Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
5.2
3.3
Journals
JCM
Special Issues
Pharmacotherapy of Mental Diseases: Latest Developments
jcm-logo
Submit to Special Issue Submit Abstract to Special Issue Review for JCM Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

► Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser
share announcement

Pharmacotherapy of Mental Diseases: Latest Developments

A special issue of Journal of Clinical Medicine (ISSN 2077-0383). This special issue belongs to the section "Mental Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 December 2026 | Viewed by 1447

Editors

Prof. Dr. Lavinia Maria Hogea

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Neuroscience Department, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
Interests: psychology; mental health; behavioral medicine; pharmacotherapy; psychopathology; psychotherapy
Prof. Dr. Laura Alexandra Nussbaum

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Neuroscience Department, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
Interests: medicine; public health; psychopathology; pediatric neuropsychiatry; pharmacology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

I am pleased to invite you to contribute to the following Special Issue entitled “Pharmacotherapy of Mental Diseases: Latest Developments”, which aims to highlight recent advances and interdisciplinary approaches in the pharmacological treatment of psychiatric and neuropsychiatric conditions.

Mental health disorders, such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and neurodevelopmental syndromes, continue to affect millions of people globally, with a significant impact on quality of life and psychological well-being.

Pharmacotherapy plays a crucial role in their management, but significant challenges remain, including treatment resistance, side effects, non-adherence to treatment and the need for individualized approaches.

This Special Issue aims to explore how pharmacotherapy, when combined with or used as an alternative to psychotherapy and brain stimulation techniques, can contribute to improved outcomes. We are particularly interested in research that supports novel interventions, enhances our clinical understanding of these diseases and promotes personalized treatment in mental illness.

We welcome contributions that cover a wide range of topics, including but not limited to the following: combination therapies and augmentation strategies; long-term efficacy, tolerability, and safety profiles; pharmacotherapy in special populations (children, elderly, pregnant women); considerations in psychiatric pharmacotherapy; empirical research on treatment efficacy and outcomes; reviews and papers on intervention models; and studies on comorbidity and transdiagnostic approaches.

We welcome the submission of both empirical studies and papers, and look forward to receiving your contributions to this important and timely collection.

Prof. Dr. Lavinia Maria Hogea
Prof. Dr. Laura Alexandra Nussbaum
Guest Editors

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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Clinical Medicine 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

  • brain stimulation
  • mental health
  • novel intervention
  • pharmacotherapy
  • psychotherapy
  • quality of life
  • psychologi-cal well-being
  • treatment personalization in mental diseases

