Depressive Symptomatology Research Articles

Depressive Symptom Change Patterns during the COVID‐19 Pandemic and Their Impact on Psychiatric Treatment Seeking: A 24‐Month Observational Study of the Adult Population

Despite the presence of individual differences in the depressive symptom change in adults during the COVID‐19 pandemic, most studies have investigated population‐level changes in depression during the first year of the pandemic. This longitudinal repeated‐measurement study obtained 39,259 observations from 4,361 adults assessed nine times over a 24‐month period in Norway (March 2020 to March 2022). Using a Latent Change Score Mixture Model to investigate differential change patterns in depressive symptoms, five profiles were identified. Most adults revealed a consistently resilient (42.52%) or predominantly resilient pattern differentiated by an initial shock in symptomatology (13.17%). Another group exhibited consistently high depressive adversities (8.5%). One group showed mild deterioration with small increases in depressive symptomatology compared to onset levels (29.04%), and a second strong deterioration group exhibited clinically severe levels of gained symptoms over time (6.77%). Both deteriorating depressive symptom change patterns predicted the presence of a psychiatric diagnosis and treatment seeking at the end of the study period. Together, the absence of a preexisting psychiatric diagnosis at the onset of the pandemic and severe symptom increases during, combined with reports of psychiatric treatment seeking and diagnosis at the end of the study period, indicated that the strongly deteriorating subgroup represents an additional and newly emerged group of adults struggling with depressive problems. Factors related to general adverse change (lower education levels, lone residence), initial shocks prior to recovery (frequent information seeking, financial and occupational concerns), and resilience and recovery (older age, being in a relationship, physical activity) were identified. Binge drinking and belonging to an ethnic minority were influential predictors of the strongly deteriorating group. All major change patterns in depressive symptoms occurred during the first 3 months of the pandemic, suggesting this period represents a window of sensitivity for the development of long‐lasting depressive states versus patterns of recovery and resilience. These findings call for increased vigilance of psychiatric symptoms during the initial phases of infectious disease outbreaks and highlight a specific target period for the implementation of preventive measures.

Assessing the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology Self-Report scores to predict continuous employment in mood disorder patients.

Depression significantly impacts the job performance and attendance of workers, leading to increased absenteeism. Predicting occupational engagement for individuals with depression is of paramount importance. This study aims to determine the cut-off score which predicts continuous employment for patients with mood disorders using the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology, Self-Report (QIDS-SR). In a prospective observational trial conducted in Tokyo, 111 outpatients diagnosed with either major depressive disorder or bipolar depression were enrolled. Their employment statuses of these participants were tracked over a six-month period after their QIDS-SR scores were recorded. Based on their employment trajectories, participants were categorized into either continuous or non-continuous employment groups. Binary logistic regression was applied to examine the relationship between the QIDS-SR scores and employment outcomes, with adjustments for age, gender, and psychiatric diagnoses. Receiver operating characteristic curves were utilized to identify the optimal QIDS-SR cut-off values for predicting continuous employment. Binary logistic regression demonstrated that a lower score on the QIDS-SR was linked to an elevated likelihood of continuous employment (adjusted odds ratio 1.15, 95% CI: 1.06-1.26, p=0.001). The optimal cut-off point, determined by the Youden Index, was 10/11, showcasing a 63% sensitivity and 71% specificity. The results emphasize the potential of the QIDS-SR as a prognostic instrument for predicting employment outcomes among individuals with depressive disorders. These findings further underscore the importance of managing depressive symptoms to mild or lower intensities to ensure ongoing employment.

Does the Response to a Stressful Condition in Older Adults with Life Rhythm Dysregulations Provide Evidence of the Existence of the "Dysregulation of Mood, Energy, and Social Rhythms Syndrome"?

The COVID-19 lockdown periods have given rise to the "Dysregulation of Mood, Energy, and Social Rhythms Syndrome" (DYMERS). This syndrome is characterized by a poor regulation of biological, social, and behavioral rhythms, including sleep, nutrition, and social contacts. The purpose of this cohort study was to examine whether older adults with pre-existing DYMERS had a more negative perception of their health-related quality of life (H-QoL) during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, regardless of the presence of concurrent mood disorders. The entire study population (N = 93; age > 65 year) was categorized based on whether they exhibited dysregulated rhythms at the outset of the study. A comparison was made between DYMERS-positive individuals and DYMERS-negative individuals, and we assessed their H-QoL at the conclusion of the study. We also compared the H-QoL of individuals in the cohort who did not have a positive depression score to understand the impact of the rhythm dysregulation alone. The frequency of individuals with a critical health-related quality of life score (SF12 < 25) was higher in the cohort with pre-existing DYMERS during lockdown (33.33% vs. 6.17%). This difference remained significant even when only individuals without depressive symptomatology were considered (27.27% vs. 2.60%). The results of this study indicate that DYMERS can exert a substantial influence on health-related quality of life (H-QoL), even when mood disturbances are not present. Additional research is required to investigate the relationship between DYMERS and other psychiatric conditions as well as its nature as a standalone disorder.

Адаптация русскоязычной версии шкалы генерализованного тревожного расстройства (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7)

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Aim.&lt;/strong&gt; The Generalized Anxiety Disorder&amp;ndash;7 is the &amp;laquo;gold standard&amp;raquo; for assessing anxiety in clinical and population studies. The aim of this study was to adapt the Russian version of the GAD&amp;ndash;7. &lt;strong&gt;Method.&lt;/strong&gt; In this cross&amp;ndash;sectional study, 1,130 respondents participated. They were recruited through accidental sampling. The participants completed the Russian versions of the GAD&amp;ndash;7 and the Patient Health Questionnaire&amp;ndash;9 (PHQ&amp;ndash;9) measuring the severity of depressive symptomatology. &lt;strong&gt;Results.&lt;/strong&gt; The factor structure of the Russian version of the GAD&amp;ndash;7 corresponds to both a unidimensional model that measures the general anxiety score and a two&amp;ndash;dimensional model that highlights the cognitive&amp;ndash;emotional and somatic components of anxiety. The adapted scale has high internal reliability (&amp;alpha; = 0,93) and convergent validity, confirmed through statistically significant positive correlations between the GAD&amp;ndash;7 and the PHQ&amp;ndash;9 scores. &lt;strong&gt;Conclusion.&lt;/strong&gt; The Russian version of the GAD&amp;ndash;7 is valid and reliable and can be recommended for assessing anxiety in the general population. Avenues for further psychometric examining lie in expanding validation procedures and involving clinical samples to prove the specificity and sensitivity of the GAD&amp;ndash;7, and to determine its diagnostic capