Depression Scores In Patients Research Articles

Low-dose esketamine improves acute postoperative pain in patients undergoing thoracoscopic surgery

PurposeThe current study was designed to investigate the analgesic effect of esketamine on patients underwent thoracoscopic surgery and the underlying mechanism.MethodsIn this randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled study, 60 patients scheduled to undergo thoracoscopic lobectomy or segmentectomy were randomized to two groups to receive esketamine (group ESK) or saline (group SAL), respectively. 0.25 mg·kg−1 esketamine was given in group ESK for induction of anesthesia, and 0.12 mg·kg−1·h−1 esketamine for intraoperative maintenance. Group SAL received an equal volume of saline. The primary outcomes were the visual analogue scale (VAS) pain scores at rest and deep cough state which evaluated at departure from post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) (T1), 6 h, 24 h and 48 h after surgery (T2–T4). The secondary outcomes included the levels of white blood cell (WBC) count, absolute neutrophil count (ANC), interleukin-6 (IL-6), procalcitonin (PCT), anxiety/depression scores at T3, oxygen saturation (SpO2), and adverse reactions.ResultsEsketamine significantly decreased both rest and cough VAS pain scores at T1, and rest pain scores at T1, T2 and T4. Patients in ESK group had significantly lower WBC and ANC levels than SAL group, while the alteration of IL-6 and PCT levels between groups showed no significance. The anxiety scores of patients in both groups were significantly decreased after surgery. However, the depression scores of patients in ESK group did not decrease after surgery when compared with the preoperation. The postoperative SpO2 and the incidence of adverse reaction including postoperative nausea, vomiting, dizziness and dissociative symptom showed no significant difference between two groups (p > 0.05).ConclusionEsketamine can alleviate the acute postoperative pain of patients undergoing thoracoscopic surgery without increasing adverse reactions, and the underlying mechanism may be associated with the reduction of postoperative inflammation.Trial registrationRegistered at Chinese Clinical Trial Registry on February 7, 2022 (ChiCTR 2200056524).Graphical

Analysis of the effect of nursing care based on action research method on the prevention of postoperative lymphedema in breast cancer patients

Rationale: In recent times, the pervasive adoption of the action research method has garnered substantial attention both domestically and internationally. Its integration has traversed various domains of nursing research, nursing education, and nursing practice, yielding commendable outcomes. However, a notable gap persists, as this method remains untapped in the realm of nursing care concerning the prevention of postoperative lymphedema in breast cancer patients. Diagnosis: To employ the action research methodology in the context of patients undergoing axillary lymph node dissection surgery for breast cancer, aiming to investigate its impact on mitigating postoperative lymphedema and assessing its influence on the patient’s quality of life, as well as levels of anxiety and depression postoperatively. Intervention: The study focused on breast cancer patients admitted to our hospital from January 2022 to December 2022. Among them, 44 patients from January to June constituted the control group, while 44 patients from July to December comprised the observation group. Conventional nursing measures were applied to the control group, whereas the observation group received nursing interventions rooted in the action research method. A comparative analysis was conducted between the 2 groups, assessing the incidence of postoperative lymphedema, daily life ability, as well as levels of anxiety and depression. Outcomes: The prevalence of edema was notably reduced in the observation group (20.93%) compared to the control group (42.22%), with a statistically significant difference. Throughout the study, patients in both groups exhibited increased Barthel Index Scale scores from the study’s initiation, and the scores for the observation group surpassed those of the control group, reaching statistical significance (P < .05). Furthermore, by the study’s conclusion, anxiety and depression scores for patients in both groups were diminished compared to the study’s commencement, and the observation group demonstrated significantly lower scores in anxiety and depression compared to the control group (P < .05). Lessons: The implementation of nursing care grounded in the action research methodology exhibits a capacity to diminish both the occurrence and intensity of postoperative lymphedema in breast cancer patients. Concurrently, it enhances the patients’ daily life functionality and mitigates symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Prevalence of self-reported thyroid disease among adults with depression

BackgroundThyroid disorders are a common comorbidity in patients with depression, yet there is limited information available about the clinical epidemiology of thyroid diseases in this specific population. This study aims to describe the prevalence of thyroid disease among US adults with depression from 2007 to 2018. MethodsThis cross-sectional study used nationally representative data collected through the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) between January 1, 2007, to December 31, 2018. Age-standardized prevalence of thyroid disease among depressed patients was calculated within 4-year survey periods (2007–2010, 2011–2014, and 2015–2018), and adjusted to the 2000 U.S. standard population. ResultsIn our weighed sample, 6.1% of depressed individuals and 4.3% of non-depressed individuals reported thyroid disease between 2007 and 2018 (P < 0.0001). The age-standardized prevalence of thyroid disease in patients with depression increased over time, from 5.4% (95%CI, 4.6%–6.2%) in 2007–2010 to 6.8% (95%CI, 5.8%–8.0%) in 2015–2018 (P for trend = 0.0270). Furthermore, thyroid disease prevalence was highest in non-Hispanic white individuals, increased with age, and tended to be higher in women. Mean depression scores in patients with thyroid disease (9.1; 95%CI, 8.7–9.5) did not significantly different from those without thyroid disease (9.1; 95%CI, 9.0–9.3) (P = 0.96). ConclusionThe age-standardized prevalence of thyroid disease among US adults with depression exhibited a consistent increase from 2007 to 2018, with the highest rate occurring in older, non-Hispanic white individuals, and women.

Analysis of mental health status and related factors in patients with acute cerebral infarction.

Acute cerebral infarction (ACI) is characterized by a high incidence of morbidity, disability, recurrence, death and heavy economic burden, and has become a disease of concern in global researchers. As ACI has serious effects on patients' physical status, life and economy, often causing anxiety, depression and other psychological problems, these problems can lead to the aggravation of physical symptoms; thus, it is very important to understand the factors affecting the mental health of these patients. To understand the elements that affect the mental health of patients who have suffered an ACI. A questionnaire survey was conducted among patients with ACI admitted to three tertiary hospitals (Quanzhou First Hospital, Fuqing City Hospital Affiliated to Fujian Medical University, and the 900 Hospital of the Joint Service Support Force of the People's Liberation Army of China) in Fujian Province from January 2022 to December 2022 using the convenience sampling method. ACI inpatients who met the inclusion criteria were selected. Informed consent was obtained from the patients before the investigation, and a face-to-face questionnaire survey was conducted using a unified scale. The questionnaire included a general situation questionnaire, Zung's self-rating depression scale and Zung's self-rating anxiety scale. All questionnaires were checked by two researchers and then the data were input and sorted using Excel software. The general situation of patients with ACI was analyzed by descriptive statistics, the influence of variables on mental health by the independent sample t test and variance analysis, and the influencing factors on psychological distress were analyzed by multiple stepwise regression. The average age of the 220 patients with ACI was 68.64 ± 10.74 years, including 142 males and 78 females. Most of the patients were between 60 and 74 years old, the majority had high school or technical secondary school education, most lived with their spouse, and most lived in cities. The majority of patients had a personal income of 3001 to 5000 RMB yuan per month. The new rural cooperative medical insurance system had the largest number of participants. Most stroke patients were cared for by their spouses and of these patients, 52.3% had previously smoked. Univariate analysis showed that gender, age, residence, course of disease, number of previous chronic diseases and smoking history were the main factors affecting the anxiety scores of patients with ACI. Age, living conditions, monthly income, course of disease and knowledge of disease were the primary variables influencing the depression score in patients with ACI. The findings of multivariate analysis revealed that the course of disease and gender were the most important factors influencing patients' anxiety scores, and the course of disease was also the most important factor influencing patients' depression scores. Long disease course and female patients with ACI were more likely to have psychological problems such as a high incidence of emotional disorders. These groups require more attention and counseling.

Depression in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine disorder with a broad spectrum of clinical symptoms. Some of the serious complications of PCOS are mental disorders including depression. Therefore, the aim of the meta-analysis was to determine the prevalence, mean level, standardized mean difference and probability of depression based on the research conducted with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). A systematic literature search was performed using the following databases: PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, ClinicalTrials.gov and Google for research published until January 2023. The meta-analysis was conducted on a group of 4002 patients obtained from 19 studies, which met the inclusion criteria (adult pre-menopausal women diagnosed with PCOS, papers on the prevalence of depression or the HADS scoring). According to the research performed, the mean prevalence of depression was 31% (I2 = 93%; p < 0.001), whereas the mean HADS depression score in patients with PCOS was 6.31 (I2 = 93%; p < 0.001). The standardized difference of mean depression scores was SMD = 0.421 (95% confidence interval = 0.17-0.68, I2 = 67%). The overall probability of depression in PCOS patients was more than 2.5-fold higher than in healthy women ((RR: 2.58), confidence interval [1.38-4.85]; I2 = 90%, p < 0.001). The research results imply an increased risk of depressive symptoms in women with PCOS.

