15-item Depression Research Articles

Two-Step Screening for Depression and Anxiety in Patients with Cancer: A Retrospective Validation Study Using Real-World Data

Background: Although screening for distress is recommended by many cancer care guidelines, the uptake of such screening in cancer centers remains limited. Improving the acceptability of screening programs in cancer centers requires a reduction in clinical burden and an improved detection of distress. The purpose of this study was to validate the performance of the two-step screening algorithm used in the Distress Assessment and Response Tool (DART) for identifying cases of anxiety and depression. Methods: This retrospective validation study consisted of patients at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre (PM) who completed the DART, which includes the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System depression (ESAS-D) and anxiety (ESAS-A) items, the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7). We evaluated the performance of a two-step screening approach, which modeled the ESAS-D, followed by the PHQ-9 and ESAS-A, then the GAD-7 for predicting a diagnosis of depression and anxiety disorders, respectively. A clinical psychiatric assessment was used as the gold standard reference. Results: A total of 172 patients with cancer were included in this study. A total of 59/172 (34%) and 39/172 (23%) were diagnosed with a depression or anxiety disorder, respectively. The sequential administration of the PHQ-9 ≥15 following the ESAS-D (>2) significantly increased the post-test probability of depression from 37% to 60% and improved the performance of predicting depression compared to both the ESAS-D or the PHQ-9 as standalone tests. The sequential administration of the GAD-7 after the ESAS-A did not improve the predictability of an anxiety diagnosis beyond the performance of the ESAS-A or the GAD-7 as standalone tests. Conclusions: The present study is among the first to demonstrate that a two-step screening algorithm for depression may improve depression screening in cancer using real-world data. Further research on optimal screening approaches for anxiety in cancer is warranted.

Nourishing the mind: how the EAT-Lancet reference diet (ELD) and MIND diet impact stress, anxiety, and depression

BackgroundPrevious studies have suggested a link between diet and mental health. However, there is a lack of evidence regarding the association between emerging diets such as the EAT-Lancet reference diet (ELD) and the Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diet, and mental health in different societies. This study aimed to determine the association between adherence to ELD and MIND diets and the risk of depression, anxiety, and stress.MethodsThis research involved 4579 participants from the PERSIAN Organizational Cohort Study in Mashhad (POCM). To assess dietary intake, a comprehensive 118-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was employed. The Planetary Health Diet Index (PHDI) was used to assess adherence to the ELD. Mental health status was evaluated using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 items (DASS-21) questionnaire. Binary logistic regression was utilized to examine the relationship between these scores and mental health indicators.ResultsIn the adjusted model, the highest quartile of PHDI showed a 35% reduced risk of depression compared to those in the lowest quartile (OR: 0.653, 95% CI: 0.483–0.883; P = 0.008). However, compared to the reference quartile, participants in the highest quartile of MIND diet exhibited significantly lower risks of depression (OR: 0.611, 95% CI: 0.447–0.836; P = 0.005), anxiety (OR: 0.559, 95% CI: 0.418–0.746; P < 0.001), and stress (OR: 0.629, 95% CI: 0.419–0.944; P = 0.008).ConclusionsThe ELD and MIND diet were both associated with reduced odds of depression. Additionally, MIND diet was associated with decreased likelihood of anxiety and stress. However, no connection was observed between ELD and anxiety or stress. Further large-scale interventions are required to confirm these findings.Graphical Association between EAT-Lancet reference diet (ELD) and MIND Diet with Stress, Anxiety, and Depression. PHDI: planetary health diet index, MIND diet: Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay diet

Temporal bisection task as a predictor of cognitive deficits.

