Giovanni Martinotti
Biographic Data
| ID | 3801039 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Giovanni Martinotti |
| GIVEN NAMES | Giovanni |
| FAMILY NAME | Martinotti |
| SIGNATURE | MARTINOTTI G |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Chieti-Pescara |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-7292-2341 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 52 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 2 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 52 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2011 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 1 |
Factors Influencing the Onset and Severity of Depressive Symptoms
Background: Depression is a leading global health concern and is projected to become one of the major contributors to the global burden of disease in the coming decades. Increasing evidence highlights the role of social determinants—including socioeconomic conditions, social relationships, life stressors, discrimination, and environmental influences—in shaping the risk and clinical expression of depressive disorders. This study aimed to investiga…
Diagnostic Accuracy of GPT‐Based Large Language Models Across Versions, Prompting Techniques, and Case Presentation Formats
Despite the centrality of the diagnostic assessment in psychiatry, the agreement among mental health practitioners often varies from poor to moderate. The potential of large language models (LLMs; such as gpt‐based models), among other approaches, has been studied to be used as standardized tools to support clinicians’ decision‐making. The current work investigates the diagnostic accuracy of gpt‐based LLMs (gpt‐3.5 and gpt‐5.1) across different c…
Cannabis-Induced Persistent Perceptual Disturbances
Cannabis use has been associated with persistent perceptual disturbances, but systematic clinical characterization remains limited, particularly regarding multimodal sensory involvement. To characterize persistent perceptual disturbances following cannabis use, focusing on symptom profiles, temporal patterns, and clinical features. This exploratory observational study was conducted across the Valle d'Aosta and Piemonte regions of Italy between 20…
A Systematic Review of Clinical Phenomenology, Differential Diagnosis and Prognostic Outcomes of Substance-Induced Psychotic Disorders
BACKGROUND: Distinguishing substance-induced psychotic disorders (SIPD) from primary psychotic disorders with concurrent substance use remains a critical diagnostic challenge for treatment planning and prognostic counseling. OBJECTIVE: To systematically review the clinical phenomenology of SIPD, identify distinguishing symptom patterns, and examine relationships between phenomenology and outcomes. METHODS: A systematic search of PubMed, PsycINFO,…
Self-disturbance in first-episode psychosis
Cannabis use represents a significant environmental risk factor for psychotic disorders, with emerging evidence suggesting complex interactions between cannabinoid exposure, dissociative experiences, and fundamental disturbances of self-experience (self-disorders) in early psychosis. This systematic review examines the phenomenological and neurobiological relationships among dissociation, cannabis use, and self-disturbance in first-episode psycho…
Personalizing esketamine treatment in TRD and TRBD
These findings highlight the importance of a personalized treatment approach in treatment- resistant depressive episode patients. Esketamine may be particularly beneficial in reducing cognitive rigidity, improving mentalization, and breaking the cognitive inflexibility that contributes to sustained negative depressive thinking patterns. Further research is needed to refine patient stratification and optimize treatment strategies for individuals w…
Hell is other people”. Schizophrenia and urbanicity in the light of predictive coding theory
The Predictive Coding theory (Ford and Mathalon, 2019) posits that the brain constantly generates predictions about the environment, allocating neural resources primarily to processing stimuli that violate these predictions (i.e., prediction errors), in order to update the brain's predictive models of the environment. Sensory prediction is described as a hierarchical process, wherein neural activity encodes top-down expectations of sensory experi…
Digital mental health in Italy
National initiatives should firstly address education and training needs of the youngest mental health professionals, particularly those without a mentor/supervisor experienced in providing DMH/DP and in educating younger professionals in the digital clinical practice. Sex-sensitive consolidating strategies should be implemented in those mental health services already digitalized. Longitudinal studies should evaluate the efficacy in the long-term…
Bipolar disorder integrative staging
