Major depressive disorder (MDD) is one of the most prevalent mental illness and a leading cause of disability worldwide. Despite a range of effective treatments, more than 30% of patients do not achieve remission as a result of conventional therapy. In these circumstances the identification of novel drug targets and pathogenic factors becomes essential for selecting more efficacious and personalized treatment. Increasing evidence has implicated the role of inflammation in the pathophysiology of depression, revealing potential new pathways and treatment options. Moreover, convergent evidence indicates that MDD is related to disturbed neurogenesis and suggests a possible role of neurotrophic factors in recovery of function in patients. Although the influence of antidepressants on inflammatory cytokines balance was widely reported in various studies, the exact correlation between drugs used and specific cytokines and neurotrophins serum levels often remains inconsistent. Available data suggest anti-inflammatory properties of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), selective serotonin and noradrenaline inhibitors (SNRIs), and tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) as a possible additional mechanism of reduction of depressive symptoms. In this review, we outline emerging data regarding the influence of different antidepressant drugs on a wide array of peripheral biomarkers such as interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-2, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, C-reactive protein (CRP), or interferon (IFN)-γ. Presented results indicate anti-inflammatory effect for selected drugs or lack of such effect. Research in this field is insufficient to define the role of inflammatory markers as a predictor of treatment response in MDD.

Stroke is 3rd cause of death, after heart diseases and tumors, and the most common cause of permanent disability in people over 40 years of age. In Poland, disability after stroke, affects 70% of patients and is definitely higher than in the other developed countries. Information that stroke affects young, sexually active persons is becoming more and more common, however this aspect of patients’ functionality falls into the background, both for patients and specialists, as it seems to be less important than other disorders. These patients report the decrease of all sexual functions such as libido, erectile function, orgasm, vaginal lubrication and sexual satisfaction; the frequency of intercourse decreases significantly. The sexual dysfunction in these patients depends on many factors. Among them, we can distinguish between the extent of the focus of the stroke, the method of treatment and the level of general post-stroke disability. Some of the sexual disfunctions are temporary in the initial period they result mainly neurological deficit (aphasia, movement disorders, paresis, limbs paralysis) later on, psychological factors may start playing a significant role. These disturbances also show some dynamics over time. The etiology of sexual disorders after stroke is multi-functional. There are organic factors and also psychosocial and psychological. Among psychological factors, depression, anxiety and fear that the stroke can come back can lead to the decrease of one’s sexual drive. Sexual dysfunction in patients after a stroke may be associated with a malfunction of the genitourinary system, including urinary incontinence. Rehabilitation this patients require interdisciplinary actions. Stroke is 3rd cause of death, after heart diseases and tumors, and the most common cause of permanent disability in people over 40 years of age. In Poland, disability after stroke, affects 70% of patients and is definitely higher than in the other developed countries. Information that stroke affects young, sexually active persons is becoming more and more common, however this aspect of patients’ functionality falls into the background, both for patients and specialists, as it seems to be less important than other disorders. These patients report the decrease of all sexual functions such as libido, erectile function, orgasm, vaginal lubrication and sexual satisfaction; the frequency of intercourse decreases significantly. The sexual dysfunction in these patients depends on many factors. Among them, we can distinguish between the extent of the focus of the stroke, the method of treatment and the level of general post-stroke disability. Some of the sexual disfunctions are temporary in the initial period they result mainly neurological deficit (aphasia, movement disorders, paresis, limbs paralysis) later on, psychological factors may start playing a significant role. These disturbances also show some dynamics over time. The etiology of sexual disorders after stroke is multi-functional. There are organic factors and also psychosocial and psychological. Among psychological factors, depression, anxiety and fear that the stroke can come back can lead to the decrease of one’s sexual drive. Sexual dysfunction in patients after a stroke may be associated with a malfunction of the genitourinary system, including urinary incontinence. Rehabilitation this patients require interdisciplinary actions.

Dissocial personality is understood as a personality that does not ideologize most social norms and is characterized by a lack of empathy. Precise criteria for diagnosing dissocial personality are included in the ICD-10 classification, which is still in force in Poland. This classification is widely available in both Polish and English. In Poland, there is a fairly wide range of assistance available for people with personality disorders in day care units and 24-h wards for the treatment of personality disorders. Unfortunately, due to some antisocial behaviors that violate the criminal law in force in Poland, people with dissocial personality are placed in prisons. The development of dissocial personality depends on both genetic factors and the demoralizing influence of the social environment. The mutual interactions of genetic and environmental factors in the pathogenesis of dissocial personality can be analyzed both using statistical methods for large groups and by analyzing a case study, which is a qualitative study and is underestimated in modern medicine. Due to the complex pathogenesis of dissocial personality, various ethical dilemmas arise, and the extent of the guilt for the committed, prohibited act depends on genetic factors and brain structure and to some extent on environmental factors. The apparent ability of people with dissocial personality to look into their own actions leaves doctors always with the question of how sick or bad the person is. In this study, we used the method of qualitative analysis of case studies of two patients treated in a 24-h personality disorder treatment unit of the Department of Neuroses, Personality Disorders and Eating Disorders of the Second Psychiatric Clinic of the Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology in Warsaw.

The aim of modern psychiatry is to help patients with mental disorders. Subjects with dissocial personality usually receive no such assistance, since the social threat they pose forces the society to isolate them in prison. Meanwhile, modern cognition science indicates a high share of the genetic factor in the pathogenesis of this disease, as shown by two case studies. We postulate that modern civilization should develop, first of all, the methods of prevention and treatment of subjects with dissocial personality.