ positive achievement attribution pattern.

Prior work by our group identified personality profiles associated with psychotic-like experiences (PLE's) in healthy adults that were strikingly similar to those found in schizophrenia patients, with the exception of two key differences. Specifically, higher levels of PLE's were linked to higher persistence and cooperativeness, suggesting that these characteristics might represent personality-based resilience factors. Notably, age and personality were significantly correlated in these data, raising questions about whether healthy children and adolescents would show similar results. To date, no study has examined personality profiles associated with both positive and negative PLE's in healthy children and adolescents using Cloninger's Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI). Thus, this study examined the relationship between TCI dimensions and PLE's in healthy children and adolescents.

The TCI and the Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences (CAPE) were administered to 123 healthy children and adolescents aged 8–18. Multiple regression models were used to examine personality dimensions associated with overall severity of PLE's as well as severity of positive and negative PLE's separately.

Positive, negative, and overall PLE severity were all associated with a personality pattern of higher harm avoidance and lower self-directedness. Negative PLE severity was also associated with lower persistence.

Personality correlates of PLE's in healthy children and adolescents were largely consistent with our past work on PLE's in healthy adults. However, our previously identified resilience factors were notably absent in this sample. These findings may suggest that these personality characteristics have not yet crystallized or emerged to aid in coping with PLE's.

Antipsychotic-induced weight gain (AIWG) leads to metabolic consequences and comorbidity, social stigmatization and nonadherence in patients with schizophrenia. Neuropeptide Y (NPY) has an important role in appetite and body weight regulation. Associations between AIWG and serum NPY levels, and genetic polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with its serum levels have been little studied in these patients.

Associations between serum NPY concentration and other metabolic and inflammatory markers, and 215 SNPs in 21 genes (NPY gene, NPY receptor genes and genes encoding arcuate nucleus NPY neuron receptors) were studied in 180 patients with schizophrenia on clozapine treatment.

The serum levels of NPY correlated with levels of resistin (r = 0.31, P < 0.001) and age (r = 0.22, P = 0.003). In the general linear univariate model the best-fitting model with explanatory factors age, serum resistin level, serum insulin level, BMI and gender explained 18.0% (P < 0.001) of the variance of serum NPY. Genetic risk score (GRSNPY) analysis found twelve significant (P < 0.05) serum NPY concentration related SNPs among α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor gene CHRNA7, insulin receptor gene INSR, leptin receptor gene LEPR, glucocorticoid receptor (GR) gene NR3C1, and NPY gene. However, after permutation test of gene score the predictive value of GRSNPY remained non-significant (P = 0.078).

Serum NPY level does not seem to be a feasible biomarker of AIWG. Serum NPY level alterations are not significantly associated with the candidate gene polymorphisms studied.

Problem behavior of young children is generally not assessed with structured child interviews. This paper examined how information about problem behavior, obtained by structured interviews with six-year-old children, relates to DSM-disorders obtained from parents and to treatment referral.

In a population-based cohort, caregivers of 1084 young children (mean age 6.7 years) were interviewed with the DSM-based Diagnostic Interview Schedule-Young Child version (DISC-YC), and they scored the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). Children themselves were interviewed about problem behavior using the semi-structured Berkeley Puppet Interview (BPI). Information regarding treatment referral to mental health services was obtained by parent-reported questionnaire when children were on average eight years old.

DSM-disorders and CBCL problems in the clinical range were cross-sectionally associated with higher levels of child self-reported problems. Associations were strongest in the externalizing domain (e.g. DISC-YC externalizing disorders with BPI externalizing scores: F(1, 416) = 19.39, P < 0.001; DISC-YC internalizing disorders with BPI internalizing scores: F(1, 312) = 3.75, P = 0.054). Moreover, higher BPI internalizing and externalizing problem scores predicted treatment referral two years later.

We conclude that systematically interviewing preschool and young elementary school-aged children should be an integral part of child assessment. This approach may contribute to a better understanding of child development and may predict future problems.