Omega-6 and Omega-3 Intake Ratio in Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patients and Its Correlation with Depression Score

Introduction: Depression affects 45.19% of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) patients' adherence to treatment, resulting in increased morbidity and death, medication resistance, and continued disease transmission. This study aimed to examine the relationship between omega-6/omega-3 (ꞷ-6/ꞷ-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) intake ratio and depression score in patients with pulmonary TB at Persahabatan National Respiratory Referral Hospital, Jakarta. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 99 subjects with pulmonary TB. Data were collected using the Semi-Quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire (SQ-FFQ), anthropometric measurements, and the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II). Results: Correlation analysis used the Spearman test and revealed the ratio of ꞷ-6/ꞷ-3 PUFAs intake of 7.78 ± 1.13, the median value of depression score was 9 (10-36). There was no correlation between ꞷ-6/ꞷ-3 PUFA intake and depression score (r = 0.063; p = 0.534). Conclusion: There was no correlation between ꞷ-6/ꞷ-3 PUFAs intake ratio and depression scores in pulmonary TB patients. This is the first study to examine the correlation between ꞷ-6/ꞷ-3 PUFA intake ratio and depression score in pulmonary TB patients.

Efficacy and safety of celecoxib monotherapy for treatment of moderate depressive symptoms following COVID-19 infection: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

ObjectiveCelecoxib, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agent, was found to be an effective add-on treatment for unipolar and bipolar depression. We investigated the potential beneficial effect of celecoxib monotherapy on depressive symptoms after Coronavirus disease (COVID-19). MethodsThis was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial investigating the therapeutic effects of celecoxib monotherapy in patients with moderate depressive symptoms following COVID-19 infection. Patients were randomized to receive either a celecoxib capsule (100 mg) twice daily or a placebo capsule twice daily for 6 weeks. Participants were assessed with the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) and the side effect checklist at baseline and weeks 3 and 6. ResultsA total of 62 patients were included. GLM repeated-measures showed a significant effect of time × treatment (F = 12.95, df = 1.98, p < 0.001) for celecoxib, suggesting superior improvement of depressive symptoms in celecoxib compared to placebo from baseline to the study endpoint. HDRS scores in the celecoxib group showed a greater decline from baseline to both week 3 (t = 4.12, p < 0.001, Cohen's d = 1.10) and week 6 (t = 4.76, p < 0.001, Cohen's d = 1.27), compared to the placebo group. Rate of response to treatment (70% vs 9%, p < 0.001) and remission (67% vs 0%, p < 0.001) was significantly higher in celecoxib compared to the placebo group at week 6. Adverse event frequencies were not significantly different between the two groups. ConclusionWe demonstrated that treatment with celecoxib significantly improved depression scores of patients with depressive symptoms following COVID-19 infection. Further trials with larger sample sizes and longer study periods should assess our findings before any suggestion for clinical use.The trial was prospectively registered at the Iranian registry of clinical trials (www.irct.ir; registration number: IRCT20090117001556N142).

Effect of SARS-CoV-2 infection on seizure, anxiety, and depression in 107 patients with epilepsy

ObjectiveTo study the effects of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2) on epileptic seizures, anxiety, and depression in patients with epilepsy. MethodsBased on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, an ambispective cohort study was hereby conducted on patients with epilepsy infected with SARS-CoV-2 who visited the outpatient and ward of the Department of Neurology of Xinyang Central Hospital from December 2022 (when the domestic epidemic prevention and control policy was lifted) to February 2023. A face-to-face questionnaire survey involving factors including basic information, vaccination with inactivated COVID-19 vaccines, number of seizures within 2 months before and after SARS-CoV-2 infection, and scores of anxiety and depression was carried out. ResultsA total of 107 patients with epilepsy satisfying the inclusion and exclusion criteria completed the follow-up after 2 months. It was found that enrolled patients maintained the original dose of antiepileptic drugs, but the frequency of seizures after COVID-19 infection could not be controlled. After infection with SARS-CoV-2, the frequency of seizures in patients with epilepsy in 2 months increased compared with that before infection (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, compared with the vaccinated group, the high-frequency seizure rate of epilepsy in the unvaccinated group was higher. (P < 0.05), and the anxiety and depression scores of patients with epilepsy were worse than those before they were infected (P < 0.05). ConclusionBeing infected with SARS-CoV-2 can increase the number of seizures and aggravate the degree of anxiety and depression in patients with epilepsy. The inactivated vaccine is protective, and the inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine can reduce the rate of high-frequency seizures.

