Current Depressive Symptomatology Research Articles

The Role of Causal Uncertainty in the Relationship Between Perceived Parental Dysphoria and Offspring’s Own Dysphoria

We proposed that exposure to parental depressive symptomatology as measured by adult children’s retrospective reports would predict children’s own levels of causal uncertainty or doubt in their ability to understand causal relations in the social world. Such social confusion could, in turn, contribute to children’s current depressive symptomatology. Across four studies, as predicted, causal uncertainty partially mediated the relationship between perceived parental dysphoria and offspring’s own current dysphoria. In Study 1c, higher levels of parental attachment moderated the mediational effects of causal uncertainty on the relationship between perceived parental dysphoria and offspring dysphoria, but moderated mediation was not replicated in Study 1d when perceived parental dysphoria was assessed in a separate session. Future research should try to reconcile the inconsistent results for parental attachment and more directly test the intergenerational transmission of dysphoria via causal uncertainty.

Interaction between oxytocin genotypes and early experience predicts quality of mothering and postpartum mood.

Individual differences in maternal behavior are affected by both early life experiences and oxytocin, but little is known about genetic variation in oxytocin genes and its effects on mothering. We examined two polymorphisms in the oxytocin peptide gene OXT (rs2740210 and rs4813627) and one polymorphism in the oxytocin receptor gene OXTR (rs237885) in 187 Caucasian mothers at six months postpartum. For OXT, both rs2740210 and rs4813627 significantly associated with maternal vocalizing to the infant. These polymorphisms also interacted with the quality of care mothers experienced in early life, to predict variation in maternal instrumental care and postpartum depression. However, postpartum depression did not mediate the gene-environment effects of the OXT SNPs on instrumental care. In contrast, the OXTR SNP rs237885 did not associate with maternal behavior, but it did associate with pre-natal (but not post-natal) depression score. The findings illustrate the importance of variation in oxytocin genes, both alone and in interaction with early environment, as predictors of individual differences in human mothering. Furthermore, depression does not appear to have a causal role on the variation we report in instrumental care. This suggests that variation in instrumental care varies in association with a gene-early environment effect regardless of current depressive symptomatology. Finally, our findings highlight the importance of examining multiple dimensions of human maternal behavior in studies of genetic associations.

Effectiveness of mindfulness-based therapies in reducing symptoms of depression: A meta-analysis

Mindfulness-based therapies are a recent development within the cognitive-behavioural tradition and an important element of the third wave cognitive behavioural therapy models. A number of these therapies could be considered to have mindfulness as a major component of the therapy. There has been a considerable growth of interest in these therapies with an accompanying increase in their evidence base. While a number of reviews have been conducted, these therapies were not comprehensively appraised. The most prominent of these therapies, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, was developed to reduce relapse in recurrent depression. We conducted a meta-analysis which looked at therapies considered to have mindfulness as a major component. We investigated whether this group of therapies was effective in reducing current depressive symptomatology as measured by the Beck depression inventory (BDI). A total of 11 studies were included in the analysis. We found a significant mean reduction score in current depressive symptomatology, as measured by the BDI, of 8.73 points (95% confidence interval = 6.61, 10.86). We found evidence for the effectiveness of these major-component therapies in reducing levels of active depression. The robustness of these findings is discussed alongside the implications for research and practice within the context of the current literature.

Negative emotionality, depressive symptoms and cortisol diurnal rhythms: Analysis of a community sample of middle-aged males

