ABSTRACT
Introduction: The co-occurrence of generalized anxiety disorder and personality disorders suggests the existence of association between the neurobiological predispositions leading to the development of these disorders and activation of cytokine system. Pro-inflammatory chemokines such as CCL-5/RANTES (regulated upon activation normal T cell expressed and secreted) and CXCL12/SDF-1 (stromal derived factor) play an important role in immune response.
Methods: Atotalof160participantswereenrolledinthestudy,120ofwhomcomprisedthestudygroup (people with the dual diagnosis of personality disorder and generalized anxiety disorder). The mean age was 41.4 􏰀 3.5 years (range: 20–44 years). The control group consisted of 40 healthy individuals in the mean age of 40.8 􏰀 3.1 years (range: 20–43 years). A blood sample was collected from each participant and the plasma levels of the CCL-2/MCP-1 (monocyte chemoattractant protein-1), RANTES and SDF-1 chemokines were determined by ELISA.
Results: Increased levels of MCP-1 and SDF-1 were found both in women and in men versus the control group for all types of personality disorders. The levels of CCL-5 in men were significantly increased versus the control group and significantly higher in women than in men. Neither women nor men with avoidant or obsessive-compulsive personality disorder showed any significant differences in MCP-1 or SFD-1 levels. In subjects with borderline personality disorder, the levels of the study chemokines were higher in women than in men.
Conclusions: Our study has shown the need for determination of proinflammatory interleukins which
are considered as biomarkers of personality disorders and generalized anxiety disorders.

Abstract:
Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) is the most dangerous life-threatening complication of antipsychotic medication. It’s devel- opment is connected with the blockade of dopaminergic transmission (D receptors) in the nigrostriatal system of the brain. Fever is one of the main symptoms of this syndrome and it’s elevation is due to the activation of the immune system. Numerous studies report that treatment with clozapine (doses 37.5–600 mg) or olanzapine (doses 10–25 mg) or the use of these drugs in polytherapy cause pyrexia between 37.8–40.6°C. Additionally, levels of proinflammatory interleukins such as IL-6, IL-1,TNF-a were increased. The aim of this article is to describe how olanzapine and clozapine influence fever development in NMS, in relation to the dose of the drug taken by schizophrenic patients including changes in immunological system.

ABSTRACT
Development of depression is associated with the body’s response to prolonged stress, which adversely affects the functioning of the nervous, endocrine and immune systems. Prolonged stress can lead to the development of a so-called allostatic load and reduction of concentration of brain-derived neurotrophic factor. These changes result in impairment of neurogenesis and synaptic remodeling process. This article illustrates the involvement of key mediators of allostasis such as the neuroendocrine and immune systems, in the pathogenesis of depression. The literature concerning the contribution of the neuroendocrine and immune systems to depression incidence was reviewed. Development of depression is associated with disturbance of the body’s allostasis and inflammatory activation of the immune system. It leads to a chronic increase in the concentration of cortisol and proinflammatory cytokines, which results in an allostatic load. This load leads to neurodegeneration, eventually causing irreversible cognitive impairment and permanent disability. Determination of the concentration of chemokines and their receptors is an important indicator of activation of the immune and neuroendocrine systems. The activity of these systems reflects the severity of the disease and provides important information for effective antidepressant treatment.

ABSTRACT
Background: Depression can be perceived as a psychoneuroimmunological disorder in which cytokines affecting the body’s neurochemical and neuroendocrine functions play an important role. Among cytokines, chemokines participating in activation of the inflammatory response are considered to be crucial.
Methods: 160 men and women were enrolled in the study. 120 of them were diagnosed with various types of depression. The mean age was 45.2 􏰀 4.5 years (range: 19–47 years). The control group consisted of 40 healthy individuals. The average age in this group was 42.4 􏰀 4.1 years. Plasma levels of chemokines and their receptors (CCL-5 – RANTES and CXCR-5, SDF-1 and CXCR-4), as well as of IL-6, were assessed by ELISA.
Results: There was an increase in SDF-1 and CCL-5 levels in women and men with different severities of depression, versus the control group. Also, an increase in the IL-6 levels, CXCR4 and CCR-5 receptors was observed in both women and men with all types of depression. Levels of SDF-1 and CCL-5 chemokines, as well as of CCR-5 and CXCR4 chemokine receptors, were higher in women than in men.
Conclusions: The results of this study indicate the need for assessment of CCL-5 and SDF-1 chemokines levels, as they are likely markers of developing depression. Early measurement of these chemokines levels may be helpful in choosing the best pharmacotherapy.