Bipolar disorder (BD) is a lifelong, recurrent condition with growing evidence supporting a neuroprogressive course, entailing the need to adopt staging models to guide stage-specific interventions. Although different approaches have been proposed, their application remains limited and largely based on clinical features. BOARDING-PASS is an Italian government-funded, multicenter, prospective, and observational study aimed at advancing current kno…
Treatment effectiveness and preference in patients with schizophrenia switched from oral standard of care atypical antipsychotics to aripiprazole once-monthly
Transitioning to AOM from oral antipsychotics in schizophrenia patients was associated with significant improvements in clinical outcomes, symptom severity, and treatment satisfaction, with a favorable safety and tolerability profile. These findings support the use of AOM in early-stage schizophrenia and highlight its potential to enhance long-term adherence and functional recovery. Further long-term studies are warranted to assess the durability…
Eco-Anxiety and Mental Health
Eco-anxiety in Italy is linked to socio-demographic vulnerabilities, disaster exposure, and impaired mental health. These findings highlight eco-anxiety as a pressing public health concern and stress the need for prevention and interventions that promote adaptive coping and engagement with climate change
High-Risk Periods and Opportunity Windows in First-Episode Psychosis, Cannabis Use, and Suicide Risk
Phenomenology of Spatial Atmospheres
This study explores the perception of spatial atmospheres within the framework of the development of schizophrenia pathology. We draw inspiration from Binswanger's theoretical framework and find solid grounding in the philosophical perspectives of Merleau-Ponty, Straus, and Tellenbach. The inquiry's central focus revolves around the examination of atmosphere as a fundamental, pre-thematic mode of communication, generating a spatial experience tha…
Phenomenology of Spatial Atmospheres
This study explores the perception of spatial atmospheres within the framework of the development of schizophrenia pathology. We draw inspiration from Binswanger’s theoretical framework and find solid grounding in the philosophical perspectives of Merleau-Ponty, Straus, and Tellenbach. The inquiry’s central focus revolves around the examination of atmosphere as a fundamental, pre-thematic mode of communication, generating a spatial experience tha…
Psychotic-Like Experiences in Young Recreational Users of Ketamine
This study explores the psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) associated with recreational ketamine use among young adults. Ketamine, initially introduced as an anesthetic, is now widely used recreationally for its dissociative effects, raising concerns about its impact on mental health. Ten participants aged 18-24, who used ketamine recreationally multiple times a week, were assessed using the Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences (CAPE-42). R…
Existential origins of endogenous and exogenous psychosis
This article explores the distinct characteristics between early stages of endogenous psychoses and substance-induced psychoses through a structural phenomenological approach. It focuses on how specific atmospheric conditions influence the subjective experience of individuals affected by these conditions. By examining the distinct emotional landscapes associated with psychosis, the study aims to clarify how these atmospheres alter perception and …
Profiling and assessing the risks of image- and performance-enhancing drugs use during the Covid-19 lockdown
Background: Image and Performance-Enhancing Drugs (IPEDs) can enhance mental and physical capabilities and impact one's overall health. Initially confined in sport environments, IPEDs use has become increasingly widespread in a high-performing society. The present study was aimed at profiling IPEDs use during the COVID-19 lockdown among an international sample of young adults. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was carried out in eigh…
Aberrant salience in cannabis-induced psychosis
This study may help understanding the role of AS in both non-substance-related and substance-induced psychosis. This knowledge may lead clinician to a better diagnosis and identify patient-tailored psychopharmacological treatment
Overcoming treatment-resistant depression with machine-learning based tools
Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD) poses a substantial health and economic challenge, persisting as a major concern despite decades of extensive research into novel treatment modalities. The considerable heterogeneity in TRD's clinical manifestations and neurobiological bases has complicated efforts toward effective interventions. Recognizing the need for precise biomarkers to guide treatment choices in TRD, herein we introduce the SelecTool Pr…
