Depressive State Research Articles

The gut microbiota-brain connection: insights into major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder

Major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder (BD) are two of the most prevalent mood disorders that seriously jeopardize both physical and mental health. The current diagnosis of MDD and BD relies primarily on clinical symptoms. However, correctly differentiating between MDD and BD during depressive episode states remains a substantial clinical challenge. The human gut hosts a large and diverse microbiota, which plays a pivotal role in various physiological processes. Emerging evidence suggests that the gut microbiota (GM) exerts beneficial effects on mental health disorders, including MDD, BD, and schizophrenia, through the microbe-gut-brain axis (MGBA). In recent years, the relationship between GM and mood disorders has garnered considerable attention, leading to intensive research in this area. The MGBA is a bidirectional communication system between the gut and the brain. Growing evidence indicates that the brain can influence the GM, which in turn may modulate the brain through this axis. This review aims to explore the changes in the GM of patients with MDD and BD and evaluate the effects of different treatments on their GM, including medication, probiotic, prebiotic and synbiotic interventions, and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT). By doing so, we seek to identify potential disease-specific biomarkers, improve differential diagnosis, and offer novel therapeutic avenues for these disorders.

The behavioral and physiological correlates of affective mood switching in premenstrual dysphoric disorder

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), a more severe manifestation of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), is characterized by emotional, behavioral, and physical symptoms that begin in the mid-to-late luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, when estradiol and progesterone levels precipitously decline, and remit after the onset of menses. Remotely monitoring physiologic variables associated with PMDD depression symptoms, such as heart rate variability (HRV), sleep, and physical activity, holds promise for developing an affective state prediction model. Switching into and out of depressive states is associated with an increased risk of suicide, and therefore, monitoring periods of affective switching may help mitigate risk. Management of other chronic health conditions, including cardiovascular disease and diabetes, has benefited from remote digital monitoring paradigms that enable patients and physicians to monitor symptoms in real-time and make behavioral and medication adjustments. PMDD is a chronic condition that may benefit from real-time, remote monitoring. However, clinical practice has not advanced to monitoring affective states in real-time. Identifying remote monitoring paradigms that can detect within-person affective state change may help facilitate later research on timely and efficacious interventions for individuals with PMDD. This narrative review synthesizes the current literature on behavioral and physiological correlates of PMDD suitable for remote monitoring during the menstrual cycle. The reliable measurement of heart rate variability (HRV), sleep, and physical activity, with existing wearable technology, suggests the potential of a remote monitoring paradigm in PMDD and other depressive disorders.

Creative art therapy for postpartum depression： A systematic review and meta-analysis

This study aims to ascertain the effectiveness of creative art therapy (CAT) in alleviating symptoms of postpartum depression (PPD). A systematic review of all randomized controlled trials of CAT for PPD was conducted. Eight bibliographic databases, namely, PubMed, The Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science, CNKI, Wanfang Database, VIP Database, and China Biomedical Literature Database were searched digitally, while Google Scholar database was searched manually for a comprehensive literature search. The search period is from the establishment of the database to May 2024. Literature screening and data extraction were conducted independently by two researchers, and the risk of bias in the included studies was evaluated. Finally, RevMan5.3 software and STATA 15.1 software were used for meta-analysis. Twelve studies, including 1633 patients, were included in this review. The results of our meta-analysis revealed that the intervention group was significantly better than the control group in depression [SMD=-0.882, 95% CI: -1.256 to -0.508, P ＜ 0.001][WMD=0.680, 95% CI: 0.407-0.953, P ＜ 0.001], anxiety [SMD=-0.712, 95% CI: -1.405 to -0.019, P=0.044], and personal state [WMD=-5.180, 95% CI: -5.869 to -4.491, P ＜ 0.001][SMD=0.388, 95% CI: 0.132-0.643, P=0.003], and the difference was statistically significant. Sensitivity analysis revealed that the above results were stable. CAT (music and creative games) was found to be effective in relieving depression, anxiety, and personal state in patients with PPD. Though CAT appears to be worthy of clinical application, more high-quality and large-sample studies are required to explore various aspects in the current context.

