Depression Inventory-Fast Screen Research Articles

Investigating the Relationship Between Verbal Fluency and Some Clinical Characteristics in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis

Background and Objective One of the types of cognitive impairments in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) is verbal fluency. Clinical characteristics affect verbal fluency. This study investigates the relationship between verbal fluency and some clinical characteristics in patients with MS. Materials & Methods This cross-sectional descriptive study was performed on 71 patients with MS in Rofideh Rehabilitation Hospital. Patients were selected by convenience non-probability sampling method. The study tool included the Pittsburgh sleep quality questionnaire, fatigue severity scale, depression inventory-fast screen, and controlled oral word association test. The collected data were analyzed in SPSS software, version 18. The linear regression model was fitted to evaluate the effect of independent variables on verbal fluency. Results The study included 67.6% of female and 32.4% of male patients. The average age of the patients was 43.9±35.54 years and the average duration of the disease was 13.83±5.62 years. The results showed that some clinical characteristics including fatigue, disease type, first symptom, and sleep status have a significant relationship with the verbal fluency score of patients with MS (P<0.05). No significant relationship was observed between expanded disability status score, depression, and duration of disease with verbal fluency in patients with MS. Conclusion The results showed that patients with the progressive type of the disease and patients whose onset of the disease was reported with visual symptoms had a weaker performance in verbal fluency than other participants. This issue can be considered in the early stages of disease diagnosis.

Fatigue in Multiple Sclerosis Is Associated With Childhood Adversities

Fatigue is a common and disabling symptom in patients with Multiple Sclerosis (PwMS). Its pathogenesis, however, is still not fully understood. Potential psychological roots, in particular, have received little attention to date. The present study examined the association of childhood adversities, specific trait characteristics, and MS disease characteristics with fatigue symptoms utilizing path analysis. Five hundred and seventy-one PwMS participated in an online survey. Standardized psychometric tools were applied. The Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) served to assess childhood adversities. Trait variables were alexithymia (Toronto Alexithymia Scale; TAS-26) and early maladaptive schemas (Young Schema Questionnaire; YSQ). Current pathology comprised depression (Beck’s Depression Inventory FastScreen; BDI-FS) and anxiety symptoms (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory; STAI-state), as well as physical disability (Patient determined Disease Steps; PDDS). The Fatigue Scale for Motor and Cognitive Functions (FSMC) was the primary outcome variable measuring fatigue. PwMS displayed high levels of fatigue and depression (mean FSMC score: 72; mean BDI-II score: 18). The final path model revealed that CTQ emotional neglect and emotional abuse remained as the only significant childhood adversity variables associated with fatigue. There were differential associations for the trait variables and current pathology: TAS-26, the YSQ domain impaired autonomy and performance, as well as all current pathology measures had direct effects on fatigue symptoms, accounting for 28.2% of the FSMC variance. Bayesian estimation also revealed indirect effects from the two CTQ subscales on FSMC. The final model fitted the data well, also after a cross-validation check and after replacing the FSMC with the Chalder Fatigue Questionnaire (CFQ). This study suggests an association psychological factors on fatigue in Multiple Sclerosis. Childhood adversities, as well as specific trait characteristics, seem to be associated with current pathology and fatigue symptoms. The article discusses potential implications and limitations.

Depression: a common comorbidity in women with rheumatoid arthritis—results from an Austrian cross-sectional study

ObjectivesPrevious research showed that depression is common in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, the prevalence very much depends on different assessment tools and sociocultural differences, respectively. The main study aim and...

Recent intimate partner violence as a prenatal predictor of maternal depression in the first year postpartum among Latinas.

The study aims to determine if recent intimate partner violence (IPV) is a prenatal risk factor for postpartum depression (PPD) among pregnant Latinas seeking prenatal care. A prospective observational study followed Latinas from pregnancy through 13 months postpartum. Prenatal predictors of PPD included depression, recent IPV exposure, remote IPV exposure, non-IPV trauma history, poverty, low social support, acculturation, high parity, and low education. Postpartum depression was measured at 3, 7, and 13 months after birth with the Beck's Depression Inventory—Fast Screen. Strength of association was evaluated using bivariate and multivariable odds ratio analysis. Subjects were predominantly low income, monolingual Spanish, and foreign-born, with mean age of 27.7. Recent IPV, prenatal depression, non-IPV trauma, and low social support were associated with greater likelihood of PPD in bivariate analyses. Recent IPV and prenatal depression continued to show significant association with PPD in multivariate analyses, with greater odds of PPD associated with recent IPV than with prenatal depression (adjusted OR = 5.38, p < 0.0001 for recent IPV and adjusted OR = 3.48, p< 0.0001 for prenatal depression). Recent IPV exposure is a strong, independent prenatal predictor of PPD among Latinas. Screening and referral for both IPV and PPD during pregnancy may help reduce postpartum mental health morbidity among Latinas.