BDI Scores Research Articles

Impaired white matter microstructure associated with severe depressive symptoms in patients with PD.

Depression is a common occurrence in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD); however, its pathophysiology is still unclear. This study assessed the association between the integrity of white matter and depressive symptoms in patients with PD. 67 patients with PD were divided into a non-depressed PD group (ndPD, n = 30) and a depressed PD group (dPD, n = 37). The dPD group was further subdivided into a mild-moderately depressed PD (mdPD, n = 22) and a severely depressed PD group (sdPD, n = 15). Tract-Based Spatial Statistics was used to compare fractional anisotropy (FA) between groups. Region-of-interest analysis was used to explore changes in diffusivity indices in the regions showing FA abnormalities. The sdPD patients exhibited significantly reduced FA in the left superior longitudinal fasciculus, uncinate fasciculus, anterior corona radiata, corticospinal tract, and bilateral inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus when compared with the ndPD patients, but the decreased FA was within a smaller area when compared with the mdPD patients. No significant difference in FA was found between the mdPD and ndPD groups. Among the dPD patients, FA values in the left superior longitudinal fasciculus negatively correlated with BDI scores. Impaired white matter integrity in the prefronto-limbic/temporal circuitry, mainly in the left hemisphere, is associated with severe, but not mild-moderate depressive symptoms in patients with PD.

Relationship between family functions with depression in palliative patients

Background: Diseases or health problems are a part of life that can occur at any time. Terminal disease represents a patient's irreversible health condition, so that this group of patients can be given a therapeutic approach known as palliative care. Patients who experience significant conflict in the family can increase the likelihood of depression. Patients and Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study in 32 subjects chosen by consecutive sampling. Measuring instrument used was Beck’s Depression Inventory. The family function scale is derived from the McCaster’s Model of Family Functioning known as the Family Assessment Device (FAD). Results: In this study, the average age of the sample was 46 years, unmarried from high school education. In the description of family functions obtained with overall results with moderate function. Correlation between the two things was found to be a weak negative correlation between FAD score and BDI score. The smaller the value score of FAD then will the greater the value of BDI. The worse the function of the family will be more severe levels of depression experienced by the sample in this study. Conclusion: We found there was a significant weak negative correlation between family function and depression in palliative patients at Sanglah Hospital Denpasar.

Lonely in the City-Sociodemographic Status and Somatic Morbidities as Predictors of Loneliness and Depression among Seniors-Preliminary Results.

Up to a third of the population of older adults has been estimated to suffer from feelings of loneliness, which is considered a risk factor of depression. The aim of this paper is to compare the perceived level of loneliness and depression in seniors living in the country and in the cities and assess somatic morbidity and sociodemographic status as predictors of loneliness and depressiveness. n = 92 older adults in primary care units filled out a set of questionnaires: authors’ survey on sociodemographic data and morbidities, Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI, to measure depressiveness) and De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale (DJGLS, to assess loneliness). There was a strong, positive and statistically significant correlation between the BDI and DJGLS scores (R = 0.855, p < 0.001). City residents had on average higher BDI and DJGLS scores. Linear regression models were constructed to predict BDI and DJGLS scores. The set of statistically significant predictors were similar for BDI and DJGLS. Sociodemographic status and somatic morbidities accounted for around 90% of variance of depressiveness and loneliness scores in the studied group. Living alone was found to be the strongest relative predictor of both loneliness and depressiveness in the studied sample of the older adults. Our current results suggest that there might be a need to improve social support in the late adulthood as an intervention to diminish the sense of loneliness and depressiveness.

The Association between Neuroticism Personality Traits and Depressive Psychopathology with Quality of Life among Diabetic Patients

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic medical condition associated with psychological sequelae like depression and linked with specific personality traits. This study researched on quality of life (QoL) among patients with DM and its association with mood symptoms and personality traits. 291 diabetic respondents were recruited, where their socio-demographic data and other relevant profile were collected using the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II), Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7), Big Five Inventory (BFI) and World Health Organization Quality of Life Instrument-Short Form questionnaire (WHOQoL-BREF). The mean age of the respondents was 60.43 years with approximately half of the respondents being males and married. Most respondents have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (N = 261, 89.7%) and the median duration of diabetes diagnosis was 14.17 years (SD = 9.72). The association between personality traits, psychological complications, and QoL after adjusting for demographic, personal, and clinical characteristics were studied. Based on the multiple linear regression models, after adjusting for age, employment, education status, monthly income, perceived social support, duration of DM and other variables, we found that the neuroticism (BFI) and mean BDI score was associated with poorer QoL, respectively. 1-unit increase in these two variables leading to 3.5- and 0.6-point decrease in QoL, (-3.465 (95% confidence interval, CI -5.788 to -1.143) and -0.560 (95% CI -0.779 to -0.341)) with p&lt;0.001, respectively. An intervention focusing on the neuroticism and elevating the depressive psychopathology would help in the psychological management of patients with DM.

Not so healthy, not so comfortable: Health anxiety in people living with HIV and its relationship to quality of life and psychosocial functioning

Background: People living with Human Immundeficiency Virus (PLWH) are often inclined to attribute their bodily sensations to HIV (Human Immundeficiency Virus) without considering those as malign or benign. Thus, it’s thought that health anxiety may be high in these individuals. We aim to determine the levels of health anxiety in PLWH and its relation with quality of life and psychosocial functioning. Methods: PLWH, Type-I diabetes mellitus (DM) patients and healthy individuals were included. CD4+T lymphocytes counts and HbA1C values were obtained. Sociodemographic data form, General Health Questionnaire (GHQ), Health Anxiety Inventory (HAI), Social Adaptation Self Evaluation Scale (SASS), SF-36 QoL Form, Beck Depression and Beck Anxiety Scale (BDI, BAI) were applied to subjects. Comparisons and regression analyzes were made. Results: Total of 228 subjects were included in study. Health anxiety levels in HIV group were higher than control groups. SASS scores were not different than in Type-I DM group’s scores, whereas the BDI, BAI, and GHQ scores were worse in the HIV group than in the other groups. There was a significant difference in the QoL between healthy controls and HIV group. CD4+ T lymphocyte count had the highest explanotory power for the psychometric scores. Conclusions: PLWH have higher health anxiety than controls. Psychosocial functioning and QoL are impaired in people with high health anxiety levels. CD4+ T lymphocyte count is strongest explanatory factor on almost every subscale. The disease itself seems to disrupt the quality of life and psychosocial harmony beyond the psychological picture it creates.

Common Brain Networks Between Major Depressive-Disorder Diagnosis and Symptoms of Depression That Are Validated for Independent Cohorts.

Large-scale neuroimaging data acquired and shared by multiple institutions are essential to advance neuroscientific understanding of pathophysiological mechanisms in psychiatric disorders, such as major depressive disorder (MDD). About 75% of studies that have applied machine learning technique to neuroimaging have been based on diagnoses by clinicians. However, an increasing number of studies have highlighted the difficulty in finding a clear association between existing clinical diagnostic categories and neurobiological abnormalities. Here, using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging, we determined and validated resting-state functional connectivity related to depression symptoms that were thought to be directly related to neurobiological abnormalities. We then compared the resting-state functional connectivity related to depression symptoms with that related to depression diagnosis that we recently identified. In particular, for the discovery dataset with 477 participants from 4 imaging sites, we removed site differences using our recently developed harmonization method and developed a brain network prediction model of depression symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory-II [BDI] score). The prediction model significantly predicted BDI score for an independent validation dataset with 439 participants from 4 different imaging sites. Finally, we found 3 common functional connections between those related to depression symptoms and those related to MDD diagnosis. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the neural circuitry of depressive symptoms in MDD, a hetero-symptomatic population, revealing the neural basis of MDD.

