The presence of artificial light at night has emerged as an anthropogenic stressor in recent years. Various sources of light pollution have been shown to affect circadian physiology with serious consequences for metabolic pathways, possibly disrupting pineal melatonin production with multiple adverse health effects. The suppression of melatonin at night may also affect human mental health and contribute to the development or exacerbation of psychiatric disorders in vulnerable individuals. Due to the high burden of circadian disruption in affective disorders, it has been hypothesized that light pollution impacts mental health, mainly affecting mood regulation. Hence, the aim of this review was to critically summarize the evidence on the effects of light pollution on mood symptoms, with a particular focus on the role of circadian rhythms in mediating this relationship. We conducted a narrative review of the literature in the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science datasets. After the screening process, eighteen papers were eligible for inclusion. The results clearly indicate a link between light pollution and the development of affective symptoms, with a central role of sleep disturbances in the emergence of mood alterations. Risk perception also represents a crucial topic, possibly modulating the development of affective symptoms in response to light pollution. The results of this review should encourage a multidisciplinary approach to the design of healthier environments, including lighting conditions among the key determinants of human mental health.

Background: The present study aimed to investigate the clinical correlates of treatment response to mood stabilizers in patients with bipolar disorder (BD), with a specific focus on trait-related characteristics such as impulsivity and affective temperaments. Methods: In- and outpatients diagnosed with BD were recruited at the Section of Psychiatry of the General Hospital/University of Perugia. Socio-demographic, clinical, and current psychopathological characteristics were collected. The treatment response was retrospectively assessed using the Alda Scale. Trait characteristics were evaluated through the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11) and the Brief Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, and San Diego—Münster version (briefTEMPS-M). Bivariate analyses and a general linear model were employed to analyze the correlates of treatment response to mood stabilizers. Results: Among the investigated variables, trait impulsivity showed a significant negative association with treatment response. A similar effect was observed for depressive temperament, while other affective temperaments were not significantly associated with treatment outcomes. Patients with good treatment responses exhibited higher illness duration and lower severity of BD, higher prevalence of comorbid anxiety disorders, lower diurnal variation in depressive symptoms, and lower functional impairment in autonomy and occupational domains. The main limitations of this study were represented by the small sample size, the retrospective assessment of treatment response, and the inclusion of patients from a single center. Conclusions: The present findings suggest that impulsivity and depressive temperament should be investigated as potential predictors of poor response to mood stabilizers in BD. These trait dimensions, together with other clinical markers, may serve as useful targets for patient stratification and the development of personalized treatment strategies.

Background/Objectives: Feeding and Eating Disorders (FEDs) are common in individuals with overweight or obesity and are associated with greater psychological burden. This study examined whether body-image concerns, impulsivity, and anger regulation distinguish individuals with overweight or obesity with and without a diagnosis of FEDs according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR). Methods: 50 adults with overweight or obesity (76.0% women; mean BMI = 40.23 ± 5.93 kg/m²) were recruited from specialist obesity services in Italy. Twenty-one participants (42.0%) had a DSM-5-TR FED diagnosis and 29 did not. FED diagnoses were established using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 Disorders, Clinician Version (SCID-5-CV). Participants completed the Binge Eating Scale (BES), Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ), Bulimia Test-Revised (BULIT-R), Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11 (BIS-11), and State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory-2 (STAXI-2). Group differences and an exploratory logistic regression analysis were performed. Results: Compared with participants without FED, those with FED showed significantly higher eating-disorder psychopathology. Body-image concerns were higher in the FED group but did not reach statistical significance. Participants with FED showed higher motor impulsivity and poorer anger regulation. Motor impulsivity was independently associated with FED diagnosis (OR = 1.474, 95% CI = 1.084–2.003, p = 0.013) and remained significant after adjusting for recruitment site. An association between lower anger control and FED diagnosis was also observed but did not remain significant after this adjustment. Conclusions: Adults with overweight or obesity and FED present psychological characteristics extending beyond eating-disorder psychopathology; motor impulsivity emerged as the most robust transdiagnostic correlate of FED status, whereas the association with anger regulation was less consistent and did not survive adjustment for recruitment site. These findings highlight the importance of multidimensional psychological assessment and should be confirmed in larger, prospective, adequately powered studies.

Background: Youth mental health services increasingly encounter adolescents and young adults with complex affective presentations and trauma histories. Dissociation has been proposed as a clinically relevant marker within bipolar vulnerability pathways but remains underrecognized in early-intervention settings. This pilot study investigated the prevalence and clinical correlates of bipolar at-risk (BAR) status in a help-seeking youth sample, with specific focus on dissociative symptoms in this vulnerable population. Methods: A pilot study with a cross-sectional design was conducted in a specialized outpatient clinic for 14–25-year-olds. Seventy-six participants without Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision bipolar disorder completed a multidimensional assessment, including dissociative (Dissociative Experiences Scale version 2 [DES-II], Adolescent-DES [A-DES], Structured Clinical Interview for DSM Dissociative Disorders [SCID-D]), affective, anxiety, impulsivity, and prodromal symptom measures. BAR status (BAR+) was determined via clinical interview according to Bechdolf criteria. Clinically significant dissociation (DES+) was defined by established cut-offs at the DES-II and A-DES scales. Group comparisons, binary logistic regression and exploratory mediation analysis were performed. Results: In our sample, 44.7% of the participants met BAR+ criteria and 42.9% displayed clinically significant dissociation. Patients with BAR+ status more frequently reported familiar history of affective disorders, previous antidepressant use, loneliness, and non-suicidal self-injury. They displayed more severe depressive symptoms and impulsivity, as well as higher scores at all the affective temperament subscale except for hyperthymic. BAR+ patients displayed higher prevalence of dissociative symptoms than BAR− (51.6% vs. 24.2%; p = 0.045). Among the BAR+ subgroup, DES+ youths showed greater traumatic burden, depressive symptoms, and anxious temperament scores. Dissociation was associated with BAR+ status (OR 3.2) after adjusting for age, gender, and loneliness, while attentional impulsivity did not mediate this relationship. Conclusions: Dissociative symptomatology is highly prevalent among help-seeking youths and is directly associated with subthreshold bipolar-spectrum vulnerability. A dissociative BAR phenotype, marked by emotional instability and trauma exposure, may delineate a clinically complex subgroup, supporting the integration of dissociation-focused assessment into youth bipolar-risk staging and early-intervention protocols.