Severity Of Depression In Patients Research Articles

Relationship between anhedonia, biological rhythms, functioning and depression severity in patients with bipolar disorder.

The purpose of this study was to examine relationship between anhedonia, disruption of biological rhythms, functioning and depression severity in patients with bipolar disorder (BD). The sample included 58 patients with bipolar depression aged 18-65 years. The participants were assessed using the following scales: Dimensional Anhedonia Rating Scale (DARS), Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale (SHAPS), Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology- self-report (QIDS-SR), Biological Rhythms Interview of Assessment in Neuropsychiatry (BRIAN), Functioning Assessment Short Test (FAST). Correlations between the variables were calculated. We built linear regression models with FAST or QIDS-SR as a dependent variable. Mediation analysis was performed. Statistically significant correlations were observed between the included variables. Biological rhythms dysregulation and anhedonia were independent predictors of the level of functioning or depression severity. Mediation analysis demonstrated statistically significant mediation of the relationship between anhedonia and depression severity/functioning by the BRIAN score. We demonstrated for the first time the interactions between anhedonia, dysregulation of biological rhythms and functioning/depression severity in patients with BD. Reward deficits by causing disruption of rhythm of daily activities and social contacts may result in more difficulties in functioning and higher intensity of depressive symptoms.

Effects of electroacupuncture on cognitive symptoms in major depressive disorder: a pilot study and randomized controlled trial

Objectives To investigate the impact of electroacupuncture on cognitive function, quality of life (QoL), and depression severity in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). Methods This double-blinded randomized controlled trial included 60 participants aged 18-55 with cognitive symptoms related to MDD at Thammasat University Hospital. Participants were divided into two groups: the electroacupuncture group combined with standard antidepressant treatment (EG; n=30) and the control group receiving standard care with placebo acupuncture (CG; n=30). The study assessed 1) executive functions using the Trail making test- B and Stroop Color and Word Test, 2) delayed recall, and 3) subjective cognitive complaint and Quality of life (QoL) using WHODAS 2.0. Depressive symptoms were measured using the Thai version of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Baseline and post-intervention assessments were conducted over 10 weeks. Mann-Whitney U test analyzed treatment effects by comparing median differences between groups. Results Both groups exhibited similar demographics and cognitive traits. Cognitive improvement was observed in both groups at the endpoint. Intention-to-treat analysis revealed significantly higher median scores for subjective cognitive complaints in the EG compared to the CG (EG: Median = 5.5, CG: Median = 0.0, p=0.049). No serious side effects were identified from either electroacupuncture or placebo acupuncture. Conclusions Electroacupuncture improved subjective complaints in MDD patients with cognitive symptoms, but did not show effects on specific cognitive functions, QoL, or depressive symptoms. This study provides initial evidence supporting the potential of electroacupuncture in MDD patients with cognitive symptoms, suggesting opportunities for further research. Trial registration NCT06239740, February 2, 2024, ClinicalTrials.gov.

Eye-tracking evidence of a relationship between attentional bias for emotional faces and depression severity in patients with treatment-resistant depression

In a retrospective study, 54 patients with treatment-resistant major depressive disorder (TRD) completed a free-viewing task in which they had to freely explore pairs of faces (an emotional face (happy or sad) opposite to a neutral face). Attentional bias to emotional faces was calculated for early and sustained attention. We observed a significant negative correlation between depression severity as measured by the 10-item Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) and sustained attention to happy faces. In addition, we observed a positive correlation between depression severity and sustained attention to sad faces. No significant correlation between depression severity and early attention was found for either happy or sad faces. Although conclusions from the current study are limited by the lack of comparison with a control group, the eye-tracking free-viewing task appears to be a relevant, accessible and easy-to-use tool for measuring depression severity through emotional attentional biases in TRD.