Evidence suggests that neuropsychiatric symptoms and deficits in attentional control and executive function can impair time discrimination, demonstrating the intricate link between cognitive processes, subjective well-being, and perception of time. However, the relationship between sleep quality and time discrimination remains elusive. This study aimed to understand differences in the temporal bisection task (TBT) performance. We expected that individuals with impaired cognition, executive function, quality of life, or sleep quality would have reduced time sensitivity. At the same time, those with stress, anxiety, or depression would show a shift in the point of subjective equality. Data were collected from 97 female participants (ranging from 20 to 72 years of age) in more than one moment, resulting in 163 measurements used for the analysis. Participants' neuropsychiatric status was assessed using a battery of tests and scales, including the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), the Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB), the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire (WHOQOL), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 items (DASS-21). The results showed that attention and executive control significantly affect time discrimination. In addition, the research indicated that better sleep quality is associated with improved time discrimination sensitivity.

Conversion practice recall and mental health symptoms in sexual and gender minority adults in the USA: a cross-sectional study

Conversion practices are associated with psychological morbidity, yet few studies have evaluated differences between efforts to change gender identity, sexual orientation, or both. We aimed to examine the individual and joint association of conversion practice recall targeted at gender identity or sexual orientation, or both, with current mental health symptoms among sexual and gender minority people. This cross-sectional study used data from The PRIDE Study, a US-based, online, prospective cohort study of sexual and gender minority adults who were recruited through social media, digital advertisements, and sexual and gender minority community-based events and organisations. For this analysis, we included participants who completed a lifetime questionnaire in 2019-20 and a subsequent annual questionnaire in 2020-21 without missing outcome data. All questionnaires were in English. The exposure was lifetime recall of conversion practice targeting gender identity alone, sexual orientation alone, or both (versus no conversion practice). Mental health outcomes were continuous measures: Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale, Patient Health Questionnaire 9-item (depression) scale, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist 6-item scale, and Suicide Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised scale. We used linear regression to analyse the associations of conversion practice recall and mental health symptoms, controlling for demographic and childhood factors and stratified between cisgender and transgender and gender diverse groups. Sensitivity analyses evaluated the potential impact of unmeasured confounding. Analyses were conducted in R. We included people with related lived experience in the design and implementation of this study. Of 6601 participants who completed the lifetime questionnaire in 2019-20, 4440 completed the subsequent annual questionnaire in 2020 or 2021, and 4426 did not have missing outcome data. Of the 4426 included participants, 4073 (92·0%) identified as White (either alone or in combination with other ethnoracial options), 460 (10·4%) identified with multiple ethnoracial identities, and 1923 (43·4%) were transgender and gender diverse. Participants' age ranged from 18 years to 84 years (median 31·7 years, IQR 25·5-44·1). 149 (3·4%) participants reported sexual orientation-related conversion practice alone, 43 (1·0%) reported gender identity-related conversion practice alone, and 42 (1·0%) reported both. Recalling both forms of conversion practice was most strongly associated with greater post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD; β 2·84, 95% CI 0·94-4·74) and suicidality (2·14, 0·95-3·32) symptoms. Recall of only sexual orientation-related conversion practice was associated with greater symptoms of PTSD (1·10, 0·22-1·98). Recall of gender identity-related conversion practice alone was most strongly associated with greater depressive symptoms (3·24, 1·03-5·46). Only associations for suicidality differed between cisgender and transgender and gender diverse participants, although the latter showed higher mental health symptoms overall. Findings were moderately robust to potential sources of unmeasured confounding in sensitivity analysis. Recall of conversion practice exposure was associated with a range of mental health symptoms among sexual and gender minority people. These findings support calls to ban conversion practices because of their effects as a structural determinant of mental health. Gill Foundation, Dona Rockstand, and Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute.