Prior research suggests that individuals with particular personality traits, like negative emotionality, are at greater risk for adverse health outcomes. Despite bivariate associations between negative emotionality, depressive symptoms and the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis (HPA axis), few studies have sought to understand the biological pathways through which negative emotionality, depressive symptomatology and cortisol—one of the primary hormonal products of the HPA axis—are associated. The present study explored whether negative emotionality influenced cortisol dysregulation through current depressive symptomatology and whether negative emotionality served as a moderator of the relationship between depressive symptoms and cortisol. In the community-based Vietnam Era Twin Study of Aging, 783 male twins completed two days of cortisol saliva sampling in their natural environments. Three measures of cortisol were analyzed: waking levels, the cortisol awakening response, and the peak to bed slope. Depressive symptoms significantly mediated the associations between negative emotionality and the peak to bed slope. A 2-way interaction between depressive symptoms and negative emotionality was significant for the peak to bed slope and for waking levels of cortisol. Exploration of the interactions illustrated that depressive symptoms only affected cortisol slopes at average or high levels of negative emotionality and only affected waking levels at low levels of negative emotionality. Negative emotionality and depressive symptoms were not related to the cortisol awakening response. This is the first study to find indirect associations between negative emotionality and peak to bed cortisol slopes through depressive symptoms. These findings illustrate the complex interplay between personality characteristics, depressive symptoms and different indices of the cortisol diurnal rhythm.

The cortisol awakening response predicts subclinical depressive symptomatology in Mexican American adults

While childhood trauma appears to be a risk factor for the onset of depression and subclinical depressive symptomatology in Mexican Americans, the specific physiological mechanisms contributing to this relationship remain to be clarified. Stress-induced dysregulation of the Hypothalamic–Pituitary–Adrenal (HPA) axis is associated with depressive symptomatology in non-Hispanics. The current study assessed the extent to which the cortisol awakening response (CAR) predicts subclinical depressive symptomatology beyond the influence of childhood trauma in a sample of 55 Mexican American males and females ages 18–38 years, without a diagnosis of clinical depression. Participants were assessed for exposure to early trauma and current depressive symptomatology. Salivary cortisol samples were collected on two consecutive days at awakening, 30, 45, and 60 min thereafter, and again at 3 p.m., 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. Data were analyzed using general linear models with repeated measures at four morning time points, and again, at three afternoon and evening time points. Results indicated a significant Symptoms × Time interaction for the CAR( p < 0.05). The Symptom × Time interaction was not significant for afternoon and evening cortisol concentrations. Moreover, subclinical symptomatology was associated with attenuation of the initial rise in CAR, after controlling for the total frequency of exposure to childhood traumas. Hierarchical analyses show attenuation of the initial rise in the CAR was the best predictor of greater subclinical depressive symptomatology beyond the influence of trauma, and independent of a current diagnosis of major depression in a sample of adult Mexican Americans.

Neuropsychological Clustering Highlights Cognitive Differences In Young People Presenting With Depressive Symptoms

Early stages of affective or psychotic disorders may be accompanied by neuropsychological changes that help to predict risk of developing more severe disorders. A comprehensive set of neuropsychological measures was collected in 109 help-seeking young people (16 to 30 years; 54 females), recently diagnosed with an affective or psychotic disorder and presenting with current depression. Hierarchical cluster analysis determined three clusters: one deemed to have a "poor memory" profile (n = 40); another with a "poor mental flexibility" profile (n = 38) and a third with widespread difficulties plus "impaired attention and memory" (n = 31). In general, the three clusters were comparable in demographic, functional and clinical factors suggesting some unique role for neurocognitive impairments. A discriminant function analysis confirmed that the clusters were best characterized by performance in "attentional" versus "learning/memory" measures. Furthermore, profiles of independent neuropsychological variables validated the original solution for two of the clusters, distinguishing all cluster-groups on an attentional measure. The findings of this study suggest that despite presenting with very similar levels of current depressive symptomatology, young help-seeking individuals in the early stages of illness have underlying neuropsychological heterogeneity. Distinct neuropsychological profiling may help to predict later psychiatric outcomes and enhance individually-tailored early intervention strategies.

Determinants of male reproductive health disorders: the Men in Australia Telephone Survey (MATeS)