Brain tumors can cause serious dis- turbances in the central nervous sys- tem (CNS). They may be revealed by certain psychiatric disorders before any neurological changes are noticed. Oligo- dendroglioma is a type of brain tumor that develops from glial cells known as oligodendrocytes, which can cause psychiatric disorders.

Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) is a dangerous, life-threatening condition that can be caused by antip- sychotic drugs. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reports from 1999–2012 indicate that the fre- quency of NMS decreases when treatment with olanzapine is contin- ued for a longer period (eHealthMe, 2013).

Several studies have shown that thyroid hormones can have an influence on the pharmacological efficacy of antidepresants. Treatmentwith antidepressant drugs in patients with coexisting major depressive disorder (MDD) and thyroid hormone imbalance may be ineffective and may cause drug resistance...

The aim of this study was the evaluation of the influence of extremely low-frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MF) on the morphology of thyroid epithelial cells in female rats.
The rats were exposed to ELF–MF (frequency: 5-10 Hz, induction 10 mT), 1 hour daily for 7 days over a week for 4 months. Control animals were sham exposed. After that time the rats were sacrificed by anaes- thetizing with Ketamine and decapitated.
The animals’ thyroid glands were extracted. They served as microscopic preparations. In the prepara- tions, the thyreocytes, nuclei, nucleoli and nucleo-cytoplasmatic ratio were evaluated. We concluded that changes in the location of nuclei, surface field, the number and surface of nucleoli and nucloli organizers show an increase in reply activity in the nuclei of thyreocytes and a probable increase of DNA synthesis.

Fibromyalgia is a disorder of the pain perception, which may, but need not be associated with depression. Modern science does not allow to put an equal sign between the two diseases. However, at least in some people, can be seen as a variant of depression, fibromyalgia. Studies indicate that 50–80 per cent. people with fibromyalgia can recognize depression. The article discusses the current state of knowledge on the role of physical activity, psychosomatic health treatments, physical therapy, relaxation techniques and education for patients with fibromyalgia. The best results, combine different therapies. The use of drugs is to reduce pain, improve mood and improve sleep quality. Various forms of drug- free treatment and help to restore the efficiency of dealing with complaints. In the treatment of fibromyalgia using different forms of therapy, tailored to the individual needs of the patient. The most common are: balneotherapy, exercise, cryotherapy, cognitive- behavioral psychotherapy and other forms of psychotherapy - in order to develop methods to combat stress and depressed mood, relaxation techniques, acupuncture, massage

Yung was of an opinion that the borderline personality as a pathology results from the experiences of a frightened and violence-experiencing child who is left to their own devices in the hostile world. In that situ- ation, the child, longing for safety, simultaneously experiences fear of abuse, hurt and rejection and remains distrustful. In order to under- stand the dramatic changes in the individual’s behaviour, in case of the borderline personality disorders, Yung developed the concept, presen- ted by Aaron Beck at the therapeutic workshops in the 1980s. Beck’s concept was based upon the assumption that some pathological states expressed strong emotional states, experienced in childhood on the basis of regression. Yung presented them in the form of conceptualiza- tion in the categories of the active styles of schema. Apart from the states of regression, he also differentiated less regressive styles of sche- ma. The style of schema should be interpreted as a pattern of experien- cing, thinking and behaviour, based upon a determined set of schema, and characterized by independence from other styles.

“Dual diagnosis” is usually understood as the co-occurrence of mental illness and addiction to psychoactive substances. In the last two decades can be seen an increased interest of researchers and practitioners in theoretical aspects of dual diagnosis, their means of diagnosis and planning treatment programs. Establishing a medical diagnosis may be questioned whether psychopathological symptoms are due to psychoactive substance use or are caused by mental illness. Difficulty in recognizing the problem of dual diagnosis may be questioned whether psychopathological symptoms are due to psychoactive substance use or are caused by mental illness. Mental disorders coexisting with substance use are: schizophrenia, delusional disorder, bipolar one and disorder, anxiety disorders, personality disorders. The consumption of alcohol can cause a recurrence of mental illness and contribute to the need for rehospitalization. It is important to take the history of a patient who are suspected of co-occurrence of mental illness and addiction to psychoactive substances.