Unraveling the Link Between Complex Post-traumatic Stress Symptoms and Addictive Behaviors in Adolescents
Suicide on Italian Instagram
Instagram is the social network with the largest number of adolescent users in Italy; it is also the social network with the largest number of suicide‐related posts. Suicide is the third leading cause of death in Italy in the 15–19 age group. This study aims to describe Italian posts on Instagram related to suicide and to investigate whether there are differences in the number of likes, comments, and hashtags in relation to the characteristics of…
Internet Gaming Disorders and Early Onset Psychosis in Young People
Although it is difficult to show the specific mechanisms underlying the psychopathological alterations in IGD, it is clear that excessive exposure to video games could be a risk factor for precipitating psychosis especially in a vulnerable age group such as adolescence. Clinicians should be aware of the possibility of a higher risk of psychotic onset associated specifically with gaming disorders in very young people
Advances in problematic usage of the internet research – A narrative review by experts from the European network for problematic usage of the internet
Facebook and Suicidal Behaviour
Social media can detect suicidal tendencies, support those seeking help, comfort family and friends with their grief, and provide insights via timelining the users' activities leading to their suicide. One of the limitations was the lack of quantitative studies evaluating preventative efforts on Facebook. The creators' commitment and the users' social responsibility will be required to create a mentally healthy Facebook environment
Lurasidone use in Cannabis-Induced Psychosis
There are non-controlled studies for the use of lurasidone in first episode psychosis cannabis induced. These findings suggest that lurasidone is an atypical antipsychotic beneficial in this clinical picture. Treatment with medium-high doses of lurasidone could be effective and tolerable in this phase of the disorder. Randomized control trials with longer follow-up are recommended to confirm these positive results
Alcohol drinking patterns in young people
Binge drinking represents a major clinical and public health concern. Here, we investigated the prevalence of binge drinking and its related consequences, in a population of young adults. A questionnaire was administered to a sample of 4275 healthy subjects. In the overall sample, the percentage of binge drinkers was 67.6 per cent; among regular alcohol users, 79.5 per cent reported episodes of binge drinking. Among binge drinkers, several seriou…
Anhedonia and Substance Dependence
Anhedonia is a condition in which the capacity of experiencing pleasure is totally or partially lost, and it refers to both a state symptom in various psychiatric disorders and a personality trait. It has a putative neural substrate, originating in the dopaminergic mesolimbic and mesocortical reward circuit. Anhedonia frequently occurs in mood disorders, as a negative symptom in schizophrenia, and in substance use disorders. In particular, we foc…
Amantadine in the Treatment of Pathological Gambling
Despite almost a decade of intense research, effective treatment strategies for Pathological Gambling (PG) remain very challenging. This paper details a case report suggesting that the treatment of PG may benefit from the use of the non-specific glutamate blocker amantadine. The drug was well-tolerated and effective, leading to a 43-64% reduction in severity of gambling symptoms (as measured with G-SAS). Our result is discussed in the context of …
Trends in alcohol-related deaths in the EU countries in 1980–2003
AIMS: To explore temporal trends since 1980 in alcohol-related death for people resident in the European Union (EU) and to examine differences between EU members admitted prior to 2004 and new EU members admitted since 2004. METHODS: The data were extracted from the World Health Organization's European mortality database and the European Health for All database. RESULTS: New EU members had higher rates of alcohol-related deaths (135.0 ± 18.48 vs …
Spice,” “Kryptonite,” “Black Mamba”
UNLABELLED: Abstract Introduction: Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPSs) are often sold online as "legal" and "safer" alternatives to International Controlled Drugs (ICDs) with captivating marketing strategies. Our aim was to review and summarize such strategies in terms of the appearance of the products, the brand names, and the latest trends in the illicit online marketplaces. METHODS: Scientific data were searched in PsychInfo and Pubmed databa…
The light at the end of the tunnel is a train
Gender Differences and Psychopathological Features Associated With Addictive Behaviors in Adolescents