Effects of electroacupuncture on cognitive symptoms in major depressive disorder: a pilot study and randomized controlled trial

Objectives To investigate the impact of electroacupuncture on cognitive function, quality of life (QoL), and depression severity in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). Methods This double-blinded randomized controlled trial included 60 participants aged 18-55 with cognitive symptoms related to MDD at Thammasat University Hospital. Participants were divided into two groups: the electroacupuncture group combined with standard antidepressant treatment (EG; n=30) and the control group receiving standard care with placebo acupuncture (CG; n=30). The study assessed 1) executive functions using the Trail making test- B and Stroop Color and Word Test, 2) delayed recall, and 3) subjective cognitive complaint and Quality of life (QoL) using WHODAS 2.0. Depressive symptoms were measured using the Thai version of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Baseline and post-intervention assessments were conducted over 10 weeks. Mann-Whitney U test analyzed treatment effects by comparing median differences between groups. Results Both groups exhibited similar demographics and cognitive traits. Cognitive improvement was observed in both groups at the endpoint. Intention-to-treat analysis revealed significantly higher median scores for subjective cognitive complaints in the EG compared to the CG (EG: Median = 5.5, CG: Median = 0.0, p=0.049). No serious side effects were identified from either electroacupuncture or placebo acupuncture. Conclusions Electroacupuncture improved subjective complaints in MDD patients with cognitive symptoms, but did not show effects on specific cognitive functions, QoL, or depressive symptoms. This study provides initial evidence supporting the potential of electroacupuncture in MDD patients with cognitive symptoms, suggesting opportunities for further research. Trial registration NCT06239740, February 2, 2024, ClinicalTrials.gov.

Correlation of Sociodemographic Factors, Characteristics of Burns, and Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio with the Level of Depression in Patients with Burn injuries

BackgroundThe most common psychological impact experienced by patients with burn injuries is depression. Several significant risk factors influence depression, including sociodemographic factors (gender, employment status, socioeconomic status, and marital status) and burn characteristics (burn depth, burn area, and total burn surface area). Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) was discovered as a new biomarker for depression detection. The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation of sociodemographic factors, burn characteristics, and NLR with the severity of depression in patients with burn injuries. MethodsThis analytic descriptive study was conducted at Dr. Hasan Sadikin General Hospital from June 2022 to April 2023. Samples were assessed by a psychiatrist using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale instrument, and a differential white blood count was calculated to obtain the NLR value. ResultsThe study sample consisted of 32 patients, including 27 males and 6 females. There was no correlation of sociodemographic factors and burn wound characteristics with the level of depression. NLR in patients with burn injuries who had no depression, mild depression, and moderate depression was 5.78 ± 2.23, 7.4 ± 1.77, and 13.04 ± 6.25, respectively. NLR was statistically significantly associated with the level of depression in patients with burn injuries (p = 0.001). ConclusionThere was no correlation of sociodemographic factors and burn characteristics with the level of depression. There was a significant correlation between NLR and the level of depression in patients with burn injuries at Dr. Hasan Sadikin General Hospital.

Treatment of Refractory Bipolar Depression With Stereotactic Radiosurgery Targeting the Subgenual Cingulate Cortex.

Background The subgenual cingulate cortex (SGC) has been identified as a key structure within multiple neural circuits whose dysfunction is implicated in the neurobiology of depression. Deep brain stimulation in the SGC is thought to reduce and normalize local metabolism, causing normalization of circuit behavior and an improvement in depressive symptoms. We hypothesized that nonablative stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) to the SGC would reduce local metabolism and reduce the severity of depression in patients with treatment-resistant bipolar depression. Methods Under the FDA's Humanitarian Device Exemption program, patients were screened for inclusion and exclusion criteria. Three volunteers meeting the criteria provided informed consent. Bilateral SGC targets were irradiated to a maximum dose of 75 Gy in one fraction. Subjects were followed for one year following the procedure with mood assessments (Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), Clinical Global Impression-Improvement, Clinical Global Impression-Severity, and Young Mania Rating Scale), neurocognitive testing (Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System, Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale III digit span, and California Verbal Learning Test II), and imaging. Further imaging was completed approximately two years after the procedure. Clinical improvement was defined as a ≥50% reduction in HDRS. Results Two of the three subjects showed clinical improvement in depressive symptoms during the follow-up period, while one subject showed no change in symptom severity. One of three subjects was hospitalized for the emergence of an episode of psychotic mania after discontinuing antipsychotic medications against medical advice but promptly recovered with the reinstitution of an antipsychotic. Sequential assessments did not reveal impairment in any cognitive domain assessed. For one of the three subjects, MRI imaging showed evidence of edema at 12 months post-SRS, which resolved at 22 months post-procedure. In a second of three patients, there was evidence of local edema at the target site at long-term follow-up. All imaging changes were asymptomatic. Conclusion Radiosurgical targeting of the SGC may be a noninvasive strategy for the reduction of severe depression in treatment-resistant bipolar disorder. Two out of three patients showed clinical improvement. While these results are promising, further study, including improvements in target selection and dosing considerations, is needed.

Therapeutic benefit of probiotic in alcohol dependence syndrome: Evidence from a tertiary care centre of India

Probiotic adjuvant has promising effects in treating alcohol induced hepatitis, depression, and anxiety. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of adjuvant probiotic use in improving the liver functions, anxiety, and depression among patients with alcohol dependence syndrome (ADS) in a tertiary care hospital in Andhra Pradesh, India. In this prospective observational design, ADS patients with or without probiotics were followed-up at one and three months after initiation of treatment. They were assessed for liver function test (LFT), anxiety by HAM-A and depression by HAM-D scale. A total of 120 patients complied with the treatment, 60 in each group, mean age being 35.0 years (SD 9.5 years). The baseline socio-demographic and clinical characteristics were similar in both the groups. Significant reduction was noted in the probiotic group for total bilirubin (Mean difference (MD) 0.18; 95 % CI: 0.04, 0.31), AST (MD 5.0; 95 % CI: 0.5, 9.5), and ALT (MD 8.6; 95 % CI: 1.4, 15.7) at one month after treatment. Both the groups showed a considerable change in anxiety and depression scores (HAM-A and HAM-D) till three months. At three months of treatment initiation, proportional improvement of severity grade to mild form in anxiety was more in the probiotic group (35 %) than the non-probiotic group (13.3 %) (p < 0.05). Hence, probiotic supplementation can significantly reduce the hepatic enzymes and depression severity in patients with alcohol dependence syndrome but demands additional robust evidence on the causal inference.

Assessing myocardial indices and inflammatory factors to determine anxiety and depression severity in patients with chronic heart failure.

Patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) have a progressive disease that is associated with poor quality of life and high mortality. Many patients experience anxiety and depression (A&D) symptoms, which can further accelerate disease progression. We hypothesized that indicators of myocardial function and inflammatory stress may reflect the severity of A&D symptoms in patients with CHF. Changes in these biomarkers could potentially predict whether A&D symptoms will deteriorate further in these individuals. To measure changes in cardiac and inflammatory markers in patients with CHF to determine A&D severity and predict outcomes. We retrospectively analyzed 233 patients with CHF treated at the Jingzhou Hospital, Yangtze University between 2018-2022 and grouped them according to Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) scores. We compared clinical data in the no-A&D, mild-A&D, moderate-A&D, and severe-A&D groups, the SAS and SDS scores with the New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional classification, and cardiac markers and inflammatory factors between the no/mild-A&D and moderate/severe-A&D groups. Regression analysis was performed on the markers with P < 0.05 to determine their ability to predict A&D severity in patients and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) was used to evaluate their accuracy. In the inter-group comparison, the following variables had an effect on A&D severity in patients with CHF: NYHA class, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (P < 0.05). Other variables did not differ significantly between the A&D groups (P > 0.05). In addition, we found that higher NYHA classes were associated with higher the SAS and SDS scores (P < 0.05). Regression analysis showed that LVEF, NT-proBNP, and IL-6 were independent risk factors for A&D severity (P < 0.05). Among them, NT-proBNP had the best predictive ability as a single indicator (AUROC = 0.781). Furthermore, the combination of these three indicators exhibited a good predictive effect toward discriminating the extent of A&D severity among patients (AUROC = 0.875). Cardiac and inflammatory biomarkers, such as LVEF, NT-proBNP, and IL-6, are correlated with A&D severity in patients with CHF and have predictive value.