QUALITY OF LIFE, ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION IN PATIENTS WITH ADVANCED CERVICAL CANCER

Objective: evaluate the quality of life (QOL), anxiety and depression scores of patients with cervical cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by chemoradiotherapy. Methods: prospective cohort study of patients with advanced uterine cervix cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by radiochemotherapy at a teaching hospital in northeastern Brazil between November 2013 and January 2017. Quality of life was evaluated at four time-points: pre-treatment, after neoadjuvant chemotherapy, after radiotherapy and three months after the end of treatment using Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Cervix (FACT-Cx). Anxiety and depression, we used the Hospital scale of Anxiety and Depression. Results: We studied 40 women, aged 24 to 67 years with an average age of 48 ±11.4 years who had between zero and nine children (mean =3). Most were single (57.5%), illiterate and with elementary school education (85.0%). At the 1st and 4th evaluation, the mean anxiety scores were 7 ±3.5 and 5.5 ±3.6, respectively, and the mean depression scores were 4.4 ±3.2 and 3.7 ±2.6, respectively, with significant variation between the depression scores. The mean FACT-Cx scores at pretreatment were 112.3 ±17.4. At the last evaluation, the mean was 116.3 ±27.6 with a range from 52 to 155, with no significant difference. Conclusion: QOL scores remained stable throughout the treatment. There was a significant variation between the means and proportions of depression, possibly the result of the psychological support offered, demonstrating the importance of follow-up during oncologic treatment, mitigating the impacts of the disease and its treatment. There was no significant difference in anxiety.

Patient Anxiety Related to Patient-Perceived Delays in Surgical Treatment of Skin Cancer.

Patients undergoing dermatologic surgery report higher anxiety levels than those undergoing nonsurgical treatments. However, little is known about the association between patient-perceived delays in skin cancer surgery and patient-reported anxiety. To examine the relationship between patient-perceived delays in surgery and patient-reported anxiety. Patients undergoing wide local excision or Mohs micrographic surgery were recruited to complete a survey to assess perception of surgical delay and anxiety related to skin cancer surgery using the validated Psychosocial Screen for Cancer-Revised. Demographic and surgical characteristics were collected through chart review. Chi-square and Student t -tests were used to compare demographic and surgical information between patients who did and did not perceive a surgical delay. Differences in anxiety and depression scores for patients who did and did not report a delay were assessed using univariate and multivariate regressions. Twenty-seven percent ( N = 33) of patients perceived a surgical delay. Perception of surgical delay was associated with increased time between biopsy and surgery ( p = .0001) and increased self-reported anxiety scores after controlling for various demographic and surgical factors ( p = .038). Patient-perceived delays in dermatologic surgery are associated with increased time to surgery and patient-reported anxiety.

Serum cortisol and insulin-like growth factor 1 levels in major depressive disorder and schizophrenia

The pathophysiology underlying major depressive disorder (MDD) and schizophrenia is related to endocrine system functions and includes changes in the blood levels of cortisol and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1). However, these hormones have not been investigated simultaneously in patients with MDD and schizophrenia. We investigated the differences in serum cortisol and IGF-1 levels among patients with MDD and schizophrenia and controls. We included 129 patients with MDD, 71 patients with schizophrenia, and 71 healthy volunteers. Blood tests were performed between 6:00 am and 11:00 am after fasting. Serum cortisol levels were significantly higher in patients with schizophrenia than in patients with MDD and controls. Serum cortisol levels were significantly higher in patients with MDD than in controls. Serum IGF-1 levels were higher in both patient groups than in controls, whereas there was no significant difference between patients with MDD and schizophrenia. Both cortisol and IGF-1 levels were positively correlated with the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression score in patients with MDD, whereas cortisol level was positively correlated and IGF-1 level was negatively correlated with the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale score in patients with schizophrenia. The differences in the level of these hormones suggest pathophysiological differences between these disorders.