Effectiveness of exercise intervention in improving physical and mental status of patients with alcohol use disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

This meta-analysis and systematic review examined the effects of an exercise intervention on alcohol dependence and physical and mental states in patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD). PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, EBSCO, and Embase. Randomized controlled trials published in English from the inception of the database until June 30, 2024, were included. All forms of exercise intervention (aerobic, resistance, yoga, mixed exercise, etc.) were included in the study, using an exercise intervention for patients with AUD and a non-exercise control group. Studies that excluded acute exercise or did not describe a specific intervention program; duplicate publications; review articles, conference articles, etc.; and studies that did not report appropriate outcome metrics. This protocol was prepared according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses protocol standard. The risk of bias was assessed via the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool as described by the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews and Interventions. Alcohol dependence (number of drinks per day, number of drinks per week, AUDIT), physical and mental status [maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max), resting heart rate, anxiety state, depression state, stress level]. Seventeen RCTs with a total of 1,905 patients with alcohol use disorders were included as subjects, and the results revealed that the exercise intervention had a significant effect on alcohol dependence, the number of drinks per day and the AUDIT score, the exercise intervention also had a significant effect on physical and mental status, VO2max, the resting heart rate, the anxiety state, the depression state, and the stress level. High heterogeneity in the number of drinks per day, anxiety, depression and stress outcomes (I2 > 50%), but Egger's test showed no publication bias for all outcome indicators (p > 0.05). Exercise intervention can effectively reduce alcohol dependence and significantly improve the physical and mental states of AUD patients, and exercise intervention as an adjunct to the treatment of AUD patients is significantly effective.

РЕГИОНАЛЬНЫЙ МОНИТОРИНГ ФАКТОРОВ РИСКА РАЗВИТИЯ ХРОНИЧЕСКИХ НЕИНФЕКЦИОННЫХ ЗАБОЛЕВАНИЙ ПОСЛЕ ПЕРЕНЕСЕННОГО COVID-19

Annotation. Chronic non-communicable diseases (NCD) represent a major public health problem in recent decades. NCD kill 41 million people annually, accounting for 74% of all deaths worldwide. WHO predicts that the total number of deaths from NCD will rise to 55 million by 2030 unless drastic measures are taken. Cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic respiratory disease and diabetes are the four leading causes of premature mortality among NCD. Multimorbidity affects 65% of people over 65 years of age, requiring more patient-centred and complex models of care. The aim of the study was to conduct regional monitoring of risk factors for chronic noncommunicable diseases in geriatric patients. Outpatient charts of 152 patients aged 60 years and older who had undergone COVID-9 and had undergone an in-depth adult check-up were used for the study. The average age of the patients who underwent the dispensary was 70.0±5.7 years. Questionnaire survey of 152 patients aged 65 years and older to identify NCD and senile asthenia showed that the highest proportion of patients had risk factors for cardiovascular diseases - 63.2%, osteoporosis - 40.8%, GI diseases - 28%, senile asthenia - 27% and polypragmasia - 20.4%. 32.2% of respondents noted a decrease in memory, perception of material, impaired comprehension, loss of ability to distribute time, 30.9% experienced a decrease in mood, loss of energy, depressive state, 24.3% each experienced vision and hearing problems that impair the quality of life, and 22.4% of persons over 65 experienced difficulty in walking. Based on the results of the study, data collection modules based on the STEPS system were identified for the step-by-step assessment of risk factors for the development of chronic non-communicable diseases, and a model for a comprehensive approach to improving the health of citizens aged 60 years and older, who have the highest risk of developing NCD, was proposed.

