Alcohol use disorders are associated with many negative mental health outcomes such as the aggravation of symptoms of depression and anxiety disorders and, notably, increased suicidality. The nearly reciprocal relationship between the two entities makes treatment much more complex and necessitates care pathways that are integrated. The present research addressed linking levels of alcohol use to the common mood disorders depression and anxiety and evaluating the feasibility of psychological interventions in reducing consumption and relieving the associated psychiatric symptoms. The sample comprised 147 patients hospitalized in a psychiatric facility (2021–2023) that were diagnosed according to DSM-5 criteria with alcohol dependence and depressive or anxiety comorbidities. The baseline and follow-up assessments utilized AUDIT (alcohol use), BDI (depression), and GAD-7 (anxiety) questionnaires. The psychological interventions included cognitive-behavioral techniques and motivational interviews. Of the participants, 33.8% presented with comorbid depression, 32.8% with anxiety disorders, and 33.4% with cognitive impairments. The psychological interventions significantly reduced alcohol consumption and the severity of depressive and anxiety symptoms. Superlative clinical outcomes came about with longer intervention time. The results call for the need for co-treating associated alcohol use as well as said mental conditions to optimize therapeutic results and improve quality of life for patients. These major implications lend themselves to the development of public health policies and tailored interventions to combat the concurrent battles between alcohol consumption and depression.

Background/Objectives: Alcohol consumption in young persons is a growing phenomenon, with significant implications for physical and mental health. This behavior exposes adolescents and young adults to multiple risks, such as affecting cognitive functions, the development of emotional disorders, and social integration difficulties. The present study sets out to investigate the way alcohol consumption influences emotionality in young people, focusing on the emotional changes (anxiety and irritability), cognitive changes (attention deficit and memory disorder), and behavioral changes (impulsivity and aggressiveness). Methods: The methodology involved collecting quantitative data from a sample of young people who consume and do not consume alcohol, using standardized questionnaires and advanced statistical software (processed in MATLAB version 9.11_R2021b). We analyzed variables such as consumption frequency and intensity, affective scores, and demographic factors to highlight the correlations between consumption level and the intensity of affective modifications. Results: The results revealed a significant association between alcohol consumption and the rise in anxiety and depression symptoms or a tendency toward impulsive behaviors. Additionally, we observed that psychosocial factors, including group pressure, family climate, and stressful contexts, can exacerbate emotional vulnerability. Conclusions: This study suggests the need for early psychological interventions and prevention programs to approach emotional and cognitive dimensions and the social influences associated with consumption. Implementing support and counseling strategies, as well as education and awareness campaigns, can contribute to reducing risky behavior and promoting young people’s harmonious development.

Background: Patients undergoing dental treatment often experience psychological distress and social discomfort, yet longitudinal data on these changes are limited. Existing studies rely on cross-sectional designs or lengthy tools, reducing feasibility in routine practice. This study explored psychological and social trajectories during dental care, highlighting challenges and implications for patient wellbeing and care delivery. Methods: A prospective cohort study with repeated measures across three dental visits (V1–V3) was conducted. Participants completed a 21-item binary (yes/no) questionnaire assessing psychological (Q1–Q6) and social dimensions (Q7–Q14 at all visits; extended social domain Q7–Q21 at V2–V3). Composite scores were calculated, and longitudinal changes were analyzed using generalized estimating equations or mixed-effects models. Item-level trajectories were examined with multiple comparison adjustments. Results: Of 120 enrolled patients, 100 completed all visits. Psychological well-being consistently improved, while social outcomes showed more complex, domain-specific patterns. Item-level analyses revealed gains in appearance and satisfaction, whereas stigma, fear, and social integration remained relatively stable, underscoring the need to monitor multiple psychosocial dimensions. Conclusions: Psychosocial monitoring during dental care is feasible and potentially beneficial. The 21-item questionnaire was practical and well-accepted, with composite scores serving as simple indicators for tracking patient wellbeing and supporting a holistic, patient-centered approach. Further validation in larger and more diverse populations is needed.