BackgroundThe relationship between reproductive health disorders and lifestyle factors in middle-aged and older men is not clear. The aim of this study is to describe lifestyle and biomedical associations as possible causes of erectile dysfunction (ED), prostate disease (PD), lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and perceived symptoms of androgen deficiency (pAD) in a representative population of middle-aged and older men, using the Men in Australia Telephone Survey (MATeS).MethodsA representative sample (n = 5990) of men aged 40+ years, stratified by age and State, was contacted by random selection of households, with an individual response rate of 78%. All men participated in a 20-minute computer-assisted telephone interview exploring general and reproductive health. Associations between male reproductive health disorders and lifestyle and biomedical factors were analysed using multivariate logistic regression (odds ratio [95% confidence interval]). Variables studied included age, body mass index, waist circumference, smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, co-morbid disease and medication use for hypertension, high cholesterol and symptoms of depression.ResultsControlling for age and a range of lifestyle and co-morbid exposures, sedentary lifestyle and being underweight was associated with an increased likelihood of ED (1.4 [1.1-1.8]; 2.9 [1.5-5.8], respectively) and pAD (1.3 [1.1-1.7]; 2.7 [1.4-5.0], respectively. Diabetes and cardiovascular disease were both associated with ED, with hypertension strongly associated with LUTS and pAD. Current smoking (inverse association) and depressive symptomatology were the only variables independently associated with PD. All reproductive disorders showed consistent associations with depression (measured either by depressive symptomatology or medication use) in both age-adjusted and multivariate analyses.ConclusionA range of lifestyle factors, more often associated with chronic disease, were significantly associated with male reproductive health disorders. Education strategies directed to improving general health may also confer benefits to male reproductive health.

Maternally focused worry

Emerging evidence suggests that many women in the postnatal period experience clinically significant levels of anxiety but do not meet full diagnostic criteria for an existing anxiety disorder. In this study, 167 women with infants aged 2 weeks to 12 months were interviewed for current and lifetime history of depression and anxiety disorders using the SCID-I and completed a range of self-report measures measuring psychological risk factors and current depressive and anxiety symptomatology. Qualitative comments provided by women diagnosed with ADNOS (maternally focused worry) were analyzed and themes identified, and independent t-tests and chi-square tests were conducted to compare differences between these women and women with GAD. Results showed (1) there to be almost as many women who met criteria for ADNOS (maternally focused worry) as met criteria for GAD, and (2) that women with maternally focused worry were indistinguishable from women with GAD in terms of anxiety and depressive symptom severity, functional impairment and a range of risk factors. These results highlight the status of maternally focused worry as an under-recognized phenomenon and one in need of further clinical and research attention.

Prevalence and Correlates of Current Depressive Symptomatology and Lifetime Diagnosis of Depression in Black Women

There is a paucity of research on depressive symptoms and their correlates among Black women, which may contribute to underdiagnosis, misdiagnosis, and inappropriate treatment. Data were analyzed from the 2006 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, an ongoing, state-based, random-digit-dialed telephone survey of the noninstitutionalized U.S. population aged > or =18 years. A total of 10,783 Black women aged 18 to 64 years were interviewed from 38 states, 2 U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia (DC). There were 8,412 (78.0%) women who provided complete responses to questions regarding demographic characteristics, psychosocial variables, current depressive symptomatology, and a lifetime diagnosis of a depressive disorder. Weighted prevalence estimates and 95% confidence limits of current depressive symptomatology and self-reported lifetime diagnosis of depression were derived. Multiple logistic regression models were used to examine the association of each correlate with the depression outcomes. Overall, 13.8% of Black women reported current depressive symptoms, and 14.9% reported a lifetime diagnosis of a depressive disorder by a health care provider. Significant correlates of both outcomes included rarely/never receiving social support, being unable to work, having physical health problems for 14 or more days in the past month, and dissatisfaction with life. This study indicates that a substantial number of Black women suffer from significant symptoms of depression and report that they have been diagnosed with depressive disorders in their lifetime. Health care providers should assess Black women with poor physical health and life dissatisfaction for depressive disorders and not dismiss somatic complaints as solely physically based.