Construction and evaluation of two nomograms for screening major depressive disorder and subthreshold depression individuals based on anxiety, depression, and sleep items

BackgroundCurrent evidence is insufficient to support specific tools for screening Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). Early detection of subthreshold depression (SD) is crucial in preventing its progression to MDD. This study aims to develop nomograms that visualize the weights of predictors to improve the performance of screening tools. MethodsParticipants were recruited from Peking University Sixth Hospital and Beijing Physical Examination Center between October 2022 and April 2024. The Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) 5.0.0 was employed as the diagnostic gold standard, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder questionnaire-7 (GAD-7), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were employed to assess anxiety, depression, and sleep state. The nomograms were constructed by incorporating optimal predictors, selected through the Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO), into a multivariate logistic regression model to estimate the probability of MDD and SD. ResultsAfter matching age and education, 164 participants were included in each group for analysis. Both nomograms demonstrated superior discrimination, calibration, and clinical applicability compared to PHQ-9. Anxiety emerged as a most significant predictor for SD, while sleep problems exhibited high rankings for both SD and MDD. The two predictors subsequently affect concentration and daytime functioning. LimitationsWith a lack of external validation data, the performance of nomograms may be overestimated. ConclusionsThis study is the first attempt to develop a nomogram for predicting SD, while also providing a nomogram for MDD. The crucial predictors offer valuable insights into potential variables for clinical intervention.

Perceived Mental Health and Quality of Life in Mothers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Armed Forces in a Tertiary Care Center of North India: A Cross-Sectional Study

Purpose: To explore the impact on mental health and quality of life among mothers following the diagnosis of mild or moderate autism in their child.Methods: The study included 100 consecutive mothers with a defence background, each having a child aged 3 to 10 years diagnosed with mild to moderate autism. Participants were briefed about the study, and informed consent was obtained. A quantitative experimental design was employed, utilising the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 Items (DASS-21) and the World Health Organisation Quality of Life Scale-Brief (WHOQOL-Brief) to assess the mothers.Results: The results indicated that mothers experienced moderate levels of anxiety (mean±standard deviation, 10±6.4) and stress (19±6.7), but lower levels of depression (11±7.7), as measured by the DASS-21 questionnaire. The WHOQOL-Brief revealed a moderate decline in psychological health (transformative [T]-score=38) and social relationships (T-score=31). However, satisfaction with their environment (T-score=75) and physical health (T-score=63) was higher, potentially due to their defence background, which may provide easier access to healthcare and improved living conditions.Conclusion: Mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder experience moderate levels of stress and anxiety, and low levels of depression. Additionally, they face a decline in their quality of life.

Greenness moderates the relationship between self-rated social standing and depression among older adults in the Canadian longitudinal study on aging

IntroductionGreenness is considered to be a health-promoting feature of both natural and built environments and has the potential to influence mental health outcomes. However, most studies to date have neglected to address whether greenness differentially affects mental health outcomes for individuals across the socioeconomic spectrum. Our study explored if greenness is a moderating factor in the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and mental health using data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA).MethodsA cross-sectional design was used to compare mental health outcomes between individuals with different levels of SES and residential greenness. We used self-rated social standing as a measure of SES and depression score measured using the Centre for Epidemiologic Studies 10-Item Depression Scale (CESD-10) as a measure of mental health. Greenness was measured using the annual maximum Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) within a 1,000 m buffer area of participants' residential postal code locations.ResultsThere was a statistically significant moderating effect of greenness for the relationship between self-rated social standing and depression score. As greenness increased, individuals with lower self-rated social standing had the greatest decreases in depression score.DiscussionThe results of our study suggests that targeting greening interventions at individuals and communities with low SES may reduce depressive symptoms overall, as well as decrease socioeconomic inequalities in depression.

Psychometric characteristics of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale in stroke survivors of working age before and after inpatient rehabilitation.