Speech Features as Predictors of Momentary Depression Severity in Patients With Depressive Disorder Undergoing Sleep Deprivation Therapy: Ambulatory Assessment Pilot Study.

The use of mobile devices to continuously monitor objectively extracted parameters of depressive symptomatology is seen as an important step in the understanding and prevention of upcoming depressive episodes. Speech features such as pitch variability, speech pauses, and speech rate are promising indicators, but empirical evidence is limited, given the variability of study designs. Previous research studies have found different speech patterns when comparing single speech recordings between patients and healthy controls, but only a few studies have used repeated assessments to compare depressive and nondepressive episodes within the same patient. To our knowledge, no study has used a series of measurements within patients with depression (eg, intensive longitudinal data) to model the dynamic ebb and flow of subjectively reported depression and concomitant speech samples. However, such data are indispensable for detecting and ultimately preventing upcoming episodes. In this study, we captured voice samples and momentary affect ratings over the course of 3 weeks in a sample of patients (N=30) with an acute depressive episode receiving stationary care. Patients underwent sleep deprivation therapy, a chronotherapeutic intervention that can rapidly improve depression symptomatology. We hypothesized that within-person variability in depressive and affective momentary states would be reflected in the following 3 speech features: pitch variability, speech pauses, and speech rate. We parametrized them using the extended Geneva Minimalistic Acoustic Parameter Set (eGeMAPS) from open-source Speech and Music Interpretation by Large-Space Extraction (openSMILE; audEERING GmbH) and extracted them from a transcript. We analyzed the speech features along with self-reported momentary affect ratings, using multilevel linear regression analysis. We analyzed an average of 32 (SD 19.83) assessments per patient. Analyses revealed that pitch variability, speech pauses, and speech rate were associated with depression severity, positive affect, valence, and energetic arousal; furthermore, speech pauses and speech rate were associated with negative affect, and speech pauses were additionally associated with calmness. Specifically, pitch variability was negatively associated with improved momentary states (ie, lower pitch variability was linked to lower depression severity as well as higher positive affect, valence, and energetic arousal). Speech pauses were negatively associated with improved momentary states, whereas speech rate was positively associated with improved momentary states. Pitch variability, speech pauses, and speech rate are promising features for the development of clinical prediction technologies to improve patient care as well as timely diagnosis and monitoring of treatment response. Our research is a step forward on the path to developing an automated depression monitoring system, facilitating individually tailored treatments and increased patient empowerment.

Cortical gyrification pattern of depression in Parkinson's disease: a neuroimaging marker for disease severity?

Although the study of the neuroanatomical correlates of depression in Parkinson's Disease (PD) is gaining increasing interest, up to now the cortical gyrification pattern of PD-related depression has not been reported. This study was conducted to investigate the local gyrification index (LGI) in PD patients with depression, and its associations with the severity of depression. LGI values, as measured using FreeSurfer software, were compared between 59 depressed PD (dPD), 27 non-depressed PD (ndPD) patients and 43 healthy controls. The values were also compared between ndPD and mild-depressed PD (mi-dPD), moderate-depressed PD (mo-dPD) and severe-depressed PD (se-dPD) patients as sub-group analyses. Furthermore, we evaluated the correlation between LGI values and depressive symptom scores within dPD group. Compared to ndPD, the dPD patients exhibited decreased LGI in the left parietal, the right superior-frontal, posterior cingulate and paracentral regions, and the LGI values within these areas negatively correlated with the severity of depression. Specially, reduced gyrification was observed in mo-dPD and involving a larger region in se-dPD, but not in mi-dPD group. The present study demonstrated that cortical gyrification is decreased within specific brain regions among PD patients with versus without depression, and those changes were associated with the severity of depression. Our findings suggested that cortical gyrification might be a potential neuroimaging marker for the severity of depression in patients with PD.