Currently, there are two main directions of explaining the occurren- ce of the borderline personality disorders (BPD). The first of them attempts to explain them upon the constitutional basis, finding the causes in the genetic conditioning, biological and organic factors. The other one underline a role of the psychological developmental categories.
A significant role is ascribed to traumatic childhood mental expe- riences such as: harassment and sexual abuse, as well as neglect of emotional and developmental needs of a child. About 40-71% of the infirm with the borderline personality admits to have been sexu- ally abused. It was observed that there is a connection between the extent of sexual abuse of an individual in childhood and the intensi- fication of the disorders proper for the borderline personality. One should, however, point out that sexual abuse, although they are re- garded as a risk factor, are not seen as specific to the infirm with the borderline personality disorders. Moreover, there is a third direction referred to in the literature, seeking the causes of the occurrence of the borderline personality in a significant influence of social-cultural and environment factors. It was noticed that there is a significant correlation between the social situation and the degree of dissemi- nation of those disorders. The borderline personality disorders are more frequent among the people of the low social status backgro- und and with relatively low level of education. More and more frequ- ently, theorists and clinical personnel adhere to the view that the development of that disorder is caused by a combination of neuro- biological and social factors, together with the pathological qualities of early-childhood development.

The history of the development of the concept of borderline perso- nality disorder dates back to the late nineteenth century when in 1884 described the first cases of patients with a clinical picture simi- lar to today’s concept of borderline personality disorder, using the first time the concept of borderline. On the current understanding of the borderline personality disorder had a significant impact available and valid diagnostic criteria included in the classifications ICD-10 and DSM-IV-TR and psychological theories such as psychoanalytic theory of „object relations” and cognitive behavioral approaches.

The American Psychiatric Association (APA) provides guidelines in which it recommends applying pharmacotherapy in order to take under control the symptoms developing in the period of acute de- compensation, as well as those connected with the susceptibility of an afflicted individual to an injury resulting from the basic disorder. The guidelines of the APA include in particular what follows: in case of affective deregulation, administering anti-depressive drugs (LDP), mainly SSRIs, as well as IMAOs; in order to take under control the disorders of impulsive-behavioural control, administering SSRIs and normothymic drugs, whilst in the treatment of infirm with perceptive- cognitive disorders, administering antipsychotic medicines (LPP). Currently, upon the basis of existing evidence, one may claim that in the treatment of the borderline personality disorders, psychotherapy is much more effective than pharmacology. An obstacle on the road to make psychotherapy more widespread is relatively high cost, which is connected with the necessity of remunerating highly-qualified psy- chotherapists, involved in the work with the infirm, suffering from the borderline personality disorders, and the time, needed to conduct a successful psychotherapy, as well as the phenomenon of the pre- mature discontinuation of therapy by patients who are emotionally unstable. In turn, pharmacotherapy seems to be necessary in the period of more acute disorders, i.e. in the states of increased affec- tive lability, in dysphoric states, in impulsive behaviours and in the periods of the occurrence of pseudo-psychotic symptoms.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is an increasingly common medical condition. This anxiety disorder affects not only post war veterans but also those who suffered for extremely shocking situ- ations, fear and hopelessness. Fundamental features of PTSD inc- lude the following: the symptoms are linked to the traumatic event and are not random, the symptoms were not present prior to the traumatic event, and the symptoms are present 1 month or later than completion of the traumatic event. There are some reports about the relatively frequent occurrence of PTSD in the case of psoriasis and some hypothesis about interactions between those two diseases. The aim of the study was to assess the stress and increase of occurrence of PTSD symptoms in the group of patients suffering from psoriasis.
Material and methods. 20 patients (10 males and 10 females) aged 40,9 with psoriasis and PTSD were examined by the questionnaire Mississippi-C Scale. In addition, 20 patients, including 9 males and 11 females, aged 39,6, were also examined and formed the control group.

Background: Disrupted circadian rhythm of melatonin secretion in depression shows a relationship with
the exacerbation of inflammatory processes. Proinflammatory mechanisms of depression are sustained
by oxidative stress. This contributes to melatonin deficiency and to the malfunction of the defense
mechanisms in the brain. Disrupted melatonin secretion in depression may have an influence on the
concentrations of neurotrophic factors (NF), such as neurotrophin-3 (NT-3), brain-derived neurotrophic
factor (BDNF) and nerve growth factor (NGF). Disturbance in neurotrophin release may affect synaptic
plasticity and cause exacerbation of neurodegenerative processes in the central nervous system. The aim
of this study was to assess the concentrations of melatonin and NF of the brain in patients with varying
levels of depression severity.
Method: 160 males and females were enrolled in the study, 120 of whom were diagnosed with various
types of depression. The control group comprised 40 healthy individuals. At 3:00 a.m. all patients had
salivary melatonin concentrations determined utilizing a competitive enzyme immunoassay technique
(ELISA). In addition, at 7:00 a.m. all patients had serum neurotrophin (NT-3, BDNF, NGF) concentrations
determined by means of ELISA.
Results: The highestmelatonin secretion was observed at 3:00 a.m. in severely depressed females. In the
groups with mild and moderate depression, melatonin secretion at 3:00 a.m. was comparable between
males and females. In addition, a decrease in the concentrations of neurotrophins was revealed in
patients at all levels of depression severity.
Conclusion: Melatonin may be a significant marker of depression severity. Melatonin and NF in
depressed patients show neuroprotective effects.
 2016 Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences. Published by Elsevier Sp. z o.o. All rights
reserved.