The aim was to examine the psychometric properties of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) in cohorts of working age stroke survivors, before and after inpatient rehabilitation. Stroke patients aged 18-66 years registered in the national quality register WebRehab Sweden were included in the study at hospital admission (n = 256), discharge (n = 223), and 1-year follow-up (n = 313). Classical and modern (Rasch) methods were used for psychometric evaluation. The two-factor HADS model measuring anxiety and depression showed better fit than a single factor measuring emotional distress. The instrument's psychometric stability before and after rehabilitation was satisfactory. The anxiety scale showed good psychometric properties, except for item 7, which is not anxiety-specific. Some concerns were observed for the depression items showing weaker discriminant validity, and item 8 performing poorly as a measure of depression. Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega coefficients showed satisfactory internal consistency reliability, whereas Rasch person reliability coefficients indicated weaker reliability, especially for the depression scale. Effect size of change between hospital admission and discharge showed a reduction in anxiety and depression symptoms. HADS showed a stable two-factor structure over the rehabilitation period. Patients' perception of items was not affected by the recovery, allowing relevant comparison of HADS scores between different phases of the rehabilitation process. Measures of responsiveness suggest that HADS is sensitive to capturing improvements in emotional distress following rehabilitation interventions. Overall, despite minor psychometric weaknesses, HADS is a suitable instrument for assessing anxiety and depresssion symptoms in stroke patients aged 18-66 years.

Development and validation of the head and neck cancer psychosocial distress scale (HNCPDS) to identify patients at high risk for psychological problems : a multicenter study

To develop the Head and Neck Cancer Psychosocial Distress Scale (HNCPDS) with the aim of identifying high-risk individuals for psychosocial distress among patients, and to assess its reliability, validity and applicability. Using the classical test theory, a total of 435 head and neck cancer patients from six tertiary hospitals in China were recruited for developing the HNCPDS. Delphi expert consultation and item analysis were used to improve the content validity of the preliminary HNCPDS. Factor analysis (FA) and Structural equation modeling (SEM) were used to test the structural validity of HNCPDS. Cronbach's alpha coefficient, Spearman-Brown coefficient and Intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) were used to test the internal consistency and retest reliability of HNCPDS. Multiple stepped-linear regression was used to analyze the risk factors of psychological disorder, and Pearson correlation coefficient was used to analyze the correlation between psychosocial distress and quality of life (QOL). The HNCPDS consisted of 14 items, which were divided into 3 subscales: 3 items for cancer discrimination, 5 items for anxiety and depression, and 6 items for social phobia. The HNCPDS had good validity [KMO coefficient was 0.947, Bartlett’s test was 5027.496 (P < 0.001), Cumulative variance contribution rate was 75.416%, and all factor loadings were greater than 0.55], reliability (Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was 0.954, Spearman-Brown coefficient was 0.955, test–retest reliability was 0.845) and acceptability [average completion time (14.31 ± 2.354 min) and effective completion rate of 90.63%]. Financial burden, sex, age and personality were found to be independent risk factors for HNCPDS (P < 0.05), and patients with higher HNCPDS scores reported a lower QOL (P < 0.01). The HNCPDS is effective and reliable in early identification and assessment of the level of psychosocial distress in patients with head and neck cancer, which can provide an effective basis for health education, psychological counseling, and social support in the future.

Connecting the dots: using a network approach to study the wellbeing spectrum

In positive psychology, defining the wellbeing construct has been a challenge. We used the psychometric network approach to study the structure of wellbeing. The sample consisted of Dutch adults registered with the Netherlands Twin Register. The variables were measured through standardized surveys. The network was estimated using the Mixed Graphical Models method and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regularization to limit the number of spurious edges. We estimated a network in a trimming sample (N=1343, 63% females, Mage = 53.18, SDage = 9.45) and in an estimation sample (N=726, 75% females, Mage = 45.27, SDage = 11.12) to examine its performance and accuracy. Our final network consists of a positive cluster including satisfaction with life, subjective happiness, and flourishing items, and a negative cluster including depressive symptoms, loneliness, and neuroticism items. We identified the four most central nodes: one satisfaction with life item, one neuroticism item, and two depression items. This suggests that to get a general sense of the wellbeing construct, these items would serve as most informative. The network approach clearly demonstrates the different, yet connected positive and negative clusters of wellbeing and therefore re-affirms the complex interconnectivity of wellbeing phenotypes. In addition, the network results reject the view of strictly delineated wellbeing domains. Having identified the most central nodes in the network, these can be used in futures studies with limited resources, as they are likely to be the most representative of the wellbeing spectrum.