Adjustment of psycho-diagnostic tools for the assessment of affective states in patients

In this article we aimed to come up with some original impressions about the adjustment and development of the tool set for the diagnosis of depression and the assessment of the severity of depression in patients with cerebrovascular accident (CVA) in the neurology clinic, which leads to the optimization the process of psychological diagnosis of the affectivity of patients with post-stroke status, for the subsequent inclusion in a Program of cognitive therapies for depression. The study included patients in the post-stroke recovery process from the Institute of Emergency Medicine in Chisinau, whose individual treatment plan includes the psychological recovery component, the final goal being the reduction of depression and anxiety, the induction of a state of calm and relaxation, improving cognitive activity and memory, removing physical and mental asthenia.

The role of neurotransmitters in mediating the relationship between brain alterations and depressive symptoms in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

A growing body of evidence from neuroimaging studies suggests that inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is associated with functional and structural alterations in the central nervous system and that it has a potential link to emotional symptoms, such as anxiety and depression. However, the neurochemical underpinnings of depression symptoms in IBD remain unclear. We hypothesized that changes in cortical gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA+) and glutamine (Glx) concentrations are related to cortical thickness and resting-state functional connectivity in IBD as compared to healthy controls. To test this, we measured whole-brain cortical thickness and functional connectivity within the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), as well as the concentrations of neurotransmitters in the same brain region. We used the edited magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) with the MEGA-PRESS sequence at a 3 T scanner to quantitate the neurotransmitter levels in the mPFC. Subjects with IBD (N = 37) and healthy control subjects (N = 32) were enrolled in the study. Compared with healthy controls, there were significantly decreased GABA+ and Glx concentrations in the mPFC of patients with IBD. The cortical thickness of patients with IBD was thin in two clusters that included the right medial orbitofrontal cortex and the right posterior cingulate cortex. A seed-based functional connectivity analysis indicated that there was higher connectivity of the mPFC with the left precuneus cortex (PC) and the posterior cingulate cortex, and conversely, lower connectivity in the left frontal pole was observed. The functional connectivity between the mPFC and the left PC was negatively correlated with the IBD questionnaire score (r = -0.388, p = 0.018). GABA+ concentrations had a negative correlation with the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) score (r = -0.497, p = 0.002). Glx concentration was negatively correlated with the HAMD score (r = -0.496, p = 0.002) and positively correlated with the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire score (r = 0.330, p = 0.046, uncorrected). There was a significant positive correlation between the ratio of Glx to GABA+ and the HAMD score (r = 0.428, p = 0.008). Mediation analysis revealed that GABA+ significantly mediated the main effect of the relationship between the structural and functional alterations and the severity of depression in patients with IBD. Our study provides initial evidence of neurochemistry that can be used to identify potential mechanisms underlying the modulatory effects of GABA+ on the development of depression in patients with IBD.

