Background: Due to the increasing global prevalence of Alzheimer’s dementia (AD), neuromodulation techniques such as transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and photobiomodulation (PBM) are considered potential complementary therapies. Objective: We assessed the efficacy and safety of tDCS and PBM and their potential to enhance cognitive functions in individuals with AD. Methods: This review primarily examined studies designed to evaluate the efficacy, followed by an assessment of the safety of tDCS and PBM for people with AD. The databases searched were PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science Core Collection, resulting in 17 published randomized and controlled trials. References were screened over 5 years (2020–2024). The research design used PRISMA guidelines. Results: Fourteen studies were considered for tDCS, and the current literature supports efficacy and safety at an amperage of 2 mA, with electrodes placed on the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). Three studies were included for PBM. The heterogeneity of these study measures made them unsuitable for combined efficacy analysis, and they did not provide a safety evaluation. Conclusions: Despite differences in efficacy assessments, tDCS and PBM improved cognitive abilities. There is an urgent need to standardize metrics for evaluating efficacy and safety, particularly for PBM. Future research is encouraged.

Background: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a well-established treatment for various psychiatric disorders. This retrospective study evaluates anesthesia practices, patient characteristics, and outcomes in ECT over a two-year period at the “Dr. Gheorghe Preda” Clinical Psychiatry Hospital in Sibiu, Romania. Methods: From March 2022 to July 2024, the Neuroscience Scientific Research Collective at our institution carried out a retrospective observational study on patients who underwent ECT. The evaluation and treatment protocol involved patients from all over the country. Results: The study involved 30 patients aged between 22 and 67 years and a mean age of 39.4 years; among them, 57% were male. The majority of the patients (68%) lived in urban areas, and 80% came from a different county. Schizophrenia was the most prevalent diagnosis (56.6%), followed by depression (40%) and bipolar disorder (3.4%). Common comorbidities included obesity/overweight, high blood pressure, and sinus tachycardia. A total of 330 ECT sessions were conducted, with an average of 11 sessions per patient, and 10 patients underwent multiple treatment courses. The reported adverse events included arterial hypertension, agitation, tachycardia, and shivering. Conclusions: This study underlines the safety and effectiveness of ECT when patients are closely monitored. Our results are consistent with the global data, suggesting that ECT is a good treatment option for severe psychiatric conditions with a manageable incidence of adverse events.

Background/Objectives: Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive and well-tolerated treatment, offering an effective alternative for elderly patients with depression, especially when side effects or comorbidities limit medication. Methods: This scoping review analyzes 16 studies published over the past seven years, to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and clinical applications of TMS in older adults with depression. Results: The review examines various TMS modalities, including repetitive TMS (rTMS), deep TMS, and theta burst stimulation (TBS), with most protocols targeting the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). Adverse effects were rare, mild, and transient, supporting the treatment’s safety profile. Pharmacological co-treatment was common but not essential for clinical improvement, highlighting TMS’s potential as a standalone therapy. A subset of studies used neuroplasticity (SICI, ICF, CSP) or neuroimaging measures (MRI and MRI-based neuronavigation), revealing that age-related cortical inhibition may limit plasticity rather than depression itself. Conclusions: Overall, TMS demonstrates promising effectiveness and tolerability in managing late-life depression. Across studies, remission rates varied from 20% to 63%, with higher efficacy generally observed in bilateral stimulation or high-frequency protocols. Standardization of protocols and further research into individualized targeting and long-term outcomes are warranted to support broader clinical adoption.

