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Pino Alonso

Network Centre for Biomedical Research on Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain; Psychiatry and Mental Health Group, Neuroscience Program, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge - IDIBELL, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain; Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Medicine, Universitat de Barcelona - UB, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain.

4 papers in the library · 10 citations · publishing 2023-2026

Papers

Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy neurobiology in treatment-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder: A domain-related resting-state networks approach.

European neuropsychopharmacology : the journal of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology May 1, 2024 Víctor De la Peña-arteaga, Marta Cano, Daniel Porta-Casteràs et al. 5 citations

In patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) undergoing a 3-month mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) programme, distinct baseline brain connectivity patterns were associated with four clinical domains: positive affect, negative affect, anxiety sensitivity, and rumination. Key brain nodes—the precuneus and frontopolar cortex—within the ventral default mode network and frontostriatal network showed predictive and response associations with clinical changes. MBCT may modulate connectivity in these networks, potentially reducing symptoms across domains. These network-based biomarkers could help personalize treatment and identify patients most likely to benefit from MBCT.

Efficacy and fMRI-based response predictors to mindfulness-based cognitive therapy in obsessive-compulsive disorder: Study protocol for a randomised clinical trial.

Revista de psiquiatria y salud mental January 1, 2023 Neus Miquel-Giner, Muriel Vicent-Gil, Ignacio Martínez-zalacaín et al. 4 citations

About 40-50% of patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) continue to experience obsessions and compulsions after first-line treatments. Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) is proposed as an augmentation strategy to help patients decentre from distressful thoughts, potentially increasing non-reactivity and reducing compulsions. This randomized clinical trial of 60 OCD patients who did not respond to first-line treatments will compare an MBCT program (10 weekly 120-minute sessions) with treatment as usual. The primary outcome is change in OCD severity, measured by clinician and self-reported assessments. Comprehensive evaluations will include comorbid clinical variables, neuropsychological functioning, thought content, and structural and functional neuroimaging at baseline and post-intervention. This is the first RCT in this population to examine clinical, neuropsychological, and neuroimaging variables together to identify neural patterns associated with MBCT response.

Combining Intranasal Esketamine and Electroconvulsive Therapy in Severe Treatment‑Resistant Depression: A Case Series.

The journal of ECT January 29, 2026 Sergi López-rodríguez, Aida De Arriba-Arnau, José Manuel Menchón et al. 1 citation

Combining electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) with intranasal esketamine (ESK) may offer sustained improvement for adults with severe treatment-resistant depression who had only partial benefit from either treatment alone. In four patients aged 50 to 72, the combination reduced depression scores by an average of 58% over 24 weeks, with no relapses. Two patients who added the complementary treatment to partial monotherapy showed symptom reductions of 50% and 37%. Two others who were already responding to maintenance ECT had further improvements of 62% and 83%, allowing ECT sessions to be spaced from weekly to every two to three weeks. Side effects were mild and temporary, including brief dissociation and post-ictal confusion. These findings suggest the combination is feasible and warrants controlled trials.

Intranasal Esketamine Augmentation in Treatment-Resistant Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder with Comorbid Major Depressive Disorder: A Case Series of Eight Patients

Research Square September 26, 2025 Soria López, Cinto Segalàs, Eva Real et al.

In eight adults with treatment-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder and major depression, adding intranasal esketamine to their existing treatment for 12 weeks reduced depressive symptoms by 48.8% and obsessive-compulsive symptoms by 30.4%. Four participants (50%) showed a depression response, with two (25%) achieving remission; three (37.5%) met the response criterion for OCD. The findings suggest esketamine may have dual benefits for both conditions, but controlled trials are needed to confirm these preliminary results.