IN Esketamine and IV Ketamine: Results of a multi-site observational study assessing the effectiveness and tolerability of two novel therapies for treatment-resistant depression

Intravenous (IV) ketamine and intranasal (IN) esketamine are novel therapies to manage treatment resistant depression within major depressive disorder (MDD-TRD). This is a multi-site observational study aiming to assess the real-world effectiveness and tolerability of these novel therapies in the management of MDD-TRD. 53 patients were referred to receive IV ketamine (n = 26, 69.23 % female, 52.81 ± 14.33 years old) or IN esketamine (n = 27, 51.85 % female, 43.93 ± 13.57 years old). Treatment effectiveness was assessed using the Montgomery and Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) for depression severity and item 10 of the MADRS for suicidal ideation (SI). Tolerability was assessed by systematically tracking side effects and depersonalization using the 6-item Clinician administered dissociative symptom scale (CADSS-6). The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, risk ratio and effect size. Both IV ketamine and IN esketamine significantly reduced depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation by treatment endpoint. Patients receiving IN esketamine, and patients receiving IV ketamine had a similar risk of developing side effects. All side effects reported were mild and transient. These results suggested that both IV ketamine and IN esketamine are effective in the management of depressive symptoms and were well tolerated. Therefore, the results of this study could serve to inform clinical practice.

Mental health of young talented football players in an African context: A cross-sectional observational study

BackgroundElite sport is a potentially pathogenic environment due to stressors like dual-career, high training demands, and performance pressure. Recent evidence suggests that athletes are at high risk of mental health issues. Even though the FIFA is increasingly paying attention, efforts directed towards young talented footballers are scarce. Few studies have even been conducted on young talented footballers in Africa. The majority of epidemiological studies on athletes also suffer from an analytical approach that does not highlight athletes' mental health profiles. This study aims to describe the mental health profile and their prevalence of young talented footballers in three African representative countries. MethodsThe study applied an observational-based cross-sectional research design with aspiring footballers from three sub-regions of Africa and aged between 10 and 23. The data was collected face-to-face from March to November 2022. Three screening tools were used to measure three mental health outcomes: Satisfaction With Life Scale (subjective well-being), Patient Health Questionnaire 9-item (depression), and Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale (anxiety). The mental health outcomes were rates and scores of well-being, depression, and anxiety, used in latent profile analysis. Findings507 male young talented footballers (263[51∙9%] Cameroonians, 73[14∙4%] Moroccans, and 171[33∙7%] Ivorians) were included in the analysis with a mean age of 15∙1 (SD 2∙37) years. Screening of mental health states revealed that 367(72∙3%) and 412(81∙8%) of these players experienced anxiety and depressive symptoms respectively and 155(30∙7%) experienced low well-being. Differences in mental health outcomes were noted between countries, age groups and competition levels. Three profiles of mental health condition were also identified, namely moderate mental health (Profile 1), languishing (Profile 2) and flourishing (Profile 3). InterpretationThe youth of football academies in the three African countries studied have a specific mental health profile, revealing a high prevalence of common mental disorders in the African context. These findings underline the need to enhance the awareness of mental health issues in young African players and provide tailored support. FundingFIFA.

Burnout and personality factors among surgical area nurses: a cross sectional multicentre study.

