Is a cyclic neuropeptide produced primarily in the hypothalamus and plays an important neuromodulatory role for other neurotransmitter systems, with an impact on behavior, response to danger, stress, and complex social interactions, such as pair bonding and child care. This narrative expert review examines the literature on oxytocin as a brain hormone. We focused on oxytocin structure, distribution, genetics, and the oxytocin receptor system, as well as the relationship of oxytocin with other neurotransmitters and the resulting impacts on the main psychiatric disorders. Oxytocin levels have been correlated over time with mental illness, with numerous studies focusing on oxytocin and the pathophysiology of the main psychiatric disorders, such as autism, schizophrenia, personality disorders, mood, and eating disorders. We highlight the role oxytocin plays in improving symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and social behavior, as the literature suggests. Risk factors and causes for psychiatric disorders range from genetic to environmental and social factors. Oxytocin could impact the latter, being linked with other neurotransmitter systems that are responsible for integrating different situations during the development phases of individuals. Also, these systems have an important role in how the body responds to stressors or bonding with others, helping with the creation of social support groups that could speed up recovery in many situations. Oxytocin has the potential to become a key therapeutic agent for future treatment and prevention strategies concerning the main psychiatric disorders.

Schizophrenia is a neuropsychiatric disorder affecting approximately 1 in 300 people worldwide. It is characterized by a range of symptoms, including positive symptoms (delusions, hallucinations, and formal thought disorganization), negative symptoms (anhedonia, alogia, avolition, asociality, and blunted affect), and cognitive impairments (impaired memory, attention, executive function, and processing speed). Current treatments, such as psychopharmacology and psychotherapy, often do not fully address these symptoms, leading to impaired everyday functionality. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in neuromodulation due to computer and engineering science making extraordinary computational advances. Those put together have reinitiated the spark in the field of neurofeedback (NF) as a means for self-regulation and neuromodulation with the potential to alleviate the daily burden of schizophrenia. We review, in a systematic way, the primary reports of electroencephalogram (EEG)-based NF as a therapeutical tool for schizophrenia. The main body of research consists mostly of case studies and case reports. The results of a few randomized controlled studies, combined with case studies/series, underscore the potential use of NF as an add-on treatment option for improving the lives of suffering individuals, being sustained by the changes in brain function and symptomatology improvement. We aim to provide important evidence of neuromodulation using NF in patients with schizophrenia, summarizing the effects and conclusions found in several clinical trials.

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) came into consideration in recent years as a promising, non-invasive form of neuromodulation for individuals suffering from mild cognitive impairment (MCI). MCI represents a transitional stage between normal cognitive aging and more severe cognitive decline, which appears in neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease. Numerous studies have shown that tDCS can have several useful effects in patients with MCI. It is believed to enhance cognitive functions, including memory and attention, potentially slowing down the progression of neurodegeneration and cognitive decline. tDCS is believed to work by modulating neuronal activity and promoting synaptic plasticity in the brain regions associated with cognition. Moreover, tDCS is generally considered safe and well-tolerated, making it an attractive option for long-term therapeutic use in MCI. However, further research is needed to determine the optimal stimulation parameters and long-term effects of tDCS in this population, as well as its potential to serve as a complementary therapy alongside other interventions for MCI. In this review, we included 16 randomized clinical trials containing patients with MCI who were treated with tDCS. We aim to provide important evidence for the cognitive enhancement using tDCS in patients with MCI, summarizing the effects and conclusions found in several clinical trials, and discuss its main mechanisms.

Community pharmacy has evolved a lot in recent years in terms of pharmaceutical services and marketing policies applied in Romania. This study aimed to evaluate the degree of patient satisfaction in community pharmacies in Iași, Romania correlated with the frequency of returning to the pharmacy, level of education, gender, and stress level at the time when the pharmacist dispenses the medication. A total of 30 community pharmacies were involved, and in a period of three months, they issued questionnaires to patients. 722 patients responded, and to verify the first research hypothesis, the Pearson correlation was applied. Statistical analysis revealed that there is a negative, medium-level, and significant correlation between the level of satisfaction with pharmaceutical services and the frequency of visits to the pharmacy, r = −0.342, p < 0.0001. There is also a significant, negative correlation of low intensity between the level of satisfaction with pharmaceutical services and patient status, r = −0.202, p < 0.0001. The degree of patient satisfaction is influenced by the quality of the basic pharmaceutical service offered, by the frequency of visits to the pharmacy, by the level of stress, and by social class.

Neurofeedback (NF) is an emerging treatment for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). NF is a training approach that enables individuals to self-regulate brain activity patterns associated with emotional and cognitive dysfunction. While interest is increasing, research results vary, and clinical implementation does not follow standardized protocols. This scoping review aimed to map and synthesize the existing peer-reviewed evidence on electroencephalography (EEG)-based neurofeedback interventions for MDD, with a focus on training protocols, neurophysiological targets, reported clinical outcomes, and methodological limitations. A systematic scoping review was conducted in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines (OSF registration): https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/NQ3BW. Electronic searches were performed across Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, and ClinicalTrials.gov. Studies were included if they evaluated EEG-based neurofeedback interventions in adults with MDD and reported clinical or neurophysiological outcomes. Of 1299 records identified, 11 studies met the inclusion criteria, encompassing outcome data from 175 patients who received active EEG-NF. The studies observed a reduction in depressive symptoms following neurofeedback, most commonly using frontal alpha asymmetry protocols (k = 5). Potential improvements in cognitive performance were reported in 4 studies, particularly those incorporating upper-alpha or beta/theta modulation. Connectivity-based approaches using low-resolution electromagnetic tomography Z-score neurofeedback (low-resolution electromagnetic tomography (LORETA); k = 2) suggested possible effects on deep brain networks involved in emotional regulation, though replication remains limited. This scoping review outlines the existing evidence on EEG-based neurofeedback in major depressive disorder, highlighting the diversity of protocols, targets, and reported outcomes. While preliminary findings suggest potential clinical relevance, substantial methodological limitations and heterogeneity remain. These observations emphasize the need for more rigorous, standardized, and longitudinal research to better define the role of EEG-based neurofeedback in the treatment of MDD.

Early-onset cognitive decline may initially present with psychiatric and behavioral manifestations, making the differential diagnosis between early-onset Alzheimer’s disease and frontotemporal dementia clinically challenging. The distinction becomes particularly complex when cognitive symptoms are accompanied by disorientation, amnestic deficits and impulsive behavioral changes. We report the case of a 59-year-old male patient who presented with acute-onset memory disturbances reported by the family, temporospatial disorientation, amnestic episodes and behavioral changes characterized by impulsive manifestations. The clinical presentation raised a complex differential diagnosis between early-onset Alzheimer’s disease and frontotemporal dementia, while also requiring exclusion of other potentially reversible or acute causes of cognitive impairment. Psychiatric examination, collateral history, neurological evaluation, neuropsychological testing and neuroimaging were used to clarify the diagnostic hypothesis. This case highlights the role of adult psychiatry in the early recognition of neurodegenerative disorders presenting with cognitive and behavioral symptoms. It also underscores the need for multidisciplinary assessment in atypical or rapidly evolving clinical presentations, as atypical clinical features require increased diagnostic vigilance from clinicians and may influence both pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapeutic interventions.