The impact of telework on mental health: a secondary analysis of the 2023 BelHealth

Abstract Background Teleworking gained ground in most workplaces, but questions remain about its impact on mental health. This research used data from the BELHEALTH cohort, a Belgian longitudinal wellbeing study, to investigate the relationship between the extent of telework and three mental health outcomes: anxiety, depression, and burnout. Methods In June 2023, the quarterly online survey assessed telework frequency (never, monthly, weekly, daily) as well as state of anxiety (GAD-7), depression (PHQ-9) and burnout (BAT-12). A complete case analysis (n = 2,303) of these cross-sectional data was performed with employed participants aged 18-65 years. Logit generalized linear mixed models were constructed, with the mental health outcomes as binary outcomes, telework as ordinal covariates, and occupation, type of job, as random effects. The anxiety, and depression models were controlled for geographical location, sex, age, and education confounders, whereas the burnout model was controlled only for sex, and education due to lack of observations. Results In this secondary analysis, we found that daily telework increased the odds of anxiety by 2.33 (95% CI [1.71; 3.17], p < 0.01), the odds of depression by 2.98 (95% CI [2.16; 4.12], p < 0.001), and the odds of burnout by 1.17 (95% CI [0.87; 1.58], p > 0.05) as compared with not teleworking while controlling for confounders. The category of monthly telework was associated with lower odds of anxiety (0.85; 95% CI [0.67; 1.07], p > 0.05), depression (0.91; 95% CI [0.74; 1.28], p > 0.05), and burnout (0.95; 95% CI [0.79; 1.15], p > 0.05) as compared to not teleworking. Conclusions Full-time teleworkers seem to have a higher odds for negative mental health outcomes. Future studies should focus on the long-term causal mechanisms that explain how telework intensity influences mental health to tailor and optimize current wellbeing initiatives at the workplace. Key messages • Our survey points out that full-time teleworkers seem to be at risk of mental health problems. • The frequency of telework has a mixed influence on mental health, indicating that different employees need tailored wellbeing initiatives.

Psychometric Properties of the Credibility/Expectancy Questionnaire in Individuals with Opioid Use Disorder

ABSTRACT Credibility and expectancy are important aspects of therapy/treatment processes. We aimed to perform cross-cultural validation and examine the psychometric properties of the Credibility/Expectancy Questionnaire (CEQ). Ninety-one patients with opioid use disorder from Tobacco, Alcohol, and Drug Addiction Treatment Program were included in the study. Sociodemographic data form, CEQ, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), State and Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and Attitudes Toward Seeking Psychological Professional Help Scale-Short Form (ATSPPHS-SF) were filled out by participants. Confirmatory factor analyses showed that CEQ has two factors in our sample, similar to the original version. Reliability analyses showed that CEQ has a high internal consistency and test-retest reliability. Regarding convergent validity results, CEQ was correlated with ATSPPHS-SF. No significant correlation was found between CEQ and BDI and STAI regarding discriminant validity results. In conclusion, the Turkish version of CEQ is a valid, reliable scale and could be used in patients with opioid use disorder. In patients with opioid use disorder, we contributed to the addiction literature by adapting a short and effective survey that measures trust and expectation.

Examining Factors That Contribute to Poststroke Depression Within the Family Caregiver and Care Recipient Dyadic Experience

Purpose: Stroke survivors often experience biochemical changes in the brain. This decreases the ability to experience positive emotions. Stroke survivors contend with the loss of their former self and are often left with residual physical, cognitive, communicative, and psychological changes leading to a depressive state. With an increasing number of stroke survivors returning to the community, informal care provided by family members will continue to rise. Many of the challenges faced by stroke survivors with poststroke depression (PSD) and by family caregivers (FCGs) have a significant impact on the relationship itself. With the goal to obtain insight into potential contributing factors to poststroke depressive features in stroke survivors, this qualitative research study aimed to investigate the experiences, behaviors, and perceptions of participants with PSD living in the dyadic relationship between FCG and stroke survivors. Method: Six FCG–stroke survivor care recipient dyads served as the participants. All stroke survivor care recipients were diagnosed with or had signs and symptoms of depression poststroke. Semistructured interviews were conducted with stroke survivors within each dyadic relationship. All participants were within this dyadic relationship for at least 3 months. Results: Six themes emerged from the stroke survivors. The findings indicated that grieving of the former self, lack of self-efficacy, isolation, difficulty with communication, perceived stress of the FCG, and lack of depressive coping skills are factors that contribute to PSD. Conclusions: There were multiple factors experienced by stroke survivors within the dyad affecting their emotional state and leading to or exacerbating depressive symptoms. Additionally, stroke survivors have limited coping strategies for depressive symptoms. Stroke survivor informational counseling, training, and education may improve coping strategies and decrease symptoms of depression and therefore lead to strengthened rehabilitative outcomes. Supplemental Material: https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.27156381

Neurofeedback Reduces P300 Amplitudes to Intensely Emotive Pictures in Depressed Cancer Patients.

