http://obrela-journal.gr/index.php/obrela/issue/feed 2025-03-21T19:07:43+02:00 Orestis info@obrela.gr Open Journal Systems <p><img src="/public/site/images/panton/ojnlogo2017.jpg"></p> <p>Welcome to the quarterly issued Journal Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience &amp; Mental Health, the official Journal of the “obrela”.</p> <p>The Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience &amp; Mental Health (DCNMH) Journal is an open-access peer reviewed international online journal, published by obrela. It aims to publish high quality articles in the areas of Psychiatry, Mental Health, Clinical Neuroscience, Medical Psychology, and Neurology. The DCNMH welcomes varied article types such as Original Submissions, Research Articles, Review Articles, Short Reports, Case Reports, Letters to the Editor, Editorials and Guest Editorials. The DCNMH also features studies that focus on negative results, failure to reproduce, tools and methods, as well as on new theories or hypothesis.</p> <p>The DCNMH Journal welcomes manuscripts on the following fields : Brain Research, Addiction, Adolescent Development, Anxiety and Depression, Aging, Alzheimer’s Disease &amp; Other Dementias, Brain Plasticity, Brain and Evolution, Biological Rhythms and Sleep, Brain Wellness, Demyelinating Disorders, Developmental Disorders, Drug Discovery and Development, Drugs of Abuse and Addiction, Emotion, Epilepsy, Ethical and Policy Issues in Neuroscience, Food Intake and Energy Balance, Games and mental health, Psychiatric Genetics, Glial Mechanisms, History of Neuroscience, Memory Formation, Motivation and Emotion, Network Interactions, Neuroimaging, Neuroimmunology, Neuroendocrinology, Neurotoxicity, Neuroprotection, Pain, Public Awareness of Neuroscience, Stress and the Brain, Schizophrenia &amp; Bipolar Disorder, Pharmacology, TeleCare, e-Health, m-Health, Virtual reality therapy, Pharmacoeconomics, Pharmaceutical Innovation, Rehabilitation, Prevention programs, Psychoeducation, Psychometry, Trauma therapy.</p> http://obrela-journal.gr/index.php/obrela/article/view/296 2025-03-21T19:07:43+02:00 Orestis Giotakos info@obrela.gr

Reviewing the clinical and pathophysiological similarities between dysmyelinating diseases and psychosis, we may suggest that the dysconnectivity syndrome of psychosis represents the outcome of a multifaceted dysmyelinating disorder, which is based on a lifelong immunogenetic dysregulation. Issues of ‘timing’ and ‘neuroplasticity’ suggest several considerations for therapeutic interventions. The most important principle that emerges from this developmental issue is: ‘the right intervention, at the right time’. This means that the intervention should ideally be done at the beginning of the autoimmune processes that affect the neurons. Finding appropriate immunological biomarkers would be the most appropriate effort to early intervention and illness modification of mental disorders. Any immunological or anti-inflammatory agent should therefore be administered at a time when psychopathology is not yet evident or has perhaps given minimal signs. Therapeutic trials can range from anti-inflammatory or antioxidant agents to long-term gene expression modification therapies. Also, early intervention in known autoimmune diseases that are closely related to the development of mental illnesses, such as thyroid diseases, is considered to yield the expected results. The ‘temporal dimension’, including items such as time, timing, perception of time and timing of perception, could be an important conceptual, research and therapeutic target for mental illnesses, in the future.

2025-03-21T00:00:00+02:00 ##submission.copyrightStatement## http://obrela-journal.gr/index.php/obrela/article/view/297 2025-03-21T19:07:43+02:00 Panagiotis Poulakidas info@obrela.gr

