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Brain Sciences
Special Issues
Advanced Technologies and Approaches for Understanding and Treating Psychological Disorders
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Advanced Technologies and Approaches for Understanding and Treating Psychological Disorders

A special issue of Brain Sciences (ISSN 2076-3425). This special issue belongs to the section "Neuropsychiatry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 February 2026 | Viewed by 66

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Alessandra Vergallito

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Psychology, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
Interests: noninvasive brain stimulation; psychotherapy; combined interventions; emotion regulation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In recent years, technological advancements and innovative approaches have profoundly transformed the diagnosis, understanding, and treatment of psychological disorders. Non-invasive brain stimulation, novel pharmacological therapies, digital therapeutics, clinical applications of artificial intelligence, and virtual reality programs are opening new avenues to enhance diagnostic accuracy, increase intervention efficacy, personalize care, and expand accessibility to a broader population.

This Special Issue invites contributions exploring the development, implementation, and impact of emerging technologies and methodologies in advancing the understanding and treatment of psychological disorders. We welcome submissions of original research articles, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, case studies, clinical practice guidelines, and critical discussions pertaining to the topic.

By bringing together diverse perspectives, this Special Issue aims to foster a deeper understanding of how integrating novel technologies and approaches can advance mental health care and promote psychological well-being.

Dr. Alessandra Vergallito
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Brain Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • psychological disorders
  • psychological well-being
  • psychological interventions
  • non-invasive brain stimulation
  • digital therapies
  • artificial intelligence
  • virtual reality
  • pharmacological interventions

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

19 pages, 668 KiB  
Review
The Promise of Intranasal Oxytocin in Treating Borderline Personality Disorder: A Narrative Review
by Eleni Giannoulis, Christos Nousis, Lydia-Angeliki Eytaxia, Olga Kaimakami and Ioannis Malogiannis
Brain Sci. 2025, 15(7), 708; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci15070708 - 30 Jun 2025
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a complex psychiatric condition marked by emotional dysregulation, interpersonal instability, and impulsivity. Despite the advances in psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy, many patients show a partial or unstable response. Recent research suggests that oxytocin, a neuropeptide involved in social [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a complex psychiatric condition marked by emotional dysregulation, interpersonal instability, and impulsivity. Despite the advances in psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy, many patients show a partial or unstable response. Recent research suggests that oxytocin, a neuropeptide involved in social cognition and emotional regulation, may offer novel therapeutic avenues. Methods: We systematically synthesize evidence from PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and Google Scholar on oxytocin’s role in BPD, prioritizing studies on neurobiology, emotion regulation, clinical interventions, and adjunctive therapy models. Thirty studies were included and critically appraised using PRISMA and Cochrane’s tools. Due to methodological heterogeneity, no meta-analysis was conducted; instead, the findings were integrated through a narrative synthesis approach. Results: Evidence supports oxytocin’s modulatory effects on amygdala reactivity, prefrontal–limbic connectivity, and hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis function. Intranasal oxytocin appears beneficial for emotional regulation and interpersonal sensitivity, particularly in individuals with early trauma. The reported effect sizes ranged from small (Cohen’s d ≈ 0.40) to large (d ≈ 0.83), though some trials reported null or adverse effects, such as increased hypermentalization. Heterogeneous responses were influenced by factors such as sex, trauma history, and OXTR gene variants. Conclusions: Although intranasal oxytocin shows promise in modulating core neurobiological systems implicated in BPD and enhancing emotion regulation and social cognition, its clinical effects remain variable and context-dependent. The evidence supports cautious exploration of oxytocin as an adjunct to psychotherapeutic interventions rather than as a standalone treatment. Future research should focus on biomarker-informed, stratified trials that account for trauma history, genetic variation, and sex differences to clarify its therapeutic potential. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Technologies and Approaches for Understanding and Treating Psychological Disorders)
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