Objective. Electroencephalographic neurofeedback (EEG NF) or its effects on event-related potentials (ERPs) in quantitative EEG have not yet been systematically studied in cancer patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the emotional arousal and valence effects on the event-related P300 in a visual oddball paradigm by an individualized EEG alpha and theta/beta NF intervention in cancer patients and survivors (N = 18, age between 31 and 73 years). Methods. ERPs to low and high arousal target stimuli with either emotional positive or negative content and depressive state were obtained in cancer patients before and after a five-week NF intervention in a waitlist paradigm, following the consensus on the reporting and experimental design of clinical and cognitive-behavioral NF studies (CRED-nf checklist). Results. Overall, P300 amplitudes decreased significantly (p < .05) from pre to post therapy. Effects concerning high arousal stimuli with negative and positive valences were on the border to significance. Moreover, patients achieved significant relief of depressive symptoms (p < .05). Especially younger participants (<55 yrs.) benefited. Conclusions. P300 observations could reflect a therapeutic effect on brain activity level. EEG NF alleviates depressive symptoms in cancer patients. Significance. Based on these findings, further studies are needed to investigate the effects on event-related potentials by NF therapy.

Keadaan Psikologis Mahasiswa Kedokteran Gigi Universitas Sumatera Utara yang Sedang Melaksanakan Pembelajaran Daring

This study aims to identify the characteristics of students during online learning, as well as evaluate their state and level of stress, anxiety, and depression using the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS). This research is a descriptive survey research, namely to find out the psychological state of students of the Faculty of Dentistry, University of North Sumatra who are carrying out online learning using the depression anxiety stress scale questionnaire (DASS-42) which consists of stress, anxiety, and depression. This research was conducted at the Faculty of Dentistry, University of North Sumatra which is located in Medan City, North Sumatra Province. This research was carried out from June 2021 to July 2021. Results, In terms of anxiety, 74.5% did not have difficulty swallowing, and moderate anxiety was the highest (31.2%). For depression, 66.8% did not feel that their lives were meaningless, with normal depression being the highest (50.6%). Stressors include learning tasks (72.5%), unavailability of practical tools (64.4%), limited internet quota (61.1%), and boredom with online learning (48.2%).

Effects of a 12-Week Mixed-Method Physical Exercise Program on Physical Fitness, Stress, Anxiety, and Quality of Life in Adolescents with Cerebral Palsy: A Case Series Study.

Although the health benefits related to physical exercise for adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP) have been recognized, studies indicate that individuals with CP at school age are less involved in physical activities than their typical peers and are twice as likely to engage in sedentary behaviors. Therefore, our study aims to investigate the effects of a physical exercise program on physical fitness, stress, anxiety, and quality-of-life variables. A total of 15 teenagers with ambulatory CP (n = 8 boys, n = 7 girls, between 12 and 18 years old; M = 14.35; SD = 1.76) completed a 12-week program based on a mixed-method approach with face-to-face and live online activities. The outcome measures were physical fitness, stress, anxiety, and quality of life. The 12-week exercise program resulted in gains in muscular strength, flexibility, and aerobic endurance tests, characterized by an increase in average walking speed and average VO2 max. There was also a significant change in the perception of emotional states of depression, anxiety, and stress reported by the participants. The program proved to be effective in physical fitness tests and perception of emotional states. Given the positive effects produced by the program, its design appears to meet the demands of adolescents with cerebral palsy.