Background/Objective: Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is a non-invasive neuroimaging technique with growing relevance in psychiatry. Its ability to measure cortical hemodynamics positions it as a potential tool for monitoring neurofunctional changes related to treatment. However, the specific features and level of consistency of its use in clinical psychiatric settings remain unclear. A scoping review was conducted under PRISMA-ScR guidelines to systematically map how fNIRS has been used in monitoring treatment response among individuals with psychiatric disorders. Methods: Forty-seven studies published between 2009 and 2025 were included based on predefined eligibility criteria. Data was extracted on publication trends, research design, sample characteristics, fNIRS paradigms, signal acquisition, preprocessing methods, and integration of clinical outcomes. Reported limitations and conflicts of interest were also analyzed. Results: The number of publications increased sharply after 2020, predominantly from Asia. Most studies used experimental designs, with 31.9% employing randomized controlled trials. Adults were the primary focus (93.6%), with verbal fluency tasks and DLPFC-targeted paradigms most common. Over half of the studies used high-density (>32-channel) systems. However, only 44.7% reported motion correction procedures, and 53.2% did not report activation direction. Clinical outcome linkage was explicitly stated in only 12.8% of studies. Conclusions: Despite growing clinical interest, with fNIRS showing promise as a non-invasive neuroimaging tool for monitoring psychiatric treatment response, the current evidence base is limited by methodological variability and inconsistent outcome integration. There is a rising need for the adoption of standardized protocols for both design and reporting. Future research should also include longitudinal studies and multimodal approaches to enhance validity and clinical relevance.

Background/Objectives: Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of antipsychotic medications plays an important role in optimizing treatment efficacy, reducing adverse effects, and supporting adherence. While Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry (UHPLC–MS/MS) has long been the gold standard for antipsychotic quantification, recent advances in automated platforms and microsampling raise questions about its current clinical practicality. This systematic review evaluated the clinical applicability and analytical performance of UHPLC-based methods for monitoring antipsychotic drugs, focusing on precision, recovery, matrix effects, and suitability across various biological matrices. Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science was conducted for studies published between 2013 and 2024 involving UHPLC-based quantification of antipsychotics in clinical samples from adult patients. Data on analytical parameters, sample matrices, and study characteristics were extracted. A custom quality checklist was used to assess methodological rigor. In addition to qualitative synthesis, non-traditional quantitative approaches were applied, including descriptive aggregation of recovery, matrix effects, and precision across studies, as well as correlation analyses to explore relationships among performance parameters. Results: Twelve studies were included, spanning a range of typical and atypical antipsychotics and metabolites. Plasma and serum demonstrated the highest analytical reliability (recovery >90%, minimal matrix effects), while dried blood spots (DBSs), whole blood, and oral fluid showed greater variability. Clinically, UHPLC–MS/MS enabled more accurate dose adjustments and identification of non-adherence, outperforming immunoassays in sensitivity, specificity, and metabolite detection. Microsampling methods showed promise for outpatient and decentralized care but require further clinical validation. Conclusions: UHPLC–MS/MS remains the most robust and reliable method for TDM of antipsychotics, especially when quantification of active metabolites is required. While logistical barriers remain, technological advances may enhance feasibility and support broader integration into routine psychiatric care.

Background: Phototherapy, which has traditionally been used for seasonal affective disorder, is now being investigated for its effectiveness in treating non-seasonal depression. This systematic review aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of phototherapy in this new context, providing a comprehensive overview of its therapeutic potential and limitations. Methods: The review followed PRISMA guidelines and included studies from databases such as Google Scholar, PubMed, and UpToDate. Studies were selected based on their focus on phototherapy’s efficacy, safety, and application methods for non-seasonal depression. Various administration methods were examined, particularly the effects of multiple daily sessions and personalized treatment plans. Results: The findings indicate that while phototherapy alone has limited effectiveness, combining it with antidepressants significantly improves outcomes. The most effective protocols featured multiple daily sessions tailored to individual patient needs, even at lower light intensities. Safety assessments have shown that phototherapy is well tolerated, with no serious side effects reported, only minor and transient reactions. Conclusions: Phototherapy appears to be a promising adjunct therapy for non-seasonal depression, offering safety and flexibility in treatment customization. It provides consistent therapeutic benefits, mainly when used in conjunction with conventional antidepressant treatments.