Lipids are a crucial component of the human brain, serving important structural and functional roles. They are involved in cell function, myelination of neuronal projections, neurotransmission, neural plasticity, energy metabolism, and neuroinflammation. Despite their significance, the role of lipids in the development of mental disorders has not been well understood. This review focused on the potential use of lipids as blood biomarkers for common mental illnesses, such as major depressive disorder, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. This review also discussed the impact of commonly used psychiatric medications, such as neuroleptics and antidepressants, on lipid metabolism. The obtained data suggested that lipid biomarkers could be useful for diagnosing psychiatric diseases, but further research is needed to better understand the associations between blood lipids and mental disorders and to identify specific biomarker combinations for each disease.

Background/Objectives: Electroencephalography (EEG) is considered a standard but powerful tool for the diagnosis of neurological and psychiatric diseases. With modern imaging techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), and magnetoencephalography (MEG), source localization can be improved, especially with low-resolution brain electromagnetic tomography (LORETA). The aim of this review is to explore the variety of modern techniques with emphasis on the efficacy of LORETA in detecting brain activity patterns in schizophrenia. The study’s novelty lies in the comprehensive survey of EEG methods and detailed exploration of LORETA in schizophrenia research. This evaluation aligns with clinical objectives and has been performed for the first time. Methods: The study is split into two sections. Part I examines different EEG methodologies and adjuncts to detail brain activity in deep layers in articles published between 2018 and 2023 in PubMed. Part II focuses on the role of LORETA in investigating structural and functional changes in schizophrenia in studies published between 1999 and 2024 in PubMed. Results: Combining imaging techniques and EEG provides opportunities for mapping brain activity. Using LORETA, studies of schizophrenia have identified hemispheric asymmetry, especially increased activity in the left hemisphere. Cognitive deficits were associated with decreased activity in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and other areas. Comparison of the first episode of schizophrenia and a chronic one may help to classify structural change as a cause or as a consequence of the disorder. Antipsychotic drugs such as olanzapine or clozapine showed a change in P300 source density and increased activity in the delta and theta bands. Conclusions: Given the relatively low spatial resolution of LORETA, the method offers benefits such as accessibility, high temporal resolution, and the ability to map depth layers, emphasizing the potential of LORETA in monitoring the progression and treatment response in schizophrenia.

BACKGROUND: Anxiety and depressive disorders are the most common mental disorders. Detecting a disorder at an early stage can prevent the development of severe disorders and preserve the patient’s functioning ability. Simple and reliable screening tools based on self-completion of questionnaires can be used for this purpose. However, it is not always the case that the scores of the self-questionnaire align with those of the clinician. AIM: To estimate the prevalence of anxiety-depressive disorders using the GAD-7 and HADS self-report questionnaires compared to psychiatrist assessment. METHODS: The study included individuals aged 18 to 65 years, living in Moscow, Russia, without psychiatric disorders, who participated in an online study using the HADS (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, HADS-A and HADS-D) and GAD-7 (Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale). Anxiety disorder was diagnosed when the total score was ≥10 on the GAD-7 and/or ≥10 on the HADS-A scale, and depression was defined when the total score was ≥9 on the HADS-D scale. Then, 82 randomly selected participants attended an anonymous consultation with a psychiatrist. RESULTS: The study included 1,097 individuals (72% female), median age 29 (23; 37) years. As a result of testing, anxiety disorder was found in 168 (15%); depressive disorder — in 152 (14%) respondents. At medical verification, anxiety was diagnosed in 18 (22%); depression — in 19 (23%) people. The sensitivity of the HADS-D subscale for physician-diagnosed cases of depression was 61%, and specificity was 73%. The sensitivity of the HADS-A and GTR-7 subscale in identifying cases of anxiety disorder was 58%, specificity 59%. Sixteen percent were first diagnosed with a personality disorder or schizotypal disorder. CONCLUSION: The level of anxiety and depression in our sample of the population of Moscow, Russia, was higher than the global level. Self-assessment based on the questionnaire seems to not fully reflect the real state of a patient, as evidenced by the differences with the psychiatrist’s assessment.