Особенности роста сосны обыкновенной в условиях Красноярской лесостепи

The growth peculiarities of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) have been studied by the example of an even-aged pine stand of high density. A long-term research has been conducted on a permanent sample plot. The data has been collected from the stand aged from 37 to 55 years. The characteristics of individual trees and the entire stand during the growth period in the absence of external influences (cutting, windfalls, pest damage, etc.) and after improvement cuttings have been analyzed. The influence of the amount of resource available to a tree on the formation of crowns, root systems and stem wood has been investigated. The size of the available resource has been the square of the dominance area. The root system of the pine trees of the studied stands is compact in size and, despite the high stand density, due to the high content of nutrients in the soil and the absence of moisture deficiency, it sufficiently ensures intensive tree growth corresponding to the conditions of the I quality class. It has been found that under these conditions, the average area of the root system is proportional to the average square of the dominance area. It has been shown that the stem diameter at a height of 1.3 m in the absence of external influences significantly depends on the square of the dominance area. The correlation coefficient of these indicators for the studied stand at the age of 37 is 0.89. The influence of cuttings on annual radial increment has been studied using dendrochronology methods. It has been revealed that in the year following the cutting, it has increased by 1.3–2.0 times, depending on the increase in the square of the dominance area. A method has been proposed for calculating the competition coefficient as a share of the resource required for the free growth of a tree, which is redistributed between its closest neighbours. Long-term observations have shown that with competition coefficients exceeding 0.6–0.7, the stem diameter increment rate decreases significantly, and the trees develop a sparse crown extending less than 40 % of the tree height. This, in turn, leads to growth retardation and a transition to a depressed state. This, in turn, leads to growth retardation and a transition to a depressed state.

Semantic inhibition impairment in college students with depressive states as evidenced by EEG and pupillometry during the hayling task

In this study we tested whether depression is associated with impaired semantic inhibition, resulting in symptoms of rumination and anhedonia. For this purpose and using the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II) college students with depressive states (DEP) and matched controls (CTL) performed a Hayling’s task, while EEG and pupillometry measures were recorded. Participants were asked to complete sentential contexts with either a highly associated word (initiation) or a non-related word (inhibition), in response to randomly presented trial-by-trial cues. The DEP group, compared to the CTL group, showed lower performance, and reduced frontal negativity (N450) in inhibition trials. Source analyses revealed greater activation for inhibition trials than for initiation trials in bilateral orbitofrontal cortex for the CTL group, but the difference was reduced and more left lateralized for the DEP group. In addition, the DEP group showed more pupil size reactivity to inhibition trials than the CTL group, indicating higher cognitive effort during semantic inhibition. Finally, self-reported rumination and anhedonia correlated with N450 in inhibition trials, and rumination correlated with pupil dilation. Overall, this research contributes to understanding the neural underpinnings of impaired semantic inhibition in individuals with depression, with potential clinical applications.

Copy number variations in RNF216 and postsynaptic membrane-associated genes are associated with bipolar disorder: a case-control study in the Japanese population.

Bipolar disorder (BD) is a common psychiatric disorder characterized by alterations between manic/hypomanic and depressive states. Rare pathogenic copy number variations (CNVs) that overlap with exons of synaptic genes have been associated with BD. However, no study has comprehensively explored CNVs in synaptic genes associated with BD. Here, we evaluated the relationship between BD and rare CNVs that overlap with synaptic genes, not limited to exons, in the Japanese population. Using array comparative genome hybridization, we detected CNVs in 1839 patients with BD and 2760 controls. We used the Synaptic Gene Ontology database to identify rare CNVs that overlap with synaptic genes. Using gene-based analysis, we compared their frequencies between the BD and control groups. We also searched for synaptic gene sets related to BD. The significance level was set to a false discovery rate of 10%. The RNF216 gene was significantly associated with BD (odds ratio, 4.51 [95% confidence interval, 1.66-14.89], false discovery rate < 10%). The BD-associated CNV that corresponded with RNF216 also partially overlapped with the minimal critical region of the 7p22.1 microduplication syndrome. The integral component of the postsynaptic membrane (Gene Ontology:0099055) was significantly associated with BD. The CNV overlapping with the intron region of GRM5 in this gene set showed a nominal significant association between cases and controls (P < 0.05). We provide evidence that CNVs in RNF216 and postsynaptic membrane-related genes confer a risk of BD, contributing to a better understanding of the pathogenesis of BD.