Evaluating the anxiety and depression status of prostate cancer patients whose operations were postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

AimIn this study, we aimed to evaluate the anxiety and depression status of prostate cancer (PCa) patients whose planned operations in the urology clinic of our hospital, which is serving as a pandemic hospital in Turkey have been postponed because of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.MethodsThis survey study was conducted at urology clinic of Ankara City Hospital between March 1 and June 1, 2020, and included 24 male patients who agreed to answer the questionnaires (State‐Trait Anxiety Inventory [STAI] I and II and Beck Depression Inventory [BDI]). Demographical and clinical data (age, time since diagnosis, total serum prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) levels, risk groups according to the D'Amico classification system, smoking, alcohol habitus, major surgical history and comorbidities) of the patients were collected from hospital software.ResultsThe mean STAI‐I score of the patients (46.7 ± 1.4 [44‐49]) was significantly higher than their STAI‐II score (41.7 ± 2.4 [39‐47]) (P < .001). The negative correlation between the decrease in age and STAI‐I score was found to be statistically significant (r = 0.439, P < .05). The mean BDI score of the patients was 4.3 ± 3.2 (0‐13), which was compatible with mild depression. There was no statistically significant difference among the time elapsed from diagnosis, PSA levels, smoking and alcohol habitus, major surgical history and comorbidity status and STAI‐I, STAI‐II and BDI scores (P > .05).ConclusionProstate cancer patients with postponed operations should be guided properly in order to manage their anxiety status especially young patients.

In Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria, Comorbid Depression Linked to Higher Disease Activity, and Substance P Levels.

Background: Patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria often exhibit psychiatric comorbidities including depression that contribute to the impairment of their quality of life. How CSU and depression are linked isn't well-understood. Substance P has been shown to be increased in patients with CSU and is held to contribute to the pathogenesis of depression.Methods: We measured disease activity in 30 CSU patients without depression and 30 CSU patients with depression by using the urticaria activity score. The severity of depression was assessed with the Beck Depression Inventory. We measured SP levels in these patients as well as in 30 healthy control subjects. In patients with comorbid depression, we correlated SP levels with CSU disease activity and the severity of depression.Results: In CSU patients, disease activity and the severity of depression were positively linked. UAS7 values were higher in CSU patients with comorbid depression as compared to those without (p < 0.05). SP levels were higher in CSU patients with depression than in those without (p < 0.001), but was similar in all CSU patients compared to healthy controls. SP levels weren't correlated with UAS7 values in CSU patients with depression, whereas they were weakly but significantly correlated with BDI scores (p < 0.05).Conclusion: Our results suggest that, in CSU patients with comorbid depression, CSU disease activity affects the severity of depression. CSU patients with high disease activity should be explored for comorbid depression.

Controlled clinical trial of teacher-delivered Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for adolescents with clinically diagnosed depressive disorder in Nigeria

Most depressed adolescents in Low and Middle Income Countries (LMICs) like Nigeria have no access to psychological intervention due to lack of trained mental health professionals. This huge treatment gap could be bridged by using non-mental health professionals such as teachers to deliver the interventions. This study evaluated a teacher-delivered Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) programme for depressed adolescents in Nigeria. Forty adolescents (aged 13–18 years) with clinically diagnosed depressive disorder were recruited from two schools (20 from each school). One school was balloted as intervention and the other as control. The intervention group received five sessions of manualised group-based CBT delivered by two teachers who were trained and supervised by a psychiatrist. Primary outcome was BDI score at week 6. Controlling for baseline BDI score, the intervention group had significantly lower post-intervention depressive symptoms {Means 4.60 vs 17.05; t = 4.13; p = 0.0001, F(1, 39) = 16.76, p = 0.0001, Effect Size (Cohen’s d) = 1.3}. Eighty-percent of the intervention group achieved remission compared with only 15.8% of the controls (p < 0.0001). To our knowledge, this is the first study of a teacher-delivered CBT programme for clinically depressed adolescents in a LMIC. The intervention was feasible, well received and showed promising efficacy.

