Category: Psychiatry

Somatodendritic 5-HT1A Autoreceptor Desensitization due to Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) Therapy for Depression

September 16, 2023 Mathew Pietz
Mathew Pietz Introduction: Depression is a mood disorder and is highly prevalent in the United States. Mood disorders affect about 20% of the population while major depressive disorder (MDD) specifically affects almost 7% of the US population.2 Common symptoms of depression include insomnia, lethargy, unexplained pain, GI symptoms, and headaches.3…
Neuroscience Psychiatry

The Role of Genetic Polymorphisms in Fentanyl Use

June 22, 2023 Steven Maxwell
Daniela Osteicoechea Background:  Fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid used for pain management, has been identified as a contributing factor to the opioid epidemic1,2. Its pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics can vary among individuals, which can lead to unpredictable and potentially harmful effects. Genetic polymorphisms in the enzymes involved in opioid, including fentanyl…
Engineering Medicine Psychiatry

Nucleus Accumbens (NAc) Dopaminergic D1 Receptor (D1R)-Expressing Medium Spiny Neurons (dMSNs) and their Role in Inducing Reward-Seeking Actions in Opioid Use Disorder

June 22, 2023 Yasamin Yazdani
Yasamin Yazdani Background: The opioid crisis has been a challenging one to tackle, and deaths from opioid overdose continue to rise.1 Addiction to opioids is centered around firing of dopaminergic (D1/D2) medium spiny neurons (MSNs) in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) after opioid firing of Mu opioid receptors (MORs). 4 Patients…
Featured Abstracts Neuroscience Psychiatry

The Role of Serotonin Transporter (SERT) SLC6A4 Gene Modifications and Its Relation to Depression

June 22, 2023 Taylor Shantz
Taylor Shantz Background: Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a mental health disorder characterized by diminished quality of life and limitations on psychological and social functioning.1 MDD is an illness affecting one in five people in their lifetime and is the greatest form of depression diagnosed that involves recurrent depressive episodes.1…
Featured Abstracts Neuroscience Psychiatry

The Role of the Gut Microbiome in the Reduction of Behavioral Symptoms in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

June 21, 2023 Taylor Newman
Taylor Newman Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent deficits in social communication, repetitive behavioral patterns, highly restricted interests and/or sensory behaviors early in life. 1,3 Children with ASD are 3.5 times more likely to suffer from GI disorders, such as diarrhea and constipation, than…
Featured Abstracts Microbiology Neuroscience Psychiatry

Adolescent Exposure to Alcohol and its Effects on the Central Amygdala in Reference to Future Anxiety and Alcohol Use Disorders

June 21, 2023 Macy Meyer
Macy Meyer Background: The central nucleus of the amygdala integrates information about one’s state and is positioned appropriately to take part in regulating both anxiety and alcohol interactions.1 Those with anxiety or stress disorders have a more hyperactive amygdala under regular conditions, and this type of hyperactive response is exaggerated…
Featured Abstracts Neuroscience Psychiatry

The Dopamine Deficiency Hypothesis: Modifications to Dopaminergic Receptors Impacts on Alcohol Use Disorder

June 21, 2023 Lindsay Mathys
Lindsay Mathys Background: Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is characterized by multiple areas of excessive use of ethanol as outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition (DSM-5). It is estimated that ~30% of US adults will meet criteria for AUD during their lifetime, with  ~15 million…
Featured Abstracts Neuroscience Psychiatry

Lithium Treatment for Bipolar Disorder Effects Circadian Rhythms Through Inhibition of Inositol Metabolism

June 20, 2023 Audrey Morgan
Audrey Morgan Background: Affecting one to two percent of the population, bipolar disorder (BD) is a psychiatric mood disorder defined by recurrent relapse episodes of depression and mania or hypermania with long euthymic intervals of mild symptoms.7 The episodes lead to adverse effects on psychological, social, and occupational outcomes that…
Featured Abstracts Neuroscience Psychiatry