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Diagnostics
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Advances in the Diagnosis and Management of Neuropsychiatric Disorders—2nd Edition
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Advances in the Diagnosis and Management of Neuropsychiatric Disorders—2nd Edition

A special issue of Diagnostics (ISSN 2075-4418). This special issue belongs to the section "Clinical Diagnosis and Prognosis".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 6993

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Jesús Ramírez-Bermúdez

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Mexico City, Mexico
Interests: neuropsychiatry; mania; MRI
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

With the ongoing changes in social pressure and our contemporary lifestyles, the incidence of neuropsychiatric disorders (including autism, depression, mania, etc.) is on the rise, becoming a global health issue. Due to these disorders’ complex and diverse symptoms, and the fact that many diseases overlap, there are many difficulties in their diagnosis and a high risk of misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis. This Special Issue aims to share the latest advancements in the diagnosis and management of neuropsychiatric disorders, explore pathogenic mechanisms, focus on the latest diagnostic technologies, and help patients receive timely and correct treatment. The scope includes, but is not limited to, the following:

1. Pathogenesis of neuropsychiatric disorders;
2. Imaging diagnosis of neuropsychiatric disorders;
3. Biomarkers in the diagnosis and management of neuropsychiatric disorders;
4. Prognostic evaluation of neuropsychiatric disorder treatment.

We welcome your contributions.

Dr. Jesús Ramírez-Bermúdez
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. Diagnostics is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 2600 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

  • neuropsychiatric disorders
  • autism
  • mania
  • depression
  • imaging
  • diagnosis
  • prognosis

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Review

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33 pages, 1120 KB  
Review
Wearables in ADHD: Monitoring and Intervention—Where Are We Now?
by Mara-Simina Olinic, Roland Stretea and Cristian Cherecheș
Diagnostics 2025, 15(18), 2359; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics15182359 - 17 Sep 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1939
Abstract
Introduction: Wearable devices capable of continuously sampling movement, autonomic arousal and neuro-electrical activity are emerging as promising complements to traditional assessment and treatment of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). By moving data collection from the clinic to everyday settings, these technologies offer an unprecedented window [...] Read more.
Introduction: Wearable devices capable of continuously sampling movement, autonomic arousal and neuro-electrical activity are emerging as promising complements to traditional assessment and treatment of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). By moving data collection from the clinic to everyday settings, these technologies offer an unprecedented window onto the moment-to-moment fluctuations that characterise the condition. Methods: Drawing on a comprehensive literature search spanning 2013 to February 2025 across biomedical and engineering databases, we reviewed empirical studies that used commercial or research-grade wearables for ADHD-related diagnosis, monitoring or intervention. Titles and abstracts were screened against predefined inclusion criteria, with full-text appraisal and narrative synthesis of the eligible evidence. A narrative synthesis was conducted, with inclusion criteria targeting empirical studies of wearable devices applied to ADHD for monitoring, mixed monitoring-plus-intervention, or intervention-only applications. No quantitative pooling was undertaken due to heterogeneity of designs, endpoints, and analytic methods. Results: The reviewed body of work demonstrates that accelerometers, heart-rate and electrodermal sensors, and lightweight EEG headsets can enrich clinical assessment by capturing ecologically valid markers of hyperactivity, arousal and attentional lapses. Continuous monitoring studies suggest that wearable-derived metrics align with symptom trajectories and medication effects, while early intervention trials explore haptic prompts, attention-supporting apps and non-invasive neuromodulation delivered through head-worn devices. Across age groups, participants generally tolerate these tools well and value the objective feedback they provide. Nevertheless, the literature is limited by heterogeneous study designs, modest sample sizes and short follow-up periods, making direct comparison and clinical translation challenging. Conclusions: Current evidence paints an optimistic picture of the feasibility and acceptability of wearables in ADHD, yet larger, standardised and longer-term investigations are needed to confirm their clinical utility. Collaboration between clinicians, engineers and policymakers will be crucial to address data-privacy, equity and cost-effectiveness concerns and to integrate wearable technology into routine ADHD care. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Diagnosis and Management of Neuropsychiatric Disorders—2nd Edition)
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Other