Efficacy of transcranial direct current stimulation on postoperative delirium in elderly patients undergoing lower limb major arthroplasty: A randomized controlled trial

BackgroundPostoperative delirium (POD) is a common and severe postoperative complication in elderly patients undergoing major surgery linked to increased morbidity and mortality. It is reported that transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) effectively enhances cognitive function and improves impaired consciousness. ObjectiveThis study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of tDCS on POD in elderly patients undergoing lower limb major arthroplasty, including total hip arthroplasty (THA) or total knee arthroplasty (TKA). MethodsPatients aged ≥65 years scheduled for THA or TKA were randomly assigned to receive 2 mA tDCS for 20 min active-tDCS (n = 61) or sham-tDCS (n = 61). The primary outcome was the incidence of POD during the first 3 postoperative days. ResultsAll 122 patients (median age, 70 years; 80 women [65.6%]) completed the trial. The incident delirium risk was 4.9% (n = 3) vs. 19.7% (n = 12) in active-tDCS and sham-tDCS groups, respectively (relative risk, 0.250; 95% CI, 0.074 to 0.842; P = 0.013). Compared to the sham-tDCS group, the anxiety and depression scores of patients in the active-tDCS group were lower at 2 h and one day after surgery (P < 0.001 for each), and pain scores of patients in the active-tDCS group were lower during the first three days after surgery (P < 0.05). ConclusionOne session of anodal tDCS over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex may decrease the incidence of POD in elderly patients undergoing lower limb major arthroplasty.

Evaluation of the Anxiety and Depression Scores in Women with Uncomplicated Pregnancies in the Era of Coronavirus Disease 2019: The Experience of a Single Tertiary Center

Aim: The recent outbreak of coronavirus has become an extremely significant health issue on a global scale, and its impact on the psychological status of pregnant women is still under investigation. This study aimed to assess the anxiety and depression scores of uncomplicated pregnancies in the age of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).&#x0D; Materials and Method: A total of 98 pregnant women were included in the study. The patients were divided into three groups according to the trimesters of pregnancy. The 21-item Beck anxiety and Beck depression scales were completed by all participants. Anxiety and depression scores and the demographic information of the groups were compared.&#x0D; Results: The anxiety level of group 3 was found to be significantly higher than those of groups 2 and groups 1 (p &lt; 0.001). The mean depression score of group 3 was significantly higher than that of group 1. The depression scores of patients from different educational levels were similar; however, it was observed that the higher educational level of patients was significantly correlated with higher anxiety scores (p &lt; 0.001). &#x0D; Conclusion: Our study showed that during COVID-19, the depression and anxiety scores of pregnant women approaching childbirth may be significantly higher than those of women with early pregnancies. The inclusion of psychological support in routine antenatal care for pregnant women in the third trimester should be considered to improve maternal and fetal outcomes.

Remote psychological intervention for the treatment of depression heart failure

Cardiovascular disease and depression are considered public health problems, depression is a risk factor for patients with heart failure (HF) for its clinical implications. The objective of this study was to describe two modalities of psychotherapeutic interventions in the approach to depression in patients with HF. We searched the specialized databases MEDLINE, PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science, CINAHL and Cochrane Library from 2010 to 2020. Selection criteria. Articles were selected by title and abstract., published in the last 10 years, written in Spanish or English and repeated registrations were deleted. Three authors collected information from the studies being documented. We included 4 clinical studies with 911 patients, were conducted in 4 countries in the last 10 years and implemented different methods of digital interventions and home visits, the effects of these treatments have been statistically significant to reduce self-reported depression scores in patients with HF who received psychotherapeutic intervention in any of these modalities compared to those patients who only received a treatment. Due to the limited number of studies and different methods of intervention, a standard treatment of HF depression in these care formats is not identified, so more research in this field of study is recommended.