Investigating the Relationship Between Psychological Flexibility, Mindful Ability, and Self-compassion With the Severity of Depression in Patients With Mood Disorders

Objectives: Considering the prevalence and importance of depression, it is necessary to study the new psychological variables involved in its formation, persistence, and recurrence. Accordingly, this study aims to investigate the relationship between psychological flexibility (PF), mindful ability (MA), and self-compassion with the severity of depression in patients with mood disorders. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from October to January 2018. A total of 80 patients with various mood disorders were selected via a purposive sampling method based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria from the psychiatric wards of Noor Hospital and clinics affiliated with Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. They completed the self-compassion scale, acceptance and action questionnaire, Freiburg mindfulness inventory–short form, and the Beck depression inventory-II. The data were analyzed using the SPSS software, version 24. Meanwhile, the Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple regression were applied as well. Results: The correlation coefficient between PF and depression was -0.79. This coefficient was -0.91 and -0.87 between self-compassion and depression and MA and depression, respectively. This indicates a strong inverse relationship between depression scores and these variables. Stepwise regression analysis showed that gender and MA were respectively the best predictors of depression (P&lt;0.05). Discussion: Based on the results, there was a significant relationship between low self-compassion, PF, and MA and depression in patients with mood disorders.

Psychopathology and Theory of Mind in patients with personality disorders

ObjectivePeople with mental disorders frequently suffer from deficits in the ability to infer other’s mental states (Theory of Mind; ToM). Individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD) show ToM deficits characterized by exceeding ToM (over-attributions of mental states). The present study analyzed associations between ToM, BPD severity, and depression severity in patients with BPD and other personality disorders.MethodWe analyzed ToM abilities in 128 patients with BPD and 82 patients with ‘mixed and other personality disorders’ (MOPD). MOPD are diagnosed if symptoms of multiple personality disorders are present without any set of symptoms being dominant enough to allow a specific diagnosis. We used the movies for the assessment of social cognition (MASC) to measure ToM abilities, the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) to assess severity of depression and the McLean Screening Instrument for Borderline Personality Disorder (MSI-BPD) to assess the severity of BPD symptoms.ResultsBoth symptoms of BPD and depression were associated with exceeding ToM in separate regressions. Using a stepwise regression, only the association of depression severity with exceeding ToM was reliable. Patients with BPD and MOPD did not differ in exceeding ToM. Age was most reliably associated with ToM.ConclusionThe results imply that exceeding ToM is associated with general psychopathology instead of BPD-symptoms in specific. Patients with MOPD show deficits similar to BPD patients.

The effects of nordic walking, high-intensity interval training, and moderate-to-vigorous intensity continuous training on arterial stiffness in patients with coronary artery disease

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Foundation. Main funding source(s): The investigator-initiated research was supported by the Innovations Fund of the Alternate Funding Plan for the Academic Health Sciences Centres of the Ministry of Ontario (PIs: Pipe, Reed) and Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada (PI: Reid). Background Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a leading cause of mortality worldwide. Arterial stiffness, a process associated with aging, arteriosclerosis, and arterial remodeling, is a strong and independent predictor of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in patients with CAD. Moderate-to-vigorous intensity continuous training (MICT) has been shown to improve arterial stiffness parameters, including pulse wave velocity (PWV, i.e., the speed at which arterial pressure waves travel along the aorta and large arteries) and augmentation index (AIx: i.e., aortic pressure waveform) in the CAD population. Yet, the role of alternative exercise training approaches on arterial stiffness in patients with CAD has not been elucidated. Our recent study demonstrated greater improvements following Nordic walking (NW) compared to high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and MICT in functional capacity, quality of life, and depression severity in patients with CAD. No previous trial has compared the efficacy of NW, HIIT, and MICT in improving arterial stiffness in patients with CAD. Alternatives to traditional MICT, such as NW and HIIT, may provide superior understudied benefits on vascular health in patients with CAD. Purpose We compared the effects of 12 weeks of NW, HIIT, and MICT on arterial stiffness in patients with CAD. Methods Patients with CAD were randomly assigned to: (1) NW (walking with NW poles at a resting heart rate [RHR] + 20–40 bpm), (2) HIIT (aerobic exercise equipment: 4 × 4-min of high-intensity work periods at 85%–95% peak HR), or (3) MICT (aerobic exercise equipment: RHR + 20–40 bpm) twice weekly for 12 weeks. At baseline and week 12, aortic stiffness parameters were measured using a non-invasive device by stroke volume (SV), total vascular resistance (TVR), AIx with and without normalization for a HR of 75 bpm (AIX@75), and PWV. Linear mixed-effects models with repeated measures were used to compare groups over time. Results A total of 130 patients with CAD (aged 61 ± 7 years; male: 85%) were randomized to NW (n = 43), HIIT (n = 43), or MICT (n = 44). Table 1 shows that significant main effects of time were observed for SV (∆: 5.485 m/L, F = 8.530, p = 0.004), with a time × group interaction (F = 3.710, p = 0.027) revealing a greater improvement in SV following NW compared to HIIT (F = 5.748, p = 0.019) and MICT (F = 5.494, p = 0.022). A significant time × group interaction (F = 3.700, p = 0.028) was observed in AIx@75, with a greater reduction following NW than MICT (F = 7.388, p = 0.008). No significant differences were observed in TVR, AIx, and PWV. Conclusion Our findings show that NW facilitated greater improvements in SV and AIx@75 parameters of arterial stiffness, an important predictor of future cardiovascular events, when compared to HIIT and MICT in patients with CAD. NW may be considered as an alternative exercise training to improve vascular health in those with CAD.