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24 pages, 831 KB  
Systematic Review
Motor Coordination Assessment in Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review
by Adriana Piccolo, Chiara Raciti, Marcella Di Cara, Simona Portaro, Rosalia Muratore, Carmela De Domenico, Alessia Fulgenzi, Carmela Settimo, Angelo Quartarone, Francesca Cucinotta and Angelo Alito
Diagnostics 2025, 15(17), 2118; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics15172118 - 22 Aug 2025
Viewed by 2139
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Motor difficulties are commonly reported in autistic individuals, but they are not currently part of the diagnostic criteria. A better understanding of how motor impairments are assessed in this population is critical to inform clinical practice and intervention. This systematic review aims [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Motor difficulties are commonly reported in autistic individuals, but they are not currently part of the diagnostic criteria. A better understanding of how motor impairments are assessed in this population is critical to inform clinical practice and intervention. This systematic review aims to evaluate the existing literature on motor skill assessment in autistic children and adolescents, focusing specifically on studies that employed standardized and validated clinical motor assessment tools. Methods: Registered on PROSPERO (CRD42025637880), a systematic search was conducted on PubMed, Science Direct, and Web of Science until 31 December 2024. The review includes: (a) studies published in peer-reviewed journals; (b) randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies; (c) evaluations of motor difficulties using standardized and validated clinical assessments specifically designed to measure motor skills or coordination abilities; (d) participants diagnosed with ASD based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV or DSM-5) or the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-9 or ICD-10); and (e) participants aged ≤18 years; Results: Twenty-two studies met the inclusion criteria. Most studies reported significant motor impairments across various domains, including balance, manual dexterity, and coordination. However, there was substantial variability in the severity of motor deficits and in the assessment tools used. Methodological heterogeneity limited direct comparison across studies. Conclusions: Motor impairments are common in autistic children and adolescents; however, current assessment tools show limitations and require adaptations. The findings underscore the need for autism-specific motor assessments to improve diagnostic accuracy and guide personalized interventions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Diagnosis and Management of Neuropsychiatric Disorders—2nd Edition)
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27 pages, 1448 KB  
Systematic Review
Leaky Gut Biomarkers as Predictors of Depression and Suicidal Risk: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
by Donato Morena, Matteo Lippi, Matteo Scopetti, Emanuela Turillazzi and Vittorio Fineschi
Diagnostics 2025, 15(13), 1683; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics15131683 - 1 Jul 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2445
Abstract
Background: The gut–brain axis (GBA) has been demonstrated to be involved in normal neurodevelopment, with its dysfunction potentially contributing to the onset of mental disorders. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we aimed to examine the relationship between levels of specific biomarkers [...] Read more.
Background: The gut–brain axis (GBA) has been demonstrated to be involved in normal neurodevelopment, with its dysfunction potentially contributing to the onset of mental disorders. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we aimed to examine the relationship between levels of specific biomarkers of intestinal permeability or inflammation and scores of depressive symptoms or suicidality. Methods: All studies investigating the link between depressive symptoms and/or suicidality and biomarkers associated with intestinal permeability or inflammation were included. Studies providing data for comparisons between two groups—depressive or suicidal patients vs. healthy controls, or suicidal vs. non-suicidal patients—were included in the meta-analysis. Studies examining the correlation between depressive symptoms and biomarker levels were also included into the review. Data were independently extracted and reviewed by multiple observers. A random-effects model was employed for the analysis, and Hedge’s g was pooled for the effect size. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 index. Results: Twenty-two studies provided data for inclusion in the meta-analysis, while nineteen studies investigated the correlation between depressive symptoms and biomarker levels. For depressive symptoms, when compared to the controls, patients showed significantly increased levels of intestinal fatty acid-binding protein (I-FABP) (ES = 0.36; 95% CI = 0.11 to 0.61; p = 0.004; I2 = 71.61%), zonulin (ES = 0.69; 95% CI = 0.02 to 1.36; p = 0.044; I2 = 92.12%), antibodies against bacterial endotoxins (ES = 0.75; 95% CI = 0.54 to 0.98; p < 0.001; I2 = 0.00%), and sCD14 (ES = 0.11; 95% CI = 0.01 to 0.21; p = 0.038; I2 = 10.28%). No significant differences were found between the patients and controls in levels of LPS-binding protein (LBP) and alpha-1 antitrypsin (A-1-AT). For suicidality, four studies were identified for quantitative analysis, three of which focused on I-FABP. No significant differences in I-FABP levels were observed between suicidal patients and the controls (ES = 0.24; 95% CI = −0.30 to 0.79; p = 0.378; I2 = 86.44%). Studies investigating the correlation between depressive symptoms and levels of intestinal permeability and inflammation biomarkers did not provide conclusive results. Conclusions: A significant difference was observed between patients with depressive symptoms and controls for biomarkers of intestinal permeability (zonulin, which regulates tight junctions), inflammatory response to bacterial endotoxins (antibodies to endotoxins and sCD14—a soluble form of the CD14 protein that modulates inflammation triggered by lipopolysaccharides), and acute intestinal epithelial damage (I-FABP, released upon enterocyte injury). Studies investigating suicidality and related biomarkers were limited in number and scope, preventing definitive conclusions. Overall, these findings suggest that biomarkers of gut permeability represent a promising area for further investigation in both psychiatric and forensic pathology. They may have practical applications, such as supporting diagnostic and therapeutic decision-making in clinical settings and providing pathologists with additional information to help determine the manner of death in forensic investigations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Diagnosis and Management of Neuropsychiatric Disorders—2nd Edition)
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