290 Depression, anxiety, and resting heart rate variability during sleep in a sample of active duty service members

Abstract Introduction Depression and anxiety are among the most prevalent mental health outcomes in the military population with rates ranging between 11% and 15% in Army active duty service members (ADSMs). Oftentimes both maladies are comorbid with insomnia and other sleep-related disorders. We explored the association between self-reported depression and anxiety levels and resting heart rate variability (HRV) metrics during sleep using a wearable device, the Oura ring. Methods We conducted a longitudinal, naturalistic assessment of fit-for-duty ADSMs (N=44; 21-40 years of age, 38 males) attending the Naval Postgraduate School. Depression was assessed by the Beck Depression Inventory; anxiety was assessed by the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. HRV (average nightly HRV and average nightly HRVmaximal during sleep) was assessed with the Oura devices during a period of MD=8 days (range 8–18). Results The median BDI score was 5.50 (IQR=9.50; range 0–23). Most participants had minimal depression (36, 81.8%) with seven (16.9%) having mild depression and one (2.27%) moderate depression. The median state anxiety score was 29.5 (IQR=16.8; range 20 – 56), whereas the median trait anxiety score was 31.0 (IQR=15.8; range 21–56). Correlation analysis (Spearman’s rho) showed that lower depression and anxiety scores were associated with higher nightly HRV during sleep. Specifically, average nightly HRV was correlated with BDI scores (rho=-0.384, p=0.010), state anxiety scores (rho=-0.343, p=0.023), and trait anxiety (rho=-0.356, p=0.018). Average nightly HRVmaximal was negatively correlated with BDI scores (rho=-0.435, p=0.003), state anxiety scores (rho=-0.339, p=0.024), and trait anxiety (rho=-0.339, p=0.025). Conclusion Our findings suggest that HRV during sleep is associated with self-reported depression and anxiety levels in this sample of ADSMs. Further research is needed to assess the utility and limitations of the Oura devices to collect data in field settings. Support (if any):

QUALITY OF LIFE AND DEVELOPMENTAL CHANGES OF PRETERM INFANTS AT EARLY CHILDHOOD

The developmental and behavioral disabilities remain high in children and in adults who were born preterm. In this case assessment of quality of life and development of preterm infants can be very informative and interesting. This is a prospective longitudinal (at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months) study of preterm birth and term control infants selected from pediatric polyclinics of Yerevan. The quality of life (QL) measures were done with QUALIN questionnaire and the developmental measures with Battelle Developmental Inventory. A total of 71 preterm and 105 term control infants underwent study. Among 71 preterm birth infants, who selected on the study at 3 months, 40 infant's score on the BDI was &lt;–1 SD and 1 infants' score on the BDI was &lt;–2 SD. However, at the age of 12 months 32 of these same children showed a BDI score &gt;85. Parents and pediatricians reported worse QL for of preterm infants compared with control group. At same time parents of preterm infants reported better QL for their children compared with pediatricians. The lowest QL and developmental scores among preterm children were detected at 3 months. Improvement of QL and developmental score was observed in the next age groups.

Mental Health and Endocrine Telemedicine Consultations in Transgender Subjects During the COVID-19 Outbreak in Italy: A Cross-Sectional Web-Based Survey

Transgender people are a vulnerable group with a higher incidence of mental health issues and, during the COVID-19 outbreak, they may have faced psychological, physical and social obstacles. To evaluate the impact of the pandemic and the access to health care services during the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of the transgender people living in Italy. An anonymous web-based survey was conducted among transgender people living in Italy. The survey consisted of 41 questions (to address socio-demographic and COVID-19 related variables, general health problems and trans-related health issues) and three validated questionnaires (the Impact of Event Scale [IES], the Beck Depression Inventory [BDI-II] and the SF-12. In total 108 respondents were included in the analysis, of these 73.1% were transmen and 26.9% transwomen. The mean age was 34.3 ± 11.7 years with 88.9% undergoing gender affirming hormonal treatment (GAHT). Of these respondents 55.6% were not working during the COVID-19 pandemic, mainly because they lost their jobs due to the lockdown (30.5%) or because they were otherwise unemployed (25.0%). Only four subjects were quarantined at home because of a positive COVID-19 swab. The mean total IES score was 21.1 ± 14.9 with 24.1% of subjects scoring over the cut-off score of 26 thereby suggesting a moderate-to-severe impact of the pandemic event. Mean BDI score was 8.6 ± 8.4. SF-12 total mean score was 96.1 ± 11.9 with a Mental Component Summary (MCS) score of 42.8 ± 9.1. Access to endocrinological consultations for hormonal prescription via telemedicine services was associated with better IES total scores (P=.01). Our results highlight the impact of the pandemic on the mental health of this particular population and how telemedicine services may serve to mitigate negative psychological effects. Internet-based surveys may select a group of people not necessary representative of the whole population. The self-reporting bias should also be considered. Those who responded to our survey were mainly from northern Italy were COVID-19 has had a greater impact. Vulnerable groups such as the transgender population should receive more consideration also during pandemic events and their access to health services especially for endocrine and mental health care should be improved. A nationwide plan for the extended use of telemedicine should be established with targeted intervention to reduce psychological distress. Gava G, Fisher AD, Alvisi S, etal. Mental Health and Endocrine Telemedicine Consultations in Transgender Subjects During the COVID-19 Outbreak in Italy: A Cross-Sectional Web-Based Survey. J Sex Med 2021;18:900-907.

