Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is characterized by an individual’s preoccupation with a perceived defect in their appearance which to others may be barely noticeable or even completely unnoticed. It confers significant disturbances of everyday functioning in affected persons. The present review study provides an overview of neuroimaging findings on BDD. Literature on three platforms, PubMed, Google Scholar and PsycArticles of APA PsycNet, was searched for studies on patients with BBD compared with healthy controls (HCs), with a focus on neuroimaging findings. Out of an initial yield of 414 articles, 23 fulfilled inclusion criteria and were reviewed. Among the most remarkable findings were functional abnormalities in visual processing, frontostriatal and limbic systems, reduced global efficiency of White Matter (WM) connectivity, reduced cortical thickness in temporal and parietal lobes, and correlations between these neuroimaging findings and clinical variables such as symptom severity and degree of insight. Structural, volumetric and functional neuroimaging findings in BDD affected persons may help shed light on the pathophysiology and neurobiological underpinnings of this condition. Future studies should further investigate the use of imaging findings as potential prognostic biomarkers of treatment efficacy and disease outcome.

Introduction/Aims There is limited knowledge regarding the impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) vaccines οn coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) disease course in people with myasthenia gravis. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccination influences hospitalization and mortality due to COVID‐19 in this population. Methods This is a retrospective analysis of administrative data extracted from the Greek nationwide database that holds the COVID‐19 disease and vaccination registry, as well as all medical prescription records. The study period extended from the onset of the pandemic (February 2020) until the 10th of January 2022. Results We identified 278 people with myasthenia gravis (mean age 58.1 ± 17.2, 47.5% males) who tested positive for SARS‐CoV‐2. Of those, 139 (50%) were not vaccinated at the time of infection. Multivariable binary logistic regression analysis showed that the probability of hospitalization increased with age (odds ratio [OR]: 1.058; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.036–1.080; p < .001) and immunosuppressive treatment (OR: 2.872; 95% CI 1.412–5.839; p = .004), and decreased with vaccination (OR: 0.244; 95% CI 0.132–0.453; p < .001). The probability of a fatal outcome increased with age (OR: 1.085; 95% CI 1.043–1.129; p < .001) and decreased with vaccination (OR: 0.315; 95% CI 0.125–0.791; p = .014). Discussion SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccination significantly reduces hospitalization and mortality due to COVID‐19 in people with myasthenia gravis. This study regarding the efficacy of these vaccines, together with previous studies regarding their safety, provide evidence to support their use in people with myasthenia gravis.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive method of brain stimulation that is receiving increasingly attention for new clinical applications. Through electromagnetic induction cortical activity can be modulated and therapeutic effects can be achieved in a variety of psychiatric and neurological conditions. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) depression is the most disabling disease in the world and 350 million people suffer from depression globally. Major depression is the most common disorder to be treated with TMS and the first mental disorder for which TMS received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). We here introduce the basic principles of TMS, discuss the latest data on safety and side effects, and present various TMS treatment protocols as well as treatment response predictors in major depressive disorder.

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Background: Besides disease-modifying therapies, various pharmacologic agents are frequently prescribed to people with multiple sclerosis (MS) for symptom treatment and for comorbid conditions. The present study aims to investigate the types and frequencies of agents prescribed to people with MS in Greece using records from the nationwide digital prescription database. Methods: Prescription records for 21,218 people (65.9% women) with MS were included in the study. The criterion for study inclusion was a minimum of 3 months of continuous prescription of an agent. Identified treatments were further examined by age group. Results: Antispasticity agents (17.5%) and fampridine (14.5%) were the most regularly prescribed symptomatic medications. Antihypertensives (21.1%) and drugs for affective disorders, including antidepressants (36.1%) and anxiolytics (16.2%), were the most frequently prescribed medications for comorbid conditions. Antidepressants were prescribed at almost equally high rates among individuals older than 40 years. Hypertension was 1 of the leading comorbidities among the study sample, with rates rising significantly after age 40 years and plateauing after age 60 years. Polypharmacy was observed in 22.5% of the study sample, with a higher incidence among people with MS older than 60 years (46.98%). Conclusions: Agents prescribed for the treatment of disease symptoms and other medical conditions are expected to positively affect quality of life in people with MS. However, polypharmacy seems to be particularly high, especially in the aged population. The potential implications of polypharmacy in the disease course should further be explored.