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Life
Special Issues
Pharmacology, Diagnosis and Treatments of Psychiatric Diseases
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Pharmacology, Diagnosis and Treatments of Psychiatric Diseases

A special issue of Life (ISSN 2075-1729). This special issue belongs to the section "Medical Research".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (26 August 2025) | Viewed by 21310

Editors

Dr. Giuseppe Marano

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Department of Neurosciences, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
2. Unit of Psychiatry, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
Interests: mental health; neurobiology neuroscience; women's health; clinical trials; bipolar disorder; mood disorders translation science; research methods
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Marianna Mazza

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Department of Neurosciences, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy
2. Unit of Psychiatry, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
Interests: mood; anxiety; psychotic and personality disorders; cardiovascular disorders; clinical psychopharmacology; psychiatric emergencies; pregnancy; femicide; interpersonal violence
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Psychiatric diseases, including disorders such as depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and anxiety, significantly impact patients’ quality of life and present complex challenges in treatment. Pharmacology plays a vital role in managing these conditions, with medications being tailored to modulate neurotransmitter activity, such as serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine, which are central in mood, perception, and cognition. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, and anxiolytics are common pharmacologic interventions used to balance neurotransmitter levels and alleviate symptoms.

The diagnosis of psychiatric disorders is primarily based on clinical assessments and standardized criteria from the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) and ICD-10 (International Classification of Diseases), as there are currently no definitive biomarkers for most conditions. Assessment tools help in evaluating symptom severity and guiding treatment plans.

Treatments are often multifaceted, combining medication with psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and, in some cases, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for treatment-resistant cases. Recent advances in pharmacogenomics and neuroimaging hold promise in the development of more personalized treatment approaches, offering hope for improved patient outcomes in psychiatric care through tailored therapies based on individual genetic and neurobiological profiles.

Dr. Giuseppe Marano
Dr. Marianna Mazza
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. Life 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 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

  • mental health disorders
  • clinical psychology
  • psychopharmacology
  • treatment efficacy
  • neuroimaging techniques
  • personalized medicine
  • diagnosis

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Review

19 pages, 321 KB  
Review
Catching the Storm Before It Breaks: Advancing Early Diagnosis and Intervention in Bipolar Disorder
by Marianna Mazza, Luca Chisari, Francesco Maria Lisci, Caterina Brisi, Giovanni Camardese, Domenico De Berardis, Luigi Janiri, Gabriele Sani and Giuseppe Marano
Life 2026, 16(1), 7; https://doi.org/10.3390/life16010007 - 20 Dec 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2731
Abstract
In recent years, growing attention has been directed toward the early diagnosis and intervention of bipolar disorder (BD), driven by the recognition that timely clinical action may significantly alter the trajectory of the illness. Early identification of individuals at risk, as well as [...] Read more.
In recent years, growing attention has been directed toward the early diagnosis and intervention of bipolar disorder (BD), driven by the recognition that timely clinical action may significantly alter the trajectory of the illness. Early identification of individuals at risk, as well as intervention during prodromal or subthreshold phases, offers the potential to delay onset, reduce episode severity, improve long-term outcomes, and possibly prevent the full manifestation of the disorder. This narrative review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current literature on the early stages of BD, including clinical high-risk states, neurobiological and cognitive markers, and psychosocial indicators. It also explores the latest research findings and their implications for clinical practice, highlighting the importance of integrated approaches that combine biomarker discovery, risk stratification models, and youth-focused mental health services. Finally, the review discusses the ethical and practical challenges of early intervention and underscores the need for further longitudinal studies and personalized preventive strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pharmacology, Diagnosis and Treatments of Psychiatric Diseases)
18 pages, 632 KB  
Review
GLP-1 Receptor Agonists in Mood Disorders: A Psychiatric Perspective
by Pietro Carmellini, Alessandro Cuomo, Maria Beatrice Rescalli and Andrea Fagiolini
Life 2025, 15(9), 1422; https://doi.org/10.3390/life15091422 - 10 Sep 2025
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 17830
Abstract
Mood disorders, including major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder (BD), are among the leading causes of disability worldwide and are frequently associated with treatment resistance, functional impairment, and high comorbidity with metabolic dysfunction. Increasing evidence implicates insulin resistance (IR) as a key [...] Read more.
Mood disorders, including major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder (BD), are among the leading causes of disability worldwide and are frequently associated with treatment resistance, functional impairment, and high comorbidity with metabolic dysfunction. Increasing evidence implicates insulin resistance (IR) as a key pathophysiological factor linking metabolic and psychiatric illness. IR is associated with chronic low-grade inflammation, hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis dysregulation, impaired neuroplasticity, mitochondrial dysfunction, and altered reward processing mechanisms that may contribute to core depressive features such as anhedonia, cognitive slowing, and emotional dysregulation. These processes are further exacerbated by the metabolic side effects of many psychotropic medications, creating a self-perpetuating cycle that worsens both psychiatric and physical health outcomes. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), initially developed for type 2 diabetes and obesity, have emerged as promising candidates to address this metabolic–psychiatric interface. Beyond improving glycemic control and promoting weight loss, GLP-1 RAs exert central actions relevant to mood disorders, including modulation of dopaminergic reward pathways, enhancement of hippocampal neurogenesis, attenuation of neuroinflammation, and regulation of appetite and energy balance. Preclinical studies demonstrate that GLP-1 RAs reduce microglial activation, promote hippocampal neurogenesis, and normalize stress-induced behavioral changes. Early clinical trials in patients with metabolic disorders suggest improvements in depressive symptoms, quality of life, and cognitive function, with some effects independent of weight loss or glycemic outcomes. Observational evidence also indicates reduced antidepressant use and psychological distress in diabetic and obese populations receiving GLP-1 RAs. While these findings are promising, large randomized controlled trials in primary psychiatric populations are lacking. Key challenges include clarifying dose–response relationships, disentangling central from peripheral effects, and addressing safety and adherence concerns in individuals with comorbid psychiatric conditions. Future research should focus on biomarker-informed stratification, comparative trials with standard treatments, and integration of GLP-1 RAs into multimodal care frameworks. Overall, GLP-1 RAs represent a biologically plausible and clinically relevant approach to bridging metabolic and psychiatric care, with the potential to improve outcomes in patients with mood disorders who carry a high metabolic burden. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pharmacology, Diagnosis and Treatments of Psychiatric Diseases)
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