A prospective study of hormonal treatment and anxiety disorders in community-dwelling elderly women (The Esprit Study)

BackgroundThe impact of hormone therapy use on late-life anxiety disorder in elderly women has not been evaluated. MethodsAnxiety disorders were evaluated in 838 community-dwelling postmenopausal women aged 65 years and over, randomly recruited from electoral rolls. Anxiety disorders were assessed using a standardized psychiatric examination based on DSM-IV criteria, at baseline and as part of the 2- and 4-year follow-up. ResultsMultivariate logistic regression analyses adjusted for socio-demographic variables, measures of physical health and cognitive impairment, as well as current depressive symptomatology indicated no significant association between hormone therapy and anxiety disorders at baseline or after the 4-year follow-up period, regardless of type of treatment. Compared to women who have never taken hormonal therapy, no significant difference was observed for women taking continuously hormone therapy over the follow-up or those who stopped their treatment. ConclusionsThe use of hormone therapy was not associated with improved anxiety symptomatology in elderly postmenopausal women.

Interplay between childhood maltreatment, parental bonding, and gender effects: Impact on quality of life

Objective The aim of this study was to examine associations between childhood adversity, parental bonding, gender, depressive symptoms, and quality of life in non-treatment-seeking adults from the community. Method Effects of differential parental rearing were compared in adults who reported a high degree of childhood maltreatment ( n = 72) and those who reported no significant adverse events in childhood ( n = 69). Subjects completed retrospective measures of childhood maltreatment and perceived parenting style, as well as measures of current depressive symptoms and quality of life. Results The subjects without childhood maltreatment were younger and endorsed less current depressive symptomatology than did subjects with childhood maltreatment. While the subjects without a history of maltreatment reported more “optimal” bonding experiences with their parents, the maltreatment group members were more likely to characterize their early parental bonding experiences in terms of “affectionless control” ( p < .001 for both maternal and paternal parenting), “affectionate constraint” ( p = .025 for maternal parenting and p = .004 for paternal parenting), or “weak or absent” bonding ( p < .001 for both maternal and paternal parenting). Results of a multiple regression analysis revealed that overall quality of paternal care ( p = .015) and current level of depressive symptoms ( p < .001) were significant independent predictors of adult quality of life. Gender effects between subjects providing parental bonding data were limited to the group with childhood maltreatment. Conclusion These findings extend previous work documenting a relationship between early life maltreatment and suboptimal parental bonding, suggesting gender-specific effects of maternal and paternal care. Effects of childhood maltreatment on quality of life in adulthood appear to be linked with the quality of childhood paternal care and the occurrence of depressive symptomatology in adulthood, suggesting possible targets for primary or secondary prevention.

Impact of depression on response to comedy: A dynamic facial coding analysis.

Individuals suffering from depression show diminished facial responses to positive stimuli. Recent cognitive research suggests that depressed individuals may appraise emotional stimuli differently than do nondepressed persons. Prior studies do not indicate whether depressed individuals respond differently when they encounter positive stimuli that are difficult to avoid. The authors investigated dynamic responses of individuals varying in both history of major depressive disorder (MDD) and current depressive symptomatology (N = 116) to robust positive stimuli. The Facial Action Coding System (Ekman & Friesen, 1978) was used to measure affect-related responses to a comedy clip. Participants reporting current depressive symptomatology were more likely to evince affect-related shifts in expression following the clip than were those without current symptomatology. This effect of current symptomatology emerged even when the contrast focused only on individuals with a history of MDD. Specifically, persons with current depressive symptomatology were more likely than those without current symptomatology to control their initial smiles with negative affect-related expressions. These findings suggest that integration of emotion science and social cognition may yield important advances for understanding depression.