Deficits of mismatch negativity (MMN) in schizophrenia and individuals at risk for psychosis have been replicated many times. Several studies have also demonstrated the occurrence of subclinical psychotic symptoms within the general population. However, none has yet investigated MMN in individuals from the general population who report subclinical psychotic symptoms.

The MMN to duration-, frequency-, and intensity deviants was recorded in 217 nonclinical individuals classified into a control group (n = 72) and three subclinical groups: paranoid (n = 44), psychotic (n = 51), and mixed paranoid-psychotic (n = 50). Amplitudes of MMN at frontocentral electrodes were referenced to average. Based on a three-source model of MMN generation, we conducted an MMN source analysis and compared the amplitudes of surface electrodes and sources among groups.

We found no significant differences in MMN amplitudes of surface electrodes. However, significant differences in MMN generation among the four groups were revealed at the frontal source for duration-deviant stimuli (P = 0.01). We also detected a trend-level difference (P = 0.05) in MMN activity among those groups for frequency deviants at the frontal source.

Individuals from the general population who report psychotic symptoms are a heterogeneous group. However, alterations exist in their frontal MMN activity. This increased activity might be an indicator of more sensitive perception regarding changes in the environment for individuals with subclinical psychotic symptoms.

Residual depressive symptoms are generally documented as a risk factor for recurrence. In the absence of a specific instrument for the assessment of residual symptoms, a new 25-item Depression Residual Symptom Scale (DRSS) was elaborated and tested for recurrence prediction over a 1-year follow-up.

Fifty-nine patients in remission after a major depressive episode (MDE) were recruited in two centres. They were assessed with the DRSS and the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) at inclusion and followed for 1 year according to a seminaturalistic design. The DRSS included specific depressive symptoms and subjective symptoms of vulnerability, lack of return to usual self and premorbid level of functioning.

Severity of residual symptoms was not significantly associated with increased risk of recurrence. However, DRSS score was significantly higher among patients with three or more episodes than one to two episodes. Number of previous episodes and treatment interruption were not identified as significant predictors of recurrence.

The proposed instrument is not predictive of depressive recurrence, but is sensitive to increased perception of vulnerability associated with consecutive episodes. Limitations include small sample size, seminaturalistic design (no standardisation of treatment) and content of the instrument.

To assess the validity of a quick assessment instrument (10 minutes) for assessing personality status, the Rapid Personality Assessment Schedule (PAS-R).

The PAS-R was evaluated in psychotic patients recruited in one of the centres involved in a multicentre randomised controlled trial of intensive vs standard case management (the UK700 case management trial). Patients were assessed using both a full version of the PAS (PAS-I – ICD version) and the PAS-R. The weighted kappa statistic was used to gauge the (criterion-related) validity of the PAS-R using the PAS-I as the gold standard. Both measure code personality status using a four-point rating of severity in addition to recording individual categories of personality disorder.

One hundred fifty-five (77%) of 201 patients recruited were assessed with both instruments. The weighted kappa statistic was 0.31, suggesting only moderate agreement between the PAS-I and PAS-R instruments under the four-point rating format, and 0.39 for the dichotomous personality disorder/no disorder separation. The sensitivity (64%) and specificity (82%) of the PAS-R in predicting PAS-I personality disorder were as satisfactory as for other screening instruments but still somewhat disappointing, and the PAS-R had an overall diagnostic accuracy of 78%.

The PAS-R is a quick and rough method of detecting personality abnormality but is not a substitute for a fuller assessment.

Flupenthixol is an antipsychotic drug with known mood-elevating properties. Its propensity to induce manic symptoms has not been investigated.

We describe six patients, four with schizophrenia and two with bipolar disorder, in whom flupenthixol treatment was associated with emergence of manic symptoms.

Patients treated with flupenthixol should be carefully monitored for the emergence of manic symptoms.