Prevalence and 11-year incidence of common eye diseases and their relation to health-related quality of life, mental health, and visual impairment

PurposeTo study the prevalence and incidence of the most common eye diseases and their relation to health-related quality of life (HRQoL), depression, psychological distress, and visual impairment in the aging population of Finland.MethodsOur study was based on two nationwide health surveys conducted in 2000 and 2011. Eye disease status data were obtained from 7379 and 5710 individuals aged 30 + years, of whom 4620 partook in both time points. Both surveys included identical indicators of HRQoL (EuroQol-5 Dimension [EQ-5D], 15D), depression (Beck Depression Inventory [BDI]), psychological distress (General Health Questionnaire-12 [GHQ-12]), visual acuity, and self-reported eye diseases. We assessed the impact of known eye diseases on these factors, adjusted for age, gender, and co-morbidities.ResultsPrevalence of self-reported eye diseases was 3.1/2.7% for glaucoma, 8.1/11.4% for cataract, and 3.4/3.8% for retinal degeneration in 2000 and 2011, and the average incidence between 2000 and 2011 was 22, 109, and 35 /year/10,000 individuals, respectively. These eye diseases were associated with a significant decrease in EQ-5D and 15D index scores in both time points. BDI and GHQ-12 scores were also worsened, with some variation between different eye diseases. Impaired vision was, however, the strongest determinant of declined HRQoL. During the 11-year follow-up the effect of eye diseases on HRQoL and mental health diminished.ConclusionDeclined HRQoL associated with eye diseases is more related to impaired vision than the awareness of the disease itself, and this declining effect diminished during the follow-up. Therefore, information directed to the public on the risks and prevention of blindness can and should be strengthened to prevent the deleterious effects of visual impairment.