To determine levels of burnout among surgical area nurses in Andalusia (Spain), to identify the phase of burnout in each participant and to consider its relationship with sociodemographic, occupational variables and personality factors considered. Data were collected by means of questionary. All nurses working in the surgical area on the date of data collection participated in the study. Sociodemographic and related to work variables were addressed in the questionnaire. Symptoms of anxiety and depression were measured using the Educational-Clinical Questionnaire: Anxiety and Depression (CECAD). Psychological personality variables were assessed using the NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI), adapted for a Spanish population. Burnout was measured using the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI). Multicentre, cross-sectional, quantitative study carried out from August to October 2021. Descriptive analysis, Student's t-test for independent samples, Pearson's correlation and multiple linear regression were performed with SPSS 25.0. The study sample consisted of 214 surgical area nurses at 23 hospitals in Andalusia (Spain). Sociodemographic, occupational and personality variables were studied using the Maslach Burnout Inventory, the NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) and the Educational-Clinical Questionnaire: Anxiety and Depression. The STROBE statement guidelines were applied. 29.4% of the nurses in the sample presented high levels of emotional exhaustion, 25.7% suffered from depersonalization and 28% had low levels of personal accomplishment. These three dimensions were significantly correlated with the NEO-FFI subscales (neuroticism, agreeableness, openness, conscientiousness and extraversion), and with all the anxiety and depression items considered. Agreeableness was a statistically significant predictor (p < 0.001) for all three dimensions of burnout. Nurses in the surgical area present high levels of Burnout. There is evidence that relates Burnout to personality factors and socio-demographic variables.

A sequential multiple assignment randomized trial of symptom management for cancer survivors during treatment and their informal caregivers.

Many cancer survivors and their informal caregivers experience multiple symptoms during the survivor's treatment. Test relative effectiveness and optimal sequencing of two evidence-based interventions for symptom management. In this sequential multiple assignment randomized trial (SMART), survivors of solid tumors with elevated depression or anxiety and their caregivers as dyads were initially randomized after baseline assessment in a 3:1 ratio to the Symptom Management and Survivorship Handbook (SMSH, N = 277 dyads) intervention or SMSH plus 8weeks of telephone interpersonal counseling (TIPC, N = 97 dyads). After 4weeks, survivors who were not responding (no improvement or worsening score on depression and/or anxiety item) to SMSH only and their caregivers were re-randomized to continue with SMSH alone (N = 44 dyads) to give it more time or to SMSH + TIPC (N = 44 dyads). Mixed effects and generalized linear models compared severity of depression, anxiety, and a summed index of 16 other symptoms over weeks 1-13 and week 17 between randomized groups and among three dynamic treatment regimes (DTRs). Dyads received SMSH only for 12weeks (DTR1); SMSH for 12weeks with 8weeks of TIPC added from week 1 (DTR2); and SMSH for 4weeks followed by the combined SMSH + TIPC for 8weeks if no response at 4weeks (DTR3). Survivors randomized initially to SMSH alone had significantly lower anxiety over weeks 1-13 compared to those randomized to the combined SMSH + TIPC. In comparing DTRs, survivor's anxiety was significantly lower at week 13 for DTR1 compared to DTR2 with no other main effects for survivors or caregivers. Exploratory moderation analyses indicated a potential benefit of adding TIPC for caregivers of non-responders with elevated baseline symptoms. SMSH + TIPC did not result in better symptom outcomes at week 17 than SMSH alone. Lower intensity SMSH may improve depression and anxiety symptoms for most survivors and their caregivers. Clinicaltrails.gov ID number, NCT03743415; approved and posted on 11/16/2018.

Depression, Anxiety, and Stress among Allied Health Sciences undergraduates: A Cross-Sectional Study at a Defence University in Sri Lanka

The mental health of university undergraduates is a critical concern globally, with challenges faced by students in unique academic environments. This study was conducted at General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University to assess the prevalence of mental health issues and identify associations with participant characteristics. A descriptive cross-sectional study involving 640 allied health sciences undergraduates was performed. The Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 Items (DASS-21) was utilized for evaluation. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS 23.0, and associations were explored using Spearman's correlation and Pearson's chi-square tests. Ethical approval was obtained, ensuring participant confidentiality and informed consent. The study revealed mild to extremely severe symptoms of depression (35.1%), anxiety (40.5%), and stress (27.7%) among the participants. Strong positive relationships were identified between depression and anxiety (r=0.707, p=.000), depression and stress (r=0.722, p=.000), and anxiety and stress (r=0.658, p=.000). Significant associations were found between mental health levels and participants currently receiving medical treatments and those with a history of psychological treatments. While one-third of the participants exhibited concerning levels of mental health symptoms, our study indicated comparatively lower rates than did previous research in Sri Lanka. The findings highlight the need to enhance mental health support and accessibility of services for university undergraduates. The study contributes valuable insights for future research and interventions, emphasizing the unique challenges faced by students in a defence university setting.