This paper critically examines Freud’s theory of the death drive, as presented in his essay Beyond the Pleasure Principle, by juxtaposing it with Epicurus’ philosophy of pleasure and tranquility. Freud’s concept of the death drive is based on the assumption that the human psyche harbors an inherent tendency toward self- destruction and a return to a state of inertia, which, according to his theory, is the ultimate consequence of the pleasure principle. This paper challenges Freud’s conclusion, arguing that his methodological framework—rooted in the economic model of psychic energy—limits his interpretation of the pleasure principle. Philosophers such as Paul Ricoeur and Jacques Derrida have noted that Freud’s dismissal of classical philosophical systems as metaphysical hindered his ability to engage with alternative paradigms of pleasure and human flourishing. One such paradigm is the Epicurean theory of pleasure, which provides a philosophical model that embraces pleasure as the central goal of life while avoiding the pitfalls of excess and self-destruction. Epicurus distinguishes between kinetic pleasures, derived from the satisfaction of bodily and mental needs, and katastematic pleasures, characterized by the absence of pain (ἀπονία) and mental disturbance (ἀταραξία). The latter represents a state of equilibrium and contentment that does not seek further increase or intensification. This distinction challenges Freud’s reduction of pleasure to a quantitative principle and offers a qualitative framework in which stability, rather than inertia, is the culmination of human striving. By integrating Epicurus’ concepts of ἀπονία and ἀταραξία, this paper proposes that the absence of psychic tension does not signify psychic inertia, as Freud suggests, but rather a stable foundation for experiencing life’s intrinsic joys. This Epicurean framework redefines the role of the pleasure principle as enabling sustained engagement with the world rather than withdrawal from it. Ultimately, this paper underscores the value of revisiting Epicurean philosophy as a way forward for psychoanalysis. By embracing the Epicurean emphasis on stable, qualitative pleasures and rejecting unnecessary desires, psychoanalysis can transcend the constraints of Freud’s economic model. In doing so, it can move beyond the deterministic trajectory of the death drive toward a more optimistic, life-affirming understanding of human psychology. This interdisciplinary dialogue highlights the enduring relevance of classical philosophy in addressing the fundamental questions of modern psychological science.

2025-03-21T00:00:00+02:00 ##submission.copyrightStatement## http://obrela-journal.gr/index.php/obrela/article/view/298 2025-03-21T19:07:42+02:00 Ehsan Khorasani info@obrela.gr Fatemeh Nikparvar info@obrela.gr Chelsea Spencer info@obrela.gr Sandra Stith info@obrela.gr

In this study, we investigated the relationship between sexual intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization and factors such as sexual communication, sexual anxiety, sexual shame, and sexual self-esteem among an Iranian population. Data were collected from 359 women who had been in a relationship for at least one year, utilizing an online survey to reach a broad demographic. Our findings revealed that being female was significantly associated with lower levels of sexual communication, while no significant relationship was found with sexual shame or sexual anxiety. Although sexual IPV victimization was not significantly linked to levels of sexual communication, it was significantly associated with heightened sexual anxiety and sexual shame. The relationship between sexual victimization and sexual self-esteem was not significant. Furthermore, sexual mindfulness—specifically awareness—was found to significantly moderate the relationship between sexual IPV victimization and sexual anxiety. Notably, while sexual IPV victimization was significantly related to sexual shame, this association diminished when sexual mindfulness (encompassing awareness and non-judgment) was considered as a moderator. These results highlight the detrimental effects of sexual victimization and cultural beliefs on victims and underscore the importance of developing effective interventions for IPV survivors.

2025-03-21T00:00:00+02:00 ##submission.copyrightStatement## http://obrela-journal.gr/index.php/obrela/article/view/299 2025-03-21T19:07:42+02:00 Ehsan Khorasani info@obrela.gr

Purpose: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been linked to poor sexual health outcomes. This study aims to determine whether ACEs are associated with positive or negative sexual health factors, which could serve as indirect indicators of sexual intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization. Additionally, we discuss how sexual mindfulness may moderate this association. Methods: Data were collected between May and August 2021 from a sample of 301 women enrolled at the Torange Institute in Iran. We utilized structural equation modeling (SEM) in Mplus version 8.2 to investigate the associations. Results: The structural equation modeling results indicated that ACEs were significantly associated with both negative and positive factors related to sexual health. A direct connection was found between negative sexual health factors and sexual IPV victimization among individuals with a history of maltreatment in childhood. Conversely, sexual communication was negatively associated with sexual IPV victimization. There exists an association between ACEs and sexual IPV victimization that can be mediated by negative sexual health factors. Notably, sexual mindfulness emerged as a significant moderator in the relationship between negative sexual health factors and sexual IPV victimization among survivors of maltreatment. Conclusion: Different patterns of exposure to ACEs are linked to distinct sexual health outcomes. The findings of this study can inform preventive measures and early interventions aimed at mitigating various challenges related to adult sexual behavior for survivors of ACEs in Iran. Furthermore, as these survivors cultivate greater sexual mindfulness, their sexual decisions may become more purposeful and intentional, potentially leading to reduced regret regarding their sexual choices.

2025-03-21T00:00:00+02:00 ##submission.copyrightStatement##