A B S T R A C T
Background: Stress may induce inflammatory changes in the immune system and activate proinflammatory
cytokines and their receptors by activating the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis.
Methods: 460 hospitalized patients with panic disorders (PD) and/or personality disorders (P) were
studied. The study group comprised subjects with PD, avoidant personality disorder (APD), borderline
personality disorder (BPD), obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD), and concomitant
(PD + APD; PD + BPD; PD + OCPD). Each study group consisted of 60 subjects (30 females and 30 males).
The control group included 20 females and 20 males without any history of mental disorder. ELISA was
used to assess the levels of chemokines: CCL-5/RANTES (regulated on activation, normal T-cell expressed
and secreted), CXCL-12/SDF-1 (stromal derived factor), their receptors CXCR-5 (C-C chemokine receptor
type-5), CXCR-4 (chemokine C-X-C motif receptor-4), and IL-6.
Results: Statistically significant differences in the levels of CCL-5 and CCR-5 were revealed between all
study groups. The greatest differences were found between the groups with PD + OCPD and
PD + APD. Moreover, concomitance of PD with P significantly increased the level of chemokines and
their receptors in all study groups versus the subjects with P alone.
Conclusions: The results of the study show differences between the groups. To be specific, inflammatory
markers were more elevated in the study groups than the controls. Therefore, chemokines and
chemokine receptors may be used as inflammatory markers in patients with PD co-existent with P to
indicate disease severity. PD was found to be a factor in maintaining inflammatory activity in the
immune system in patients with P.
 2016 Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences. Published by Elsevier Sp. z o.o. All rights
reserved.

Aim: Alexithymia is associated with limited cognitive processing of emotions by an individual suffering from recurrent urticaria and alexithymia and makes them focus on somatic manifestations of emotional arousal and on poorly controlled compulsive reactions to negative stimulation. Alexithymia is considered to be a personality trait, which, along with other factors, predisposes individuals toward developing somatic diseases. The aim of the study was to assess the measurement of alexithymic features in patients with recurrent urticaria and to assess the types of concurrent anxiety disorders and overall anxiety level.
Methods: In order to diagnose clinical anxiety symptoms in patients, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition and the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale were applied. Alexithymic features were measured by means of a shortened version of the Toronto Alexithymia Scale, characterized by high discrimination power, internal coherence, and reliability.
Results: According to the Toronto Alexithymia Scale results, the greatest contributing factor was “inability to differentiate between feelings and bodily sensations”. This was observed in both males and females. Most frequently, the patients were found to suffer from generalized anxiety disorder and social phobia.
Conclusion: Alexithymia may result from the difficulty associated with expressing emotions caused by anxiety disorders. Undergoing treatment for anxiety disorders may contribute to reduced exacerbation of urticaria.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is an increasingly common medical condition. This anxiety disorder affects not only post war veterans but also those who suffered for extremely shocking situations , fear and hopelessness. Fundamental features of PTSD include the following: the symptoms are linked to the traumatic event and are not random, the symptoms were not present prior to the traumatic event, and the symptoms are present 1 month or later than completion of the traumatic event. There are some reports about the relatively frequent occurrence of PTSD in the case of psoriasis and some hypothesis about interactions between those two diseases. The aim of the study was to assess the stress and increase of occurrence of PTSD symptoms in the group of patients suffering from psoriasis. Material and methods. 20 patients (10 males and 10 females) aged 40,9 with psoriasis and PTSD were examined by the questionnaire Mississippi-C Scale. In addition, 20 patients, including 9 males and 11 females, aged 39,6, were also examined and formed the control group. Results. It was observed significant relationship between PTSD and psoriasis. Conclusions. The article also emphasize the early intervention role in preventing the negative effects of stress, especially in patients suffering from psoriasis.