Delirium, Depression and Long-Term cognitive Impairment

<h3>Introduction</h3> Over the last decade, we are seeing increased survival rates from critical care stays. However, critical care survivors are at increased risk for long-term physical, psychological, and cognitive impairments. While there is substantial work examining how premorbid medical and demographic factors influence adverse long-term outcomes, less is known about how pre-existing psychiatric illnesses such as depression may influence ICU course and post-ICU outcomes. Delirium is a key negative prognostic indicator of poor post-ICU course. and a risk factor for cognitive impairment. Along with changes in cognitive performance, the most frequent psychological sequela found in intensive care unit (ICU) survivors is depression. Depression affects approximately one third of adults in the ICU and increases the risk of mortality in the 2 years after discharge. It is unclear how depression and cognitive performance deficits may interact. In adult and geriatric populations depression is itself a risk factor for cognitive impairment. Cognitive deficits in attention, memory and executive function are seen in depressed patients and ICU survivors who suffered delirium. The purpose of the study is to examine whether premorbid history of depression influences acute and long-term critical care outcomes. We hypothesized that a premorbid history of depression would be associated with a more complicated ICU course, quantified as days of delirium. We also hypothesized that a premorbid depression would be associated with greater levels of cognitive impairment and greater depression severity in the year following ICU stay. <h3>Methods</h3> Patients admitted to the medical/surgical ICU services were eligible for enrollment in the Brain ICU longitudinal cohort study. We determined a pre-admission history of depression from the health proxy. Patients were assessed for delirium using the Confusion Assessment Method for the ICU (CAM-ICU) and level of consciousness using the Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS). Patients were assessed after hospital discharge at 3 and 12 months (+/- 1 month) for depression using the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II). In all long-term models, we included patients who had any assessment data available at a given time point to have the same number of patients in cognitive outcomes and depressive symptom severity models at a given time point. Missing outcome and covariate data was handled using five imputations (with three burn-in imputations) and predictive mean matching. All continuous covariates were allowed to have a nonlinear relationship with DCFDs using restricted cubic splines with three knots, except for IQCODE which has too little variability to allow splines. Primary models examined the effect of pre-admission history of depression on: a) ICU course, measured as delirium/coma free days; b) post-discharge cognitive performance, measured by the RBANS total score; and c) post-discharge depression symptom severity, measured by the BDI. To examine the effect of depression history on delirium/coma free days we used a proportional odds logistic regression model adjusting for age, gender, Charlson Score, Framingham Stroke Risk Profile, IQCODE, years of education, AHRQ socioeconomic status index, CSHA frailty and APACHE APS at enrollment. To examine the association of a reported pre-admission history of depression with long-term cognition and depression, we used multivariable regression with history of depression as our primary exposure of interest and either RBANS global cognition scores or Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II) depression scores as outcomes. We created separate models to examine these outcome measures at 3 and 12 months after hospital discharge. <h3>Results</h3> A total of 821 were included in the analysis. The median age at enrollment was 61 years and 261 (33%) had a history of depression prior to their critical illness. After adjusting for demographic and other relevant covariates, a pre-admission history of depression, was not associated with days of delirium or coma in the ICU (OR 0.78, 95% CI, 0.59 - 1.03 p=0.077). We did not observe an effect of pre-admission history of depression on RBANS scores at either 3 months or 12 months compared to those with no prior history of depression (3 months -0.04, 95% CI, -2.70 - 2.62 p=0.97; 12 months 1.5, 95% CI, -1.26 – 4.26 p=0.28). Patients with a prior history of depression were more likely to have higher BDI scores at 3 months and 12 months (3 months OR 2.15, 95% CI, 1.42 – 3.24 p=0.001; 12 months OR 1.89, 95% CI, 1.24- 2.87 p=0.003). <h3>Conclusions</h3> Patients with a history of depression prior to ICU stay exhibit a greater severity of depressive symptoms in the following year.

Effects of a Group-Based Aerobic Exercise Program on the Cognitive Functions and Emotions of Substance Use Disorder Patients: a Randomized Controlled Trial

To examine, from behavioral perspectives, the feasibility of applying group-based aerobic exercise as an adjunct to treatment aimed at improving the cognitive functions and emotions of substance use disorder (SUD) patients. Eighty-three male methamphetamine use disorder patients recruited through an isolated detoxification centers (IDCs) were assigned into either an exercise group or control group. The exercise group participated in a group-based aerobic exercise intervention involving moderate-intensity exercises for 3 months. The cognitive functions, emotions, drug cravings, and physical fitness of the patients in both groups were measured at the baseline, 1 months, 2 month, and 3 months time points. After the 3 months intervention, the exercise group exhibited significant improvements in SSRT, HAMA and BDI scores, and physical fitness scores (i.e., BMI, vital capacity, flexibility, and balance) relative to the control group. Furthermore, the exercise group exhibited significantly reduced VAS scores for craving in comparison to the control group after only 2 months of the intervention. The 3 months group-based aerobic exercise program showed beneficial effects for cognitive functions, emotions, cravings, and physical fitness among SUD patients (i.e., methamphetamine use disorder patients), and can thus be considered as a potential therapeutic candidate for addiction rehabilitation.

Autonomic reactivity to emotion: A marker of sub‐clinical anxiety and depression symptoms?

Anxiety and depression are both characterized by dysregulated autonomic reactivity to emotion. However, most experiments until now have focused on autonomic reactivity to stimuli presented in central vision (CV) even if affective saliency is also observed in peripheral vision (PV). We compared autonomic reactivity to CV and PV emotional stimulation in 58 participants with high anxious (HA) or low anxious (LA) and high depressive (HD) or low depressive (LD) symptomatology, based on STAI-B and BDI scores, respectively. Unpleasant (U), pleasant (P), and neutral (N) pictures from IAPS were presented at three eccentricities (0°: CV; -12 and 12°: PV). Skin conductance (SC), skin temperature, pupillary diameter, and heart rate (HR) were recorded. First, HA participants showed greater pupil dilation to emotional than to neutral stimuli in PV than in CV. Second, in contrast to HD, the valence effect indexed by SC and emotional arousal effect indexed by skin temperature were observed in LD. Third, both anxiety and depression lead to a valence effect indexed by pupillary light reflex and heart rate. These results suggest a hyperreactivity to emotion and hypervigilance to PV in anxiety. Depression is associated with an attenuation of positive effect and a global blunted autonomic reactivity to emotion. Moreover, anxiety mostly modulates the early processes of autonomic reactivity whereas depression mainly affects the later processes. The differential impact of emotional information over the visual field suggests the use of new stimulation strategies in order to attenuate anxious and depressive symptoms.