CORRELATION BETWEEN PSYCHOLOGICAL PARAMETERS SUCH AS DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, AND STRESS AND AFFECT SCORE AMONG MEDICAL STUDENTS

Objectives: In the modern era, internet use has turned out to be a significant arena for day-to-day life activities. Proper use of the internet is harmless, but misuse of this tool might lead to disruptions in psychological health and social relationships, yet available reports about the association between internet use and affect are inconsistent. Hence, the objective is to assess and correlate the psychological parameters with the affect score among medical college students using the depression anxiety stress scale (DASS)-21 questionnaire and positive and negative affect schedule (PANAS) scale. Methods: The present study was a cross-sectional study conducted on medical students in the age group of 17–22 years. 150 participants were recruited by random sampling. DASS-21 scale was used to assess depression, anxiety, and stress, consisting of 21 items designed to measure emotional states of depression, anxiety, and stress. PANAS is designed to assess individuals’ positive and negative moods. Results: Pearson’s correlation of these psychological parameters with affect scores had a significant negative correlation with the positive affect score (depression [p=0.003], anxiety [p=0.01], and stress [p&lt;0.04]) and a significant positive correlation with negative affect score (depression [p&lt;0.02], anxiety [p=0.0009], and stress [p=0.01]). Students should be closely monitored with regard to their use of the internet, and also, internet addiction and psychological behaviors can be reduced by providing early counseling and interventional therapy. Conclusion: Awareness about the harmful effects of excessive internet use should be provided so as to enhance the academic performance of students.

Depressive state associated with cryptogenic rigid person syndrome (case study)

The article describes peculiarities of modern understanding of the nature and treatment of the rigid person syndrome. Baclofen, a GABA-B agonist, is one of the drugs of choice for the treatment of this condition. However, its oral use has little efficacy and leads to a number of complications. An indisputable alternative to oral administration of the drug at present is its continuous intrathecal administration using an implantable pump. A case of cryptogenic rigidity syndrome accompanied by the development of a depressive state is presented. In the process of treatment by intrathecal baclofen therapy, not only excruciating muscle spasms disappeared, but also depressive symptomatology without special use of antidepressants.The purpose of the study. To show the high effectiveness of ITT in a patient with a severe cryptogenic form of CRS, as well as the effect of OT, not only on spasticity, but also on depressive symptoms.Material and methods. A case of treatment by the ITB method with implantation of a pump to a patient with a cryptogenic form of HPV is presented. A modified Ashworth scale (MAS) was used to assess spasticity. The patient’s quality of life was assessed on the Barthel scale. The Hamilton scale was used to assess the level of depression.

Functional Ego States in Treatment-Resistant Depression in Japan Evaluated Using Two Different Self-Rating Questionnaires

Treatment-resistant depression (TRD), defined as inadequate results after treatment with at least two antidepressants for 8 weeks, may be attributed to multiple factors, including the patient’s personality. In this research, we explored personality profiles based on egograms among 28 outpatients (22 men, 6 women) with TRD. Participants completed two self-questionnaires: the Tokyo University Egogram (TEG) and the Self Grow-up Egogram (SGE). Personality profiles showed the mean energy distribution among five ego states: Controlling Parent (CP), Nurturing Parent (NP), Adult (A), Free Child (FC), and Adapted Child (AC). In all 28 patients, the TEG and the SGE revealed a trough of FC and a peak of AC. SGE results showed a negative correlation between the Hamilton Rating Scale for depression score and FC energy. When patients were separated according to CP, egograms revealed low Adult energy in the low CP group and high Adult energy in the high CP group. Overall, this study indicated low FC energy and high AC energy in TRD and revealed two types of personalities with either low CP/low Adult energy or high CP/high Adult energy. These results should be considered in TRD therapy.