Our study showed a relevant prevalence of addictive behaviors in a sample of Italian high school students, with specific gender differences. We underlined the cooccurrence of substance and non-substance-related addictive behaviors, and their association with worse school performance. Dissociative proneness, anhedonia, alexithymia, and impulsivity were associated with addictive behaviors in adolescents and might represent vulnerability factors for…
Alcohol drinking patterns in young people
Binge drinking represents a major clinical and public health concern. Here, we investigated the prevalence of binge drinking and its related consequences, in a population of young adults. A questionnaire was administered to a sample of 4275 healthy subjects. In the overall sample, the percentage of binge drinkers was 67.6 per cent; among regular alcohol users, 79.5 per cent reported episodes of binge drinking. Among binge drinkers, several seriou…
Patterns of Management of Patients With Dual Disorder (Psychosis) in Italy
Patients with severe psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia, schizoaffective, and bipolar disorders frequently suffer from concomitant substance use disorders (SUDs)-Dual Disorder (DD) patients. In order to better understand current practices for management of patients with psychotic episodes and concomitant SUD in Italy, we carried out a survey of psychiatrists on current routine practice among prescribers. These aspects can help to identify …
Marvin, the Paranoid Android”
Alpha-PVP can be defined as a novel psychoactive substance (NPS)-more specifically, a novel synthetic cathinone with unpredictable stimulant effects in humans. "Marvin" arrived at a Dual Diagnosis Unit at Parco dei Tigli, Italy. He underwent a 30-day rehabilitation program to overcome his problematic Alpha-PVP use as a psychonaut. We conducted an online search to understand the properties of Alpha-PVP and its presence in scientific literature, re…
RTMS Reduces Psychopathological Burden and Cocaine Consumption in Treatment-Seeking Subjects With Cocaine Use Disorder
Introduction: Cocaine use disorder (CUD) currently represents a notable public health concern, linked with significant disability, high chances of chronicity, and lack of effective pharmacological or psychological treatments. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is supposed to be a potential therapeutic option for addictive disorders. Aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of rTMS on (1) cocaine craving and consumption a…
The FDA “Black Box” Warning on Antidepressant Suicide Risk in Young Adults
The decision made in the year 2004 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to require a boxed warning on antidepressants regarding the risk of suicidality in young adults still represents a matter of controversy. The FDA warning was grounded on industry-sponsored trials carried one decade ago or earlier. However, within the past decade, an increasing number of reports have questioned the actual validity of the FDA warning, especially consi…
Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex Impairment in Methoxetamine-Induced Psychosis
Novel psychoactive substances (NPSs) have currently become a major public health concern because of relatively easy accessibility to these compounds and difficulty in identifying them with routine laboratory techniques. Here, we report the 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computerized tomography ( 18 F-FDG PET/CT) case study of a 23-year-old man who developed a substance-induced psychotic disorder after having intravenously in…
Preventing problematic internet use during the Covid-19 pandemic
As a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, many governments have introduced steps such as spatial distancing and "staying at home" to curb its spread and impact. The fear resulting from the disease, the 'lockdown' situation, high levels of uncertainty regarding the future, and financial insecurity raise the level of stress, anxiety, and depression experienced by people all around the world. Psychoactive substances and other reinforcing behaviors (e.…
Understanding the Complex of Suicide in Depression
Objective Amongst psychiatric disorders, major depressive disorder (MDD) is the most prevalent, by affecting approximately 15–17% of the population and showing a high suicide risk rate equivalent to around 15%. The present comprehensive overview aims at evaluating main research studies in the field of MDD at suicide risk, by proposing as well as a schematic suicide risk stratification and useful flow-chart for planning suicide preventive and ther…
Club Drugs
In this study, we described the acute psychiatric presentations related to recreational drug use in subjects on holiday in Ibiza. The use of psychoactive substances was characterized by poly-use of both traditional and novel substances, with several psychopathological consequences. Future research should focus on a better understanding of the psychopathological effects of specific substances, defining signs and symptoms to help make a differentia…