Users' networks for Africans with mental disorders

Users' networks for people with mental health disorders have emerged in Africa over the past 5 years, notably in Zambia, Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, and South Africa. 1 Pan Africa network of users and survivors of psychiatry. First consumer conference report. General Inaugural Assembly, Kampala, Uganda, Nov 23–24, 2005. Google Scholar These organisations believe in users' power to strengthen their sense of identity and improve the situation in their communities and countries. Users' networks organise activities such as awareness campaigns and self-help projects, and they contribute to the development of mental health services, springing from the desire to attain human freedom that governments and communities continue to ignore. 2 WHOAdvocacy for mental health. World Health Organization, Geneva2003: 17 Google Scholar Do not forget culture when studying mental healthIn today's Lancet, Oye Gureje and colleagues1 add to the growing epidemiological literature on mental illness in Africa. They identified high rates of current and lifetime depressive symptomatology in elderly Nigerians, with a focus on major depressive disorder as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders version 4 (DSM-IV). This study adds to an increasing body of global mental health research which has received renewed attention after Desjarlais and colleagues' world mental health text2 and WHO's 2001 report on mental health,3 which raised awareness of the importance and severity of mental illness around the world. Full-Text PDF Epidemiology of major depressive disorder in elderly Nigerians in the Ibadan Study of Ageing: a community-based surveyMajor depressive disorder is common in elderly Nigerians and its occurrence is related to urbanisation. This disorder is a seriously disabling illness in this group but only a few sufferers have ever received treatment. Health-care services need to invest in effective treatment programmes for major depressive disorder. Full-Text PDF Treatment and prevention of mental disorders in low-income and middle-income countriesWe review the evidence on effectiveness of interventions for the treatment and prevention of selected mental disorders in low-income and middle-income countries. Depression can be treated effectively in such countries with low-cost antidepressants or with psychological interventions (such as cognitive-behaviour therapy and interpersonal therapies). Stepped-care and collaborative models provide a framework for integration of drug and psychological treatments and help to improve rates of adherence to treatment. Full-Text PDF

Cognitive-Behavioral Depression Treatment for Mothers of Children With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

An adaptation of the Coping With Depression Course (CWDC) was evaluated in mothers of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a population at risk for depression. Mothers were randomly assigned to receive the CWDC either immediately following an intensive summer treatment program targeting their child's behavior or after a wait-list period. Measures of maternal functioning, cognitions about child behavior, parent-child and marital relationship quality, child behavior, and ADHD-related family impairment were obtained at pretreatment, posttreatment, and 5-month follow-up. The CWDC resulted in improvements in maternal depressive symptoms, maternal self-esteem, child-related cognitions, and family impairment at posttreatment compared to a wait-list control group that were maintained at follow-up. Findings suggest that the CWDC is a promising intervention for mothers of children with ADHD, particularly those with current depressive symptomatology.

Risk and protective factors for medically serious suicide attempts: a comparison of hospital-based with population-based samples of young adults

Objective: To investigate risk and protective factors for medically serious suicide attempts among young Australian adults. Method: The study used a case–control design. A clinical sample of 18–24 year olds was recruited via the emergency department of a large public hospital following a suicide attempt (n=95) and was compared to a sample of 18–24 year olds who participated in a population-based survey (n=380). Results: Risk factors for medically serious suicide attempts included early school leaving, parental divorce (males only), distress due to problems with parents (females only), distress due to problems with friends, distress due to the break-up of a romantic relationship, tobacco use, high alcohol use, current depressive symptomatology and a previous diagnosis of depression. Protective factors included social connectedness, problem-solving confidence and locus of control. There was a trend for social connectedness to be more protective among those with high rather than low levels of depressive symptomatology, and among smokers rather than non-smokers. Conclusions: Results are discussed in terms of designing evidence-based suicide prevention activities for young adults.

Risk and Protective Factors for Medically Serious Suicide Attempts: A Comparison of Hospital-Based with Population-Based Samples of Young Adults

To investigate risk and protective factors for medically serious suicide attempts among young Australian adults. The study used a case-control design. A clinical sample of 18-24 year olds was recruited via the emergency department of a large public hospital following a suicide attempt (n=95) and was compared to a sample of 18-24 year olds who participated in a population-based survey (n=380). Risk factors for medically serious suicide attempts included early school leaving, parental divorce (males only), distress due to problems with parents (females only), distress due to problems with friends, distress due to the break-up of a romantic relationship, tobacco use, high alcohol use, current depressive symptomatology and a previous diagnosis of depression. Protective factors included social connectedness, problem-solving confidence and locus of control. There was a trend for social connectedness to be more protective among those with high rather than low levels of depressive symptomatology, and among smokers rather than non-smokers. Results are discussed in terms of designing evidence-based suicide prevention activities for young adults.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptomatology and Comorbid Depressive Symptoms Among Abused Women Referred From Emergency Department Care