Dietary Glutamic Acid, Obesity, and Depressive Symptoms in Patients With Schizophrenia.

Introduction: Schizophrenia is a lifelong condition associated with several comorbid conditions such as physical illnesses like obesity, as well as co-occurring psychiatric symptoms such as depression. Research regarding susceptibility to some of these comorbidities has primary focused on genetic risks or neurotransmitters and very little work has been done to understand environmental factors such as diet. In particular, understanding the role of dietary glutamic acid consumption on co-morbidities in patients with schizophrenia is important, as evidence suggests that glutamic acid consumption may directly influence glutamatergic neurotransmission; a key neurotransmitter related to schizophrenia, its associated co-morbidities, and depression. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the potential relationship between dietary glutamic acid and depressive symptomatology in patients with schizophrenia, stratified by obesity status, due to its relationship with inflammation, antipsychotic use, and depressive symptoms.Methods: Subjects included in this analysis, were part of a parent cross-sectional study in which included three dietary recalls analyzed using protocols outlined as part of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) standardized criteria. Additionally, body mass index (BMI), and Beck Depression Inventory were obtained at this visit. Subjects with a BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 were included in the obesity group, and the relationship between glutamic acid consumption and BDI scores was analyzed after controlling for age, race, sex, antidepressant and antipsychotic use, and animal and vegetable protein intake which provide natural forms of dietary glutamic acid.Results: A total of 168 participants were included in this study, of which 42.5% were female and 52.9% were White. The mean BMI for the group as a whole was 33.5 ± 8.7 (kg/m2) and the mean BDI was 14.5 ± 10.2 (range 2–50). No differences were found between obesity groups, other than a greater hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and lower waist to hip ratio. Overall, no relationship was found between dietary glutamic acid and BDI scores, However, for non-obese participants, diets higher levels of glutamic acid were associated with greater depression symptomatology (p = 0.021).Conclusion: These preliminary results indicate a possible correlation between dietary glutamic acid a depressive symptoms in non-obese patients with schizophrenia, although further research is needed to specifically examine this relationship.

Concomitant Diagnosis of Fibromyalgia and Ankylosing Spondylitis: Relation to Clinical Features and Plasma Pentraxin -3 Level.

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic systemic inflammatory rheumatic disease that specifically affects the spine and sacroiliac joint. AS diagnosis is often delayed in the clinical practice and this delay may cause the patients to miss the chance of early treatment. Fibromyalgia (FM) is a frequently encountered clinical syndrome, fibromyalgianess is a term used when patients who are diagnosed with inflammatory arthropathies meet the criteria for FM syndrome as shown in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Sjogren syndrome, and AS. We aimed primarily to assess the frequency of concomitant diagnosis of FM syndrome in AS patients and study its impact on clinical disease aspects. Secondary, our aim extended as a preliminary pilot study to assess the Plasma Pentraxin-3(PTX-3) as a potential marker for the diagnosis of FM syndrome in AS patients. Plasma PTX-3 in 61 AS patients was compared to 60 matched controls. FM was diagnosed by FM Rapid Screening Tool. Bath AS disease activity index (BASDAI) and AS disease assessment score using C- reactive protein (ASDAS-CRP), Bath AS functional impairment index (BASFI), Bath AS metrology index (BASMI), AS quality of life (ASQoL) scale, Beck Depression Inventory, and Bath AS Radiology Index (BASRI) were assessed. The patients were categorized into two groups according to the concomitant diagnosis of FM syndrome. Group I included 14 (22.9%) AS patients who fulfilled the clinical diagnosis of FM syndrome. Group II included 47 (77.1%) AS patients without FM syndrome. AS patients with FM (Group I) had significantly(p<0.001) increased an average of ages, disease duration, diagnostic delay of AS, switching of bDMARDs, morning stiffness duration, ASDAS-CRP, BASFI, ASQoL score, BASDAI (p=0.008), and BDI score (p=0.005) compared to AS patients without FM (Group II). PTX-3 levels were significantly (p<0.001) higher in Group I (p<0.001) (median, 0.23; IQR, 0.15-0.41 ng/ml) than Group II (median, 0.13; IQR, 0.035-0.21ng/ml) which showed no significant differences (p>0.05) compared to the controls. PTX-3 levels had significant positive correlations (p<0.05) with disease duration, BASFI, and ASQOl. Age, female sex, switch of biologic, ASDAS - CRP, and PTX-3 were significant predictors of FM in AS patients. These results indicate that concomitant FM is a significant problem in patients with AS and its presence is associated with higher disease activity, impaired function as well as an overall negative impact on QoL. Easy scanning of suspicious cases of FM with FiRST questionnaire can be done in daily practice. PTX-3 is more or less accurate as the clinical features to improve the diagnostic certainty of FM in the presence of AS with a proven sensitivity of 62.3%, a specificity of 90%, a positive predictive value of 82.75%, and a negative predictive value of 73.9%.