Prescription Drug Misuse in “Clubbers” and Disco Goers in Ibiza
Background: Prescription drug misuse and its related risks are considered a worldwide public health issue. Current trends show that the extent of such phenomenon may not be limited to subjects with psychiatric disorders, as it also spreads to dance party and nightclub attendees, who often consume prescription drugs in combination with alcohol and psychoactive substances. This study aims to report the sociodemographic data and the psychiatric and …
Does DRD2 Taq1A Mediate Aripiprazole-Induced Gambling Disorder? A Pharmacogenetic Hypothesis
Second-generation antipsychotics (SGA) are a pharmacological class widely used in psychiatry thanks to their efficacy and good tolerability profile. One of the most used SGA is aripiprazole (ARI) because of its several formulations and safe metabolic and cardiac profile. As reported in a recent review, there are growing numbers of reports about ARI-induced gambling disorder (ARI-induced GD) which should encourage clinicians to use ARI more cautio…
Psychopathological Burden and Quality of Life in Substance Users During the Covid-19 Lockdown Period in Italy
This study is the first attempt to collect Italian data regarding the effects of the rigid quarantine period, during the COVID-19 pandemic, on patients suffering from a SUD and/or behavioral addictions. The presence of a moderate psychopathological burden correlated to poor quality of life and low craving scores represented the main outcomes. Long-term studies, with follow-up after the end of the restrictive measures, should be considered to impl…
Use and knowledge of novel synthetic opioids
The recreational use of novel synthetic opioids (NSOs) is increasing, especially among the youngest part of the population. We conducted a naturalistic observational survey. The main outcome was to assess the use and the knowledge of NSOs among the youngest population in Italy. A sociodemographic questionnaire was also administrated. Nine hundred twenty questionnaires were completed. Fentanyl was the most used NSO (1.63% of the subjects). In all,…
Exercise and Use of Enhancement Drugs at the Time of the Covid-19 Pandemic
Introduction: Little is known about the impact of restrictive measures during the COVID-19 pandemic on self-image and engagement in exercise and other coping strategies alongside the use of image and performance-enhancing drugs (IPEDs) to boost performance and appearance. Objectives: To assess the role of anxiety about appearance and self-compassion on the practice of physical exercise and use of IPEDs during lockdown. Methods: An international o…
The Role of Attitudes Toward Medication and Treatment Adherence in the Clinical Response to LAIs
Background: Long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotics are efficacious in managing psychotic symptoms in people affected by severe mental disorders, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. The present study aimed to investigate whether attitude toward treatment and treatment adherence represent predictors of symptoms changes over time. Methods: The STAR Network "Depot Study" was a naturalistic, multicenter, observational, prospective study t…
A Possible Next Covid-19 Pandemic
Domenico De Berardis1,2*Giulia Gianfelice1Michele Fornaro2Federica Vellante3Antonio Ventriglio4Gabriella Marini5Mauro Pettorruso2Giovanni Martinotti2Silvia Fraticelli2Massimo Di Giannantonio2
Duration of Untreated Disorder and Cannabis Use
According to our study, cannabis use can be a predictor of FEP and DUP, and of disease outcome. However, several factors might influence the relationship between cannabis use and DUP. Preventing cannabis use and early diagnosis of psychotic disorders might impact the disease by reducing the persistence of symptoms and limiting dissociative experiences
Club Drugs and Psychiatric Sequelae
The pursuit of pleasure among clubbers and disco-goers often involves drug use. However, whether substance use may represent a relevant risk factor contributing to the development of psychiatric symptoms and of mental illness remains debated. The purposes of this study were to evaluate the percentage of subjects who developed long-lasting psychiatric symptoms in a sample of subjects reporting use of substances in nightclubs, and to evaluate the r…
Knowledge and Use of Novel Psychoactive Substances in Italy
Medicine (33 works) · Psychology (33 works) · Psychiatry (31 works) · Clinical Psychology (17 works) · Clinical Psychology (16 works) · Schizophrenia research and treatment (15 works) · Schizophrenia (object-oriented programming (12 works) · Addiction (10 works) · Forensic Toxicology and Drug Analysis (9 works) · Psychosis (9 works)