The mediating effect of depression on new-onset stroke in diabetic population: Evidence from the China health and retirement longitudinal study

BackgroundDiabetes has a high incidence in China, which may cause stroke and depression. However, the relationship between diabetes and the incidence of new-onset stroke and depression has not been fully studied. MethodsThe data from the China Longitudinal Study on Health and Retirement (CHARLS) from 2013 to 2018 were used. A total of 8530 respondents aged ≥45 years old were included in the follow-up study. Logistic regression model, Cox regression, and Mediation analyses were used to explore the association between diabetes, depression, and new-onset stroke. ResultsThe depression score of patients with diabetes history was higher (HR,95%CI = 1.02, 1.01–1.04) and were more likely to experience new-onset stroke events (HR, 95%CI = 1.046, 1.02–1.07). With a history of hypertension (HR,95%CI = 1.747, 1.381–2.208), older (HR,95%CI = 1.033, 1.020–1.046) with high BMI (HR,95%CI = 1.056, 1.027–1.086) have a high risk of new-onset stroke. In the combined subgroup analysis, the incidence of new-onset stroke in the subgroup with diabetes depression was higher than in others. The mediating effect of depression on new-onset stroke events in diabetic patients is more pronounced in the medium to long term (>3 years) after adjusting covariates. LimitationsWe defined new-onset stroke by patient self-report, there might be some memory bias. In addition, new-onset stroke was not classified in the CHARLS questionnaire, which would hinder us to evaluate the mediating effect of depression on different types of new-onset stroke. ConclusionOur results showed that depression has a partial mediating effect between diabetes and new-onset stroke in the middle-aged and elderly population in China.

Persistent Ventral Anterior Cingulate Cortex and Resolved Amygdala Hyper-responses to Negative Outcomes After Depression Remission: A Combined Cross-sectional and Longitudinal Study

BackgroundMajor depressive disorder (MDD) is a highly prevalent mood disorder affecting more than 300 million people worldwide. Biased processing of negative information and neural hyper-responses to negative events are hallmarks of depression. This study combined cross-sectional and longitudinal experiments to explore both persistent and resolved neural hyper-responses to negative outcomes from risky decision making in patients with current MDD (cMDD) and remitted MDD (rMDD). MethodsA total of 264 subjects participated in the cross-sectional study, including 117 patients with medication-naïve, first-episode current depression; 45 patients with rMDD with only 1 episode of depression; and 102 healthy control subjects. Participants completed a modified balloon analog risk task during functional magnetic resonance imaging. In the longitudinal arm of the study, 42 patients with cMDD were followed and 26 patients with rMDD were studied again after 8 weeks of antidepressant treatment. ResultsPatients with cMDD showed hyper-responses to loss outcomes in multiple limbic regions including the amygdala and ventral anterior cingulate cortex (vACC). Amygdala but not vACC hyperactivity correlated with depression scores in patients with cMDD. Furthermore, amygdala hyperactivity resolved while vACC hyperactivity persisted in patients with rMDD in both cross-sectional and longitudinal studies. ConclusionsThese findings provide consistent evidence supporting differential patterns of amygdala and vACC hyper-responses to negative outcomes during depression remission. Amygdala hyperactivity may be a symptomatic and state-dependent marker of depressive neural responses, while vACC hyperactivity may reflect a persistent and state-independent effect of depression on brain function. These findings offer new insights into the neural underpinnings of depression remission and prevention of depression recurrence.

Longitudinal alterations in mRNA expression of the BDNF neurotrophin signaling cascade in blood correlate with changes in depression scores in patients undergoing electroconvulsive therapy

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) appears to be the most effective treatment for severe depression. However, its mechanisms of action are incompletely understood. Evidence suggests ECT enhances neuroplasticity and neurogenesis. While studies on ECT-induced neuroplasticity focused on brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), other factors of the BDNF/TrkB signaling cascade remain underinvestigated.We assessed longitudinal changes in depression scores, serum BDNF protein levels, and mRNA expression of BDNF/TrkB related genes (BDNF, AKT1, ERK1, CREB), NR3C1 and IGF1 in peripheral blood in 19 treatment-resistant depressed patients undergoing ECT. We also analysed DNA methylation patterns at various timepoints to explore possible epigenetic regulation of mRNA expression.Using multilevel regression, we found a negative association between depression scores and blood-based mRNA expression of BDNF/TrkB related genes and NR3C1. Expression of BDNF, ERK1 and NR3C1 increased significantly over time (BDNF: β = 0.0295, p = 0.003; ERK1: β = 0.0170, p = 0.034; NR3C1: β = 0.0035, p = 0.050). For these three genes changes in mRNA expression were highly correlated (R = 0.59 – 0.88) with changes in DNA methylation for multiple CpG sites in the respective genes. Also, serum BDNF protein levels increased across the study period (β = 0.11, p = 0.001).Our findings show that the antidepressant effects of ECT are associated with changes in expression of BDNF and its signaling molecules and that these molecular markers can be detected in peripheral blood. Alterations in DNA methylation could be a key mechanism whereby ECT influences gene expression.