Development of the Japanese Version of the Test of Self-Conscious Affect-3 (TOSCA-3): A Study among Student and Parent Population.

The Test of Self-Conscious Affect-3 (TOSCA-3) is a scenario-based measure of self-conscious emotions. We aimed to create an abridged version of the TOSCA-3 that is appropriate for Japanese populations and has a good fit with the data, as well as validate its subscales. The TOSCA-3 was distributed to (a) a university student population (n = 512: Study 1) and (b) a parent population (n = 260: Study 2). In both studies, items with factor loading < 0.33 were deleted one by one to select culturally appropriate scenarios for each of the six domains of self-conscious emotions. In Study 1, self-conscious emotions were correlated with the other correlates. Most of the final models showed a good fit with the data. In Study 1, the six domains of self-conscious emotions showed correlations with depression and related items, dispositional coping styles, experiences in childhood, ego function, borderline and narcissistic personality traits, and adult attachment styles, almost in the expected fashions. The TOSCA-3 is a useful tool to measure self-conscious emotions among Japanese student and parent populations if a few culturally inappropriate scenarios are deleted.

Combined Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction and Exercise Intervention for Improving Psychological Well-Being in Patients With Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

This study aims to assess the clinical effectiveness of combining mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) with exercise intervention in improving anxiety, depression, sleep quality and mood regulation in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). A total of 60 patients with NSCLC who had not received surgical treatment were selected using convenience sampling and divided into an intervention group and control group, with 30 patients in each group. The control group received conventional psychological nursing care, whereas the intervention group received a combination of MBwSR and exercise therapy. Before the intervention, a questionnaire was completed to collect the basic data of the two groups. Further questionnaires were administered at 6 and 8 weeks after treatment to assess anxiety, depression, sleep quality and other items included in the five-item Brief Symptom Rating Scale (BSRS-5). No significant differences between the intervention and control groups were identified in terms of personal and clinical characteristics (p > 0.05). No significant differences were determined in the BSRS-5, Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) or Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scores between the intervention and control groups before the intervention. However, 6 and 8 weeks after the intervention, scores were significantly lower in both groups (p < 0.001). Significant differences in the BSRS-5, SAS, SDS and PSQI scores were identified between the two groups at different time points (p < 0.001). The combination of MBSR and exercise intervention demonstrated improvements in anxiety, depression, sleep quality and BSRS-5 scores in patients with NSCLC.

Butyrate- and Beta-Hydroxybutyrate-Mediated Effects of Interventions with Pro- and Prebiotics, Fasting, and Caloric Restrictions on Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

To examine the butyrate- and beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB)-modulated effects of pre- and probiotic interventions, fasting, and caloric restriction interventions, a systematic literature review was carried out with a subsequent meta-analysis. Three pre-and probiotic intervention randomized control trials (RCTs) were included in the meta-analysis. A significant increase in butyrate (standardized mean difference (SMD) [confidence interval (CI)] 0.34; [0.02-0.67]) and an improvement in depression scores (SMD [CI] 0.15, [-0.35-0.70]) through pre- and probiotic interventions were shown in the meta-analysis. The intervention duration of the included studies ranged from three days to four weeks, with the examined population being healthy adults. Butyrate was measured in either plasma or feces, and the depression score was obtained under the Swedish core affect scale, the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS), or the depression, anxiety, and stress scale-21 items (DASS-21). In addition to butyrate, the total SCFA concentration also seems to be positively associated with pre- and probiotic administration (SMD [CI] 0.55 [0.15-0.95]). Despite the significant short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) and butyrate concentration changes, no significant correlation between butyrate and depression or between SCFAs and depression could be shown through linear regression models. Nevertheless, the regression coefficient b1 = 1.57 (p = 0.17) for butyrate suggests a strong, positive connection between butyrate and depression. Additionally, three studies were qualitatively analyzed, examining fasting as an intervention and revealing a connection between fasting, BHB, and depression. The association between fasting, BHB, and depression or mood elevation appeared to be related to BHB concentrations, which may be due to the similar biochemical properties of BHB and butyrate. Furthermore, caloric restrictions as alternatives to fasting were proposed as potential long-term interventions.