The Application of Quality of Life Therapy via Teletherapy during COVID-19 to Reduce Depression in Early Adulthood (When caused by bullying during adolescence)

One of the effects of bullying in adolescence is the emerging of depression tendency in early adulthood even when the bullying has stopped. This long-term impact can require psychological therapy. One of the psychological therapies that helps to reduce depression tendencies is Quality-of-Life-Therapy (QOLT). QOLT could increase happiness and overall quality of life by increasing satisfaction in several areas from 16 specific areas of life through the 5 stages of CASIO. The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of QOLT on the depression tendencies in early adulthood victims of adolescent bullying. The research design used in this study was a single case experimental design with ABA pattern. The instrument used in this study was the 21-items Beck Depression Inventory. There were two subjects in this study, each with a high level of depression tendency based on the BDI score. The QOLT was conducted online for 8 sessions and administered by a psychologist. In addition, the QOLT module guide was used as a reference for implementing the therapy that has been validated by expert. The data were subjected to visual and descriptive analysis and the results show the decrease of depression tendency.&#x0D; Keywords: depression tendency, quality of life therapy, bullying victims, early adulthood, pandemic covid-19

SLEEP DISORDERS IN RELAPSING-REMITTING MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS PATIENTS

The aim: Our study aimed at evaluating the relationships between sleep disorders (SD), cognitive impairment (CI), anxiety and depression in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Materials and methods: One hundred and five patients with RRMS (80 females and 25 males) aged from 22 to 67 years (mean age: 41,8±10,7; EDSS:3,5±1,6; disease duration (DD): 10,3±8,5 years) were enrolled into the study. All participants completed questionnaires on sleep (the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index /PSQI), cognitive functions (The Montreal Cognitive Assessment /MoCA), anxiety (Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale /HAM-A), depression (Beck Depression Inventory/ BDI). Results: According to PSQI score the patients were divided into two groups: with (n=42) and without SD (n=63). The patients with SD were older (45,36±1,66 vs 39,41±1,27, p=0.005), had higher EDSS score (3,98±0,26 vs 3,14±0,19, p=0,008), BDI (13,79±1,14 vs 8,96±0,86, p=0,0009) and HAM-A (24,52±1,42 vs 16,56±0,99, p<0,0001) scales compared with patients without SD. The frequency of anxiety (p=0,0034) and depression (p=0,038) was significantly higher in RRMS patients with compared to those without SD. No significant difference was found in gender, DD and MoCA score. In patients with SD significant negative correlation between MoCA and BDI score (r = -0,42, p<0,005) was found. In the group of patients without SD significant negative correlation between MoCA and EDSS (r = -0,27, p=0,03), MoCA and BDI (r = -0,26, p=0,043),) MoCA and HAM-A (r = -0,25, p=0,041) score was detected. Conclusions: Insomnia type SD in RRMS patients were associated with older age, higher EDSS score and presence of anxiety and depression.