Correlation of systemic immune-inflammation index and moderate/major depression in patients with depressive disorders: a large sample cross-sectional study.

To evaluate the clinical value of systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) based on peripheral blood neutrophil, lymphocyte, and platelet count in evaluating the subtype and severity of depression in patients with depressive disorder. This retrospective cohort study was conducted in the Third People's Hospital of Fuyang City from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2022. The data included sociodemographic information at admission, clinical data, discharge diagnosis and inflammatory markers. Patients were divided into low SII group and high SII group according to the optimal threshold of SII determined by receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC curve). Binary logistic regression was used to analyze the correlation between moderate/major depression and SII level. Compared to the low SII group, the high SII group had a higher age level (χ2 = 7.663, p = 0.006), more smokers (χ2 = 9.458, p = 0.002), more moderate/major depression patients (χ2 = 45.645, p < 0.001), and a higher proportion of patients with accompanying somatic symptoms (χ2 = 14.867, p < 0.001). In the final logistic regression model, after controlling for confounding factors, SII at admission was significantly associated with moderate/major depression [β =1.285, p < 0.001; odds ratio (95% confidence intervals) = 3.614 (2.693-4.850)]. Patients with high SII scores were 3.614 times more likely to have moderate/severe depression than those with low SII scores. We propose a cut-off value of SII =540.78 (sensitivity = 36.4% and specificity = 80.3%) according to the maximum Youden index. Our research indicates that SII may be a useful, repeatable, convenient, and affordable index to identify moderate/major depression in depressive disorder.

Masculine depression and its problem behaviors: use alcohol and drugs, work hard, and avoid psychiatry!

The gender role influences vulnerability to mental illness. Substance use, even critical in scale, is perceived as masculine, just like hard (over-)work, while not seeking help. With the ongoing separation between gender and sex, masculine norms become more relevant also to females’ mental health. The male depression concept highlights the role of male symptoms in affective disorders. However, the empirical evidence is still limited. Here, we use the denomination ‘masculine depression’ to open the category for female patients and tested substance use patterns, health services’ utilization, and working hours as predictors in a case–control study of 163 depressed in-patients (44% women; masculine vs. non-masculine depression according to a median split of the Male Depression Rating Scale-22) and 176 controls (51% women). We assessed higher depression severity in patients with masculine (vs. non-masculine) depression. Masculine depression (vs. non-masculine depression and vs. no depression) was predicted by more frequent and critical use of alcohol (including binge drinking), tobacco, and illicit drugs, and by longer working times. Moreover, fewer health services contacts due to mental complaints during the previous year were associated with masculine (vs. non-masculine) depression. Alarmingly, even critical substance misuse was not significantly associated with more frequent health services contacts; however, the higher the depression severity, the more contacts the patients reported. Here, we provide evidence that patients with masculine depression are highly burdened and undertreated, which applies equally to female and male patients. This study identified promising targets to establish specialized care offers.

Amygdala substructure volumes and serotonin transporter in first-episode, drug- naïve major depressive disorder: A pilot study

IntroductionAmygdala and serotonergic system abnormalities have been documented in major depressive disorder (MDD). However, most studies have been conducted on recurrent MDD, and only a few have assessed their interaction. This study aimed to concurrently examine both the amygdala and serotonergic systems and their clinical relevance in first-episode, drug-naïve MDD. MethodsThis study included 27 patients with first-episode, drug-naïve MDD and 27 age- and gender-matched healthy controls (HCs). The amygdala substructure volumes were performed with Freesurfer from a 1.5 T magnetic resonance image. Serotonin transporter (SERT) availability was detected by single-photon emission computed tomography with 123I-ADAM. The Benjamini-Hochberg method was applied to adjust for multiple comparisons. ResultsNo significant difference was found in the amygdala substructure volume and SERT availability between the two groups, respectively. Within MDD patients, the right medial, cortical nucleus, and centromedial volumes were positively associated with caudate SERT availability, respectively. Moreover, the right lateral nucleus volume in the amygdala was positively correlated with depression severity. However, these significances did not survive correction for multiple testing. ConclusionsThere were no significant abnormalities in the amygdala substructure volumes and SERT availability in patients with first-episode, drug-naïve MDD. We did not observe an association between amygdala substructure volume and serotonergic dysregulation and their correlations with depression severity in patients with MDD. A larger sample size is warranted to elucidate the actual correlation.

The antidepressant effect of combined extracts of Hypericum perforatum and Echium amoenum supplementation in patients with depression symptoms: A randomized clinical trial.

Echium amoenum and Hypericum perforatum dried flowers have been used for therapy of mental disorders in Iranian traditional medicine. In this study, we assessed the efficacy of the E. amoenum and H. perforatum extracts in patients with mild to moderate depression. In an 8-week double-blind, parallel-group trial, 51 patients randomly consumed 20 mg of fluoxetine or 350 mg of herbal medicine twice daily. The Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D) was used to assess depression severity in patients at weeks 0, 4, and 8. According to the Hamilton score, there were no significant differences between the fluoxetine- and herbal medicine-treated groups after 4 and 8 weeks (p>0.05). Dry mouth was the only reported side effect which was significantly lower in the herbal group (p<0.05) in weeks 2 and 4. E. amoenum and H. perforatum have anti-depressant properties similar to fluoxetine and they can be used to treat depression as an alternative to fluoxetine.

Investigating the Relationship Between the Severity of Depression and Demographic Characteristics in Patients With Atopic Dermatitis in 2019

Backgroud and Objective Atopic dermatitis is a chronic, irritating skin disease that causes psychiatric disorders. It is necessary to know the effective factors that deteriorate this complication. This study aims to investigate the relationship between the severity of depression in patients with atopic dermatitis. Materials &amp; Method This descriptive-correlational study was performed in 2019 on 76 patients with atopic dermatitis using the convenience sampling method. The research tools were a demographic questionnaire and the Hamilton depression questionnaire. The Chi-square and the Fisher tests were used for statistical analysis. Results The findings of this study showed that 22.4% of patients with atopic dermatitis had mild depression, 13.2% had moderate depression, and 2.6% had severe depression. Additionally, depression was significantly associated with age, gender, and higher education. Conclusion Considering mild, moderate, or severe depression in patients with atopic dermatitis along with the effective factors in exacerbating their condition, patients with atopic dermatitis at higher risks should be properly screened and psychological counseling, appropriate training, and standard treatment should be provided to them.