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

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

Published Papers (2 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

23 pages, 879 KB  
Article
Predicting Social Cognitive Outcomes in Adolescent-Onset Schizophrenia: A Hierarchical Analysis of Pharmacogenetic, Clinical, and Environmental Factors
by Bianca Oana Bucatos, Nilima Rajpal Kundnani, Marius Papurica, Nicoleta Ioana Andreescu, Liana Dehelean, Ana-Maria Romosan, Radu Ștefan Romosan, Adriana Cojocaru and Laura Alexandra Nussbaum
J. Clin. Med. 2026, 15(12), 4472; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm15124472 - 9 Jun 2026
Viewed by 319
Abstract
Background: Socio-cognitive deficits constitute a core and persistent feature of adolescent-onset schizophrenia, significantly impairing functional outcomes. However, the interplay between genetic metabolic markers such as CYP2D6 and specific socio-cognitive phenotypes remains poorly understood. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 73 adolescents with schizophrenia and [...] Read more.
Background: Socio-cognitive deficits constitute a core and persistent feature of adolescent-onset schizophrenia, significantly impairing functional outcomes. However, the interplay between genetic metabolic markers such as CYP2D6 and specific socio-cognitive phenotypes remains poorly understood. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 73 adolescents with schizophrenia and 58 matched healthy controls. Theory of Mind (ToM) was evaluated using the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET), while empathy was assessed with the Cambridge Empathy Quotient. Symptom severity was measured via the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). CYP2D6 polymorphisms were genotyped using RT-PCR, classifying participants as Normal or Reduced (Intermediate) metabolizers. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were performed, controlling for sex, IQ, and psychosocial factors. Results: Patients demonstrated significantly lower RMET and empathy scores compared to controls. Reduced CYP2D6 metabolizers exhibited poorer ToM performance and more severe negative symptoms. The final RMET model accounted for 88.8% of variance (p < 0.001), with CYP2D6 status emerging as a significant independent predictor (β = 0.178, p = 0.005), alongside IQ and negative symptoms. In contrast, the empathy model explained 49.0% of variance, with CYP2D6 effects fully mediated by negative symptom severity. Conclusion: Adolescents with reduced CYP2D6 metabolic activity exhibit greater negative symptom burden and impaired social-cognitive functioning. Our findings reveal a double dissociation: ToM functions as a stable, biologically anchored trait, while empathy serves as a state-dependent construct primarily driven by the negative syndrome. These insights advocate for the integration of pharmacogenetic stratification in the treatment of early-onset schizophrenia. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pharmacotherapy of Mental Diseases: Latest Developments)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 273 KB  
Article
Effect of Specialized Psychiatric Assessment and Precision Diagnosis on Pharmacotherapy in Adults with Intellectual Disability
by Marta Basaldella, Michele Rossi, Marco Garzitto, Roberta Ruffilli, Carlo Francescutti, Shoumitro Deb, Marco Colizzi and Marco O. Bertelli
J. Clin. Med. 2026, 15(2), 489; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm15020489 - 8 Jan 2026
Viewed by 753
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Adults with intellectual disability (ID) experience high rates of psychiatric comorbidity but often face diagnostic challenges and treatment barriers, leading to inappropriate psychotropic medication use. This study examined the extent to which specialized psychiatric assessment and improved diagnostic accuracy had an [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Adults with intellectual disability (ID) experience high rates of psychiatric comorbidity but often face diagnostic challenges and treatment barriers, leading to inappropriate psychotropic medication use. This study examined the extent to which specialized psychiatric assessment and improved diagnostic accuracy had an impact on medication management and clinical outcomes in adults with ID and co-occurring psychiatric disorders. Methods: This observational retrospective study analyzed medical records from 25 adults with ID who underwent specialized psychiatric assessment at a community-based service in Italy between January 2023 and January 2024. Psychopathological diagnoses were established according to Diagnostic Manual—Intellectual Disability, Second Edition (DM-ID2) criteria, based on clinical observation and a comprehensive assessment using validated instruments. Clinical outcomes were assessed using a psychometric tool encompassing multiple psychopathological and behavioral dimensions. Data on psychotropic prescriptions and side effects were also collected. Non-parametric analyses were performed, with significance set at α = 0.05. Results: The proportion of patients with a psychiatric diagnosis increased from 32% to 96% after specialized assessment (p < 0.001), with notable rises in depressive (0% to 32%), bipolar (8% to 36%), anxiety (4% to 24%), and impulse control (0% to 16%) disorders. First-generation antipsychotic prescriptions decreased (from 36% to 8%, p = 0.023), while antidepressant use increased (from 12% to 52%, p = 0.004). The mean number of side effects per patient declined from 1.6 to 0.5 (p < 0.001), particularly the elevated prolactin level and psychomotor retardation. Significant improvements were observed in symptom intensity and frequency across multiple domains, including aggression, mood disturbances, and compulsions (p < 0.001). Conclusions: In this single-center retrospective study, specialized psychiatric assessment was associated with improved diagnostic accuracy, medication management, and clinical outcomes in adults with ID. The increase in psychiatric diagnoses likely reflects improved identification, addressing key challenges in precision diagnosis for people with neurodevelopmental disorders. Although the overall number of prescribed medications remained stable, optimization of treatment regimens reduced first-generation antipsychotic use and related adverse effects. These findings indicates that access to specialized assessment and precision diagnosis could improve psychopharmacological interventions and outcomes for this vulnerable population, but larger, multi-center and longer-term studies are needed to confirm these results. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pharmacotherapy of Mental Diseases: Latest Developments)
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-2
Back to TopTop