Background: in recent years, it has become relevant to study the effects of military operations on the mental health of veterans. The aim was to identify and evaluate the leading psychopathological symptoms in veterans of a special military operation (SMO), as well as to compare diagnoses upon admission and discharge from the hospital. Patients and Methods: 140 male veterans of local wars and armed conflicts who were treated at N.A. Alekseev Psychiatric Clinical Hospital No. 1 in the period from 2023 to 2024 were examined. The average age of the participants was 34.2 ± 8.3 years. During the study, a clinical and psychopathological analysis of the identified symptoms and risk factors in patients was carried out. Results: the study revealed a high prevalence of anxiety (75.7%) and depression (51.4%) among participants with a preliminary diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). An analysis of the symptoms of PTSD showed that intrusion (72.1%) is the most common. The high incidence of organic mental disorders caused by traumatic brain injury (TBI) (26.4%), PTSD (18.6%) and affective disorders (20%) was confirmed, in addition, the presence of patients with preliminary diagnoses of the schizophrenic spectrum (15.7%) was noted, which are subsequently confirmed. Conclusions: in clinical practice, the phenomenology of mental disorders due to combat stress is characterized by a variety of symptoms, many of which are not specific to PTSD and therefore are not included in the set of diagnostic criteria. The observed dominant severity of affective register disorders, behavioral disorders, asthenia and individual symptoms of organic brain damage determines the evolution of the diagnosis from the initial examination to the time of discharge with a decrease in the frequency of diagnosed PTSD. Despite the presence of leading or even typical symptoms of PTSD, attention should be paid to other complaints and psychopathological signs, since they can be predominant in the picture of the disease, have a significant impact on the patient’s quality of life and become the most important or promising target of therapy.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that can arise following exposure to deeply upsetting events, such as violence, natural disasters, military conflicts, or situations posing a threat to one's life. Although our knowledge of PTSD mechanisms has expanded, therapeutic approaches remain challenging, due to the diverse symptoms profile and the limited benefit of current treatment strategies of PTSD. Recent studies have documented an interaction between coping strategies and the development of PTSD. The current review aims to provide the available evidence for the impact of coping strategies in the development and treatment of PTSD. The present results indicate that coping strategies have an important role in the pathogenesis and treatment of PTSD. Adaptive strategies increase resilience and facilitate recovery, while maladaptive strategies contribute to chronicity and treatment resistance. However, the relationships observed between cognitive coping strategies and PTSD outcomes have remained under discussion. The next investigations with focus on a combination of pharmacotherapy with different coping strategies could be a beneficial for personalized therapy of PTSD.

Objective: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and other forms of dementia are a heterogeneous group of neurodegenerative diseases characterized by progressive cognitive decline. Differential diagnosis between AD and other dementias is crucial for choosing the optimal treatment strategy. Currently, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis remains the most accurate diagnostic method, but its invasiveness limits its use. In this regard, the search for reliable biomarkers in the blood is an urgent task. Methods: The study included 31 dementia patients (23 women and 8 men) diagnosed via interdisciplinary consultations and neuropsychological testing (MMSE ≤ 24). CSF and blood plasma samples were collected and analyzed using Luminex technology. Biomarker concentrations were measured, and statistical analyses (ANOVA, Kruskal–Wallis, and Pearson correlation) were performed to compare groups and assess correlations. Results: Levels of Aβ40 and Aβ42 in CSF were significantly lower in patients with AD compared with non-AD dementia (p = 0.02 and p < 0.001, respectively). The Aβ42/40 ratio in CSF was higher in patients with non-AD dementia (p = 0.048). The concentration of Aβ42 in blood plasma was increased in patients with AD (p = 0.001). Positive correlations were found between Aβ42 in CSF and TDP-43 in plasma in non-AD dementia (r = 0.97, p < 0.001), as well as between neurogranin and TDP-43 in plasma in AD (r = 0.845, p < 0.001). Conclusions: The study demonstrates the potential of blood biomarkers, in particular Aβ42, for the differential diagnosis of AD and other forms of dementia. The discovered correlations between CSF and plasma biomarkers deepen the understanding of neurodegenerative processes and contribute to the development of noninvasive diagnostic methods.