A Cross-Sectional Study of Self-Esteem and Body Image Satisfaction among Primary School Teachers in Sonitpur, Assam

Background: Body image is a multidimensional dynamic construct that involves internal biological and psychological factors as well as external cultural and social determinants. Body image concerns are connected with total poor self-concept in early adolescents, including poor physical, social, and academic self-concepts as well as low overall self-esteem (SE). Objective: The present study aims to examine the SE and body image satisfaction among primary school teachers in Sonitpur, Assam. Materials and Methods: The study was cross-sectional in nature. A total of 60 primary school teachers who were above 18 years of age were selected from 12 schools randomly and were included in the study. Data collection was collected with the help of the following tools: sociodemographic datasheet, Rosenberg SE Scale, Body Shape Questionnaire, and Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 items by investigators from February 2022 to July 2022 in Sonitpur province, Assam. Descriptive statistics were used to determine categorical variables, and analysis was carried out by computing percentages and the Chi-square test. Results: The results of the present study revealed that 15.0% of the respondents showed mild-to-moderate stress, 30.0% had mild-to-severe anxiety, and 1.7% had mild depression. A significant negative correlation was found between SE and stress (r = −0.421, P &lt; 0.01) and SE and anxiety (r = −0.433, P &lt; 0.01). Furthermore, a significant correlation was found between body shape (BS) and weight (r = 0.590, P &lt; 0.05), BS and stress (r = 0.355, P &lt; 0.01), and BS and anxiety (r = 0.333, P &lt; 0.01). Conclusion: People with lower SE are progressively likely to report dissatisfied with their body size or shape and irrespective of age or gender. Since body image represents a large part of a person’s self-concept, it is unsurprising that SE and body dissatisfaction are related.

The Prevalence of Sarcopenia and Its Association With Sleep Disorders, Stress, Anxiety, and Depression in Hemodialysis Patients

Background and aims: Hemodialysis (HD) is associated with patients’ onset and acceleration of sarcopenia progression. Sleep disorders and mental health issues potentially increase the risk of sarcopenia in patients. However, these associations have not been adequately evaluated in HD patients. Therefore, the current study aimed to estimate the prevalence of sarcopenia and its association with sleep disorders, stress, anxiety, and depression in HD patients. Methods: This cross-sectional study consisted of patients undergoing HD in two hospitals in Hamadan between May and July 2023. Demographic and socioeconomic information, along with data on depression, anxiety, and stress (using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 Items, DASS-21), sleep disorders (using the Athens Insomnia Scale), and SARC-F (strength, assistance with walking, rising from a chair, climbing stairs, and falls) questionnaire were collected through face-to-face interviews. Data were analyzed using independent t tests, ANOVA, and Pearson correlation coefficient using Stata software version 14. Results: The study included 150 HD patients (age range: 18-88 years; 54.67% male). The results revealed a sarcopenia prevalence rate of 41.3%. Demographic and socioeconomic factors such as gender and education level were found to be associated with sarcopenia. Moreover, positive associations were identified between sarcopenia and various indicators such as stress (r=0.27, P&lt;0.001), anxiety (r=0.49, P&lt;0.001), depression (r=0.39, P&lt;0.001), and sleep disorders (r=0.30, P&lt;0.001). Conclusion: The prevalence of sarcopenia among HD patients was observed to be high, particularly among females, less educated individuals, and those with elevated levels of depression, anxiety, stress, and sleep disorders.