Background and Objectives: This study investigated whether the interaction between heavy alcohol use and depression amplifies the risk of hyperglycemia in psychiatric patients. Materials and Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study on 172 patients (aged 18–65) hospitalized at the “Elisabeta Doamna” Clinical Psychiatric Hospital, Romania. The data included fasting blood glucose, gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) scores. Results: Moderate positive correlations were observed between depression scores and blood glucose (r = 0.44) and between alcohol consumption and blood glucose (r = 0.43). The interaction term (BDI × AUDIT) was statistically significant in multiple regression (β = 0.012, p = 0.001), and the model explained 39.1% of glucose variability. Logistic regression analysis revealed that neither high alcohol consumption (OR = 1.38, p = 0.441) nor severe depression alone (OR = 1.30, p = 0.582) were significantly associated with hyperglycemia. However, their interaction demonstrated a strong and statistically significant effect (OR = 19.3, 95% CI: 3.22–115.81, p = 0.001). The prevalence of hyperglycemia reached 95.8% in patients with both risk factors. Conclusions: The combined presence of high alcohol consumption and severe depression significantly increases the risk of hyperglycemia. These findings highlight the importance of integrated screening and interventions in psychiatric settings.

Background/Objectives: Cognitive deficiency associated with chronic alcohol consumption in older people remains an under-investigated public health issue in Romania, particularly concerning rural–urban disparities and the impact of reversible hepatic dysfunction on cognitive performance. To evaluate cognitive function at hospital admission and discharge using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE); to identify rural–urban disparities; and to analyze the relationship between hepatic markers and MMSE scores in older people with chronic alcohol consumption. Methods: This retrospective, single-center observational study was conducted on 152 patients aged ≥55 years, hospitalized between January 2021 and December 2023 at the “Elisabeta Doamna” Psychiatric Hospital, Galați. Demographic variables, MMSE scores (at admission and discharge), and hepatic parameters (AST, ALT, GGT, total bilirubin, and ammonia) were collected. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, chi-square tests for categorical variables, paired t-tests or ANOVA for MMSE scores, and Pearson correlations between MMSE and hepatic markers (α = 0.05). Results: At admission, 94% of patients had an MMSE score < 24. The mean MMSE score increased from 23.4 ± 4.1 to 25.0 ± 3.7 at discharge (Δ = +1.6; p < 0.001). Patients from rural areas (63.8% of the sample) had significantly lower MMSE scores at admission compared to urban patients (22.6 ± 3.9 vs. 24.8 ± 4.2; p = 0.02). However, no statistically significant difference was observed between rural and urban patients regarding cognitive improvement during hospitalization (p = 0.88), indicating that the initial gap persisted at discharge. GGT levels were inversely correlated with MMSE scores (r = −0.41; p < 0.001), suggesting a contribution of hepatic dysfunction to cognitive decline. Conclusions: Alcohol-related cognitive impairment is highly prevalent among older patients hospitalized for withdrawal, with partial reversibility observed through inpatient management. The observed rural disparities and the association between hepatic dysfunction and cognitive performance highlight the need of concurrent MMSE and hepatic screening, with prioritized interventions in rural settings. Prospective, multicenter studies are warranted to validate these findings and to identify additional prognostic biomarkers.

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurodegenerative and chronic inflammatory disease, often associated with psychiatric comorbidities, particularly depression and anxiety, which play a major role in disability, cognitive dysfunction, and quality of life. Growing evidence suggests that affective symptoms in MS are not only related to psychosocial burden but also to structural and functional abnormalities in the brain that can be identified using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Methods: A systematic database search was performed to identify studies for a structured narrative review. Original articles that examined MRI correlates of depression and anxiety in adult MS patients were included. Structural MRI, diffusion imaging, and functional MRI studies evaluating lesion distribution, cortical and subcortical atrophy, white matter microstructure, and network connectivity were analyzed alongside psychometric instruments used to assess affective symptoms. Results: Depression in MS was consistently associated with fronto-limbic and subcortical abnormalities including cortical thinning, hippocampal and thalamic atrophy, white matter disconnection and altered connectivity within the default mode, salience and executive control networks. Diffusion MRI studies have shown microstructural damage in associative white matter tracts, and functional MRI studies have supported a model of network-level dysfunction. In contrast, anxiety had less robust and reproducible associations with conventional MRI findings, indicating a more complex interaction between inflammatory, neurobiological and psychosocial mechanisms. Conclusions: Multimodal MRI approaches may increase our knowledge of the neurobiological substrates of depression and anxiety in MS and may contribute to more personalized diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.