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is common among victims of intimate partner violence (IPV) as is comorbid depression. Comorbid depression may exacerbate PTSD severity and chronicity. This study sampled female IPV victims from an urban emergency department to assess the relationship between PTSD symptomatology in the previous 12 months and current depressive symptomatology and to evaluate independent predictors of PTSD symptomatology. Half of respondents had symptoms consistent with PTSD. Those with PTSD symptomatology had significantly higher mean total depression scores and mean scores on 3 of 4 depression subscales than those without PTSD. Depressive symptomatology, being married, sexual IPV, severity of physical IPV, and partner's consumption of 5 or more alcoholic drinks per occasion at least once a month independently predicted PTSD symptomatology. Our findings underscore the important roles these factors play in IPV-related PTSD and the need for prompt identification and intervention of those at risk.

The relationship of non‐disclosure in therapy to shame and depression

This study aimed to explore the relationship between shame-proneness, depression, and non-disclosure in therapy in 85 men and women who had received treatment for depression. Data were collected by means of a questionnaire, which assessed depressive symptoms, shame-proneness, non-disclosure in therapy, and reasons for non-disclosure. In total, 54% of the respondents reported concealing depression-related symptoms and behaviours or other distressing experiences from their therapist. Shame was the most frequently reported reason for non-disclosure overall, but was a more frequent reason for non-disclosure of symptoms than experiences. Similarly, shame-proneness was significantly related to non-disclosure of symptoms but not to non-disclosure of experiences. For participants no longer in therapy, non-disclosure of symptoms made a significant independent contribution to current level of depressive symptoms after controlling for demographic variables, worst depression, and shame-proneness. The hypothetical model put forward in this study predicting a significant relationship between shame, non-disclosure in therapy, and current depressive symptomatology was supported. The findings suggest that encouraging and facilitating the disclosure of shameful symptoms and related behaviours has positive implications for the effectiveness of treatment.

Past and familial depression predict current symptoms of professional burnout

Background Despite a substantial association between professional burnout and depression, the exact nature of the relationship is unclear. It is hypothesized that an underlying susceptibility for depression is associated with an enhanced risk for professional burnout. In the present study, the relationship was examined between indices of personal and familial history of depression and current symptoms of burnout. Methods Respondents were 3385 employees of different work settings (61% female, age 18–65 years), who completed questionnaires regarding demographic variables, working hours, personal and familial history of depression, current depressive symptomatology, and current symptoms of professional burnout. Results After controlling for background variables, the strongest predictor of all three burnout facets was current depressive symptomatology. Independent of the effects of background variables and current depressive symptoms, having ever experienced a depressive episode further predicted current symptoms of two burnout facets: emotional exhaustion (OR = 1.82, 95% CI = 1.38–2.40, P < 0.001) and cynicism (OR = 1.51, 95% CI = 1.16–1.98, P = 0.002). In addition, a history of depression in close family members independently predicted current symptoms of emotional exhaustion (OR = 1.63, 95% CI = 1.27–2.10, P < 0.001), while a trend appeared for a similar effect on cynicism (OR = 1.23, 95% CI = 0.96–1.58, P = 0.095). Limitations The study is based on a cross-sectional retrospective design. Conclusions A predisposition for depression, as reflected by a personal and familial history of depression, may enhance the risk for burnout.

Prevalence and correlates of current depressive symptomatology among a community sample of MDMA users in Ohio

Research suggests that MDMA can cause serotonin depletion as well as serotonergic neurodegradation that may result in depression among users of the drug. Several small-scale studies have used various editions of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) to quantify depressive symptomatology among MDMA users. This study represents the largest application of the BDI to date to explore symptoms of current depression among a community sample of young adult MDMA users ( n = 402). Internal consistency testing of the BDI-II with this sample revealed Cronbach's α = .92. Results show a mean BDI-II score of 9.8, suggesting low levels of depressive symptomatology among study participants. Two-thirds of the sample had scores that placed them in the non-depressed/minimal depression category, while 4.7% had scores indicative of severe depression. Logistic regression analysis revealed that men were significantly less likely than women and people who used opioids were significantly more likely than non-users to have higher levels of depressive symptomatology. Higher lifetime occasions of MDMA use were marginally related to symptoms of serious depression.