The Relationship Between Specific Age-Related Chronic Conditions of Comorbidity and Depression Scores Among Men in an Elderly Population: A Cross-Sectional Study.

ObjectiveThere had been an observed increase in the prevalence of depression as well as many chronic conditions of comorbidity among the elderly population of Ireland above the age of 50. The relationship between different prominent conditions of comorbidity and depression scores amongst older adult men in Ireland was sought to be examined and explored.MethodsA cross-sectional analysis of data from wave 1 of The Irish Longitudinal Study on Aging (TILDA) had been used for statistical analysis, which served to be the representative cohort study sample of elderly adults living in Ireland aged 50 and older. Summary statistics (cross-tabulation, t-test, analysis of variance/ANOVA and odds ratio) were used to explore the relationship between depression scores and different conditions of comorbidity.ResultsResults were drawn from the three different tests conducted; cross-tabulation, t-test, and analysis of variance/ANOVA. Cross-tabulation served to provide the total population of men who suffered from depression (CES-D score ≥ 16), which totaled 123 (1.4%) of the entire 8,504 available candidates. Of the participants that met the criteria for having a significant risk of clinical depression along with an accompanying chronic illness odds ratio (OR) had been calculated. All but one of the conditions yielded a significant increase in OR between having a chronic condition and depression; with the exception of chronic lung disease. Congestive heart failure demonstrated the highest OR of 4.40 (CI 95% 1.77-10.95), followed by arthritis, diabetes and cancer. Subsequent t-tests used to construct an ANOVA then illustrated the mean CES-D score for males suffering from one of the five concomitant illnesses selected (congestive heart failure, chronic lung disease, arthritis, cancer, and diabetes) as well as those free of the selected diseases of the study, with a total count of 2,117. All results had been deemed to be significant with p-values < 0.05, with men suffering from congestive heart failure having the highest mean score of 7.28 (n=39). Those who do not suffer from any of the five conditions reported the lowest scores and also accounted for the largest population group with 3.88 and 1,387, respectively.ConclusionsConsistent and significant findings of elderly men suffering from a chronic condition of comorbidity demonstrated having elevated OR and CES-D scores in comparison to those who are disease-free. The findings of this study can be used to evaluate alternative preventative management of chronic diseases of comorbidity in order to improve the depression scores of patients.

Evaluation of Anxiety and Depression Scores in Patients Receiving Radiotherapy During First Wave of COVID-19 Pandemic

Evaluation of Anxiety and Depression Scores in Patients Receiving Radiotherapy During First Wave of COVID-19 Pandemic

Higher Depression Scores in Patients with Drug-Resistant Schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia is a mental illness with diverse clinical presentation, in which a significant proportion of patients show resistance to treatment. In patients with schizophrenia, symptoms from all psychotic and affective spectra are observed. On the one hand, affective symptoms determine the clinical course of schizophrenia and on the other hand, depressive symptoms are some of the most common ones in psychiatry in general. These data give us reason to explore the impact of depressive symptoms on the course of schizophrenia and its relationship with resistance to treatment. A study of 105 patients with schizophrenia was performed. Of these, 39 were male and 66 were female. The evaluation of the effectiveness of the treatment carried out at 12 weeks of therapy showed that 45 were resistant to schizophrenia and the remaining 60 were in clinical remission. The clinical evaluation of the patients was performed with the PANSS (Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale) and BPRS (Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale) scales. The assessment of depressive complaints was conducted with the Hamilton Depression Scale. Our study showed that in the analysis of depressive complaints with the Hamilton scale females got 12.55 points, and males got 11.44 points. We found a correlation of depressive complaints with the evaluation on the PANSS and BPRS scales, and in the analysis on the individual subscales we found a correlation on the subscale for positive and disorganized symptoms and no correlation on the scale for negative symptoms. We established a difference in the level of depression in patients with resistance in whom the level of depressive complaints was 13.82, while in those in clinical remission it was 10.87 points. The level of depressive symptoms in patients with resistant schizophrenia is higher than in clinical remission. Depressive symptoms correlate with positive and disorganized symptoms on the PANSS scale, but not with negative symptoms. Gender is not a determining factor in depressive complaints.