Animal models for antidepressant activity assay on natural and conventional agents: A review of preclinical testing

Depression is characterized by symptoms such as insomnia, change in appetite and body weight, impaired concentration, lethargy, agitation, psychomotor retardation, anhedonia, feelings of worthlessness, and suicidal thoughts. Various methods have been applied to assess the efficacy of antidepressants and associated molecular processes. However, guidance on the selection of methods for antidepressant testing is still lacking. This article provides a comprehensive review focusing on animal models of depression and the behavioral and molecular changes. A literature search was conducted on platforms, such as PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and Science Direct to find relevant articles. This review found that chronic unpredictable mild stress might be the best and most commonly used model for inducing depression and simulating human depressive states in animals. This model employs a naturalistic approach to expose animals to unpredictable stressors that disrupt homeostasis and cause somatic, physiological, neurobiological, and biochemical disorders and behaviors. The forced swim test (FST) is the most frequently used simple behavioral testing method that is consistent with antidepressant effects, reduces immobility time, and serves as the leading indicator of antidepressant effectiveness. The most commonly observed molecular changes are those related to the levels of monoamine neurotransmitters, such as 5-hydroxytryptamine, dopamine, norepinephrine, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which are the main etiological contributors to depression. The findings from this review will contribute to ongoing efforts to discover and develop drug candidates for the treatment of depression.

Construction and evaluation of two nomograms for screening major depressive disorder and subthreshold depression individuals based on anxiety, depression, and sleep items

BackgroundCurrent evidence is insufficient to support specific tools for screening Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). Early detection of subthreshold depression (SD) is crucial in preventing its progression to MDD. This study aims to develop nomograms that visualize the weights of predictors to improve the performance of screening tools. MethodsParticipants were recruited from Peking University Sixth Hospital and Beijing Physical Examination Center between October 2022 and April 2024. The Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) 5.0.0 was employed as the diagnostic gold standard, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder questionnaire-7 (GAD-7), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were employed to assess anxiety, depression, and sleep state. The nomograms were constructed by incorporating optimal predictors, selected through the Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO), into a multivariate logistic regression model to estimate the probability of MDD and SD. ResultsAfter matching age and education, 164 participants were included in each group for analysis. Both nomograms demonstrated superior discrimination, calibration, and clinical applicability compared to PHQ-9. Anxiety emerged as a most significant predictor for SD, while sleep problems exhibited high rankings for both SD and MDD. The two predictors subsequently affect concentration and daytime functioning. LimitationsWith a lack of external validation data, the performance of nomograms may be overestimated. ConclusionsThis study is the first attempt to develop a nomogram for predicting SD, while also providing a nomogram for MDD. The crucial predictors offer valuable insights into potential variables for clinical intervention.

Seasonality in mood disorders: Probing association of accelerometer-derived physical activity with daylength and solar insolation

Mood disorders are the leading cause of disability worldwide. Up to 30 percent of individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder (BD) display a seasonal pattern of onset, a phenomenon now recognized in the official diagnostic manuals (DSM-5 and ICD-11). Very little is known about the influence of day length (photoperiod) and sunlight intensity (solar insolation) on seasonal patterns in MDD and BD. Here we report a quantitative approach to examine the relationship between sunlight measures and objectively measured motor activity patterns to understand environmental factors driving seasonality in MDD and BD. Our generalized linear model (GLM) assessment of the Depresjon dataset, which includes short-term (up to two weeks) motor activity recordings of 23 unipolar and bipolar depressed patients and 32 healthy controls recruited to the study at the University of Bergen Norway (60.4° N latitude, 5.3° E longitude), revealed significant association of accelerometer-derived daytime physical activity with participant’s depressed state (p&lt;0.001), photoperiod (p&lt;0.001), and solar insolation (p&lt;0.001). Our study presents a generalizable strategy to decipher the complex interplay between sunlight, physical activity, and depressed state using open-source digital tools. The ability to identify mood disturbances, particularly in seasonally susceptible individuals, using passive digital biomarker data offers great promise in informing next-generation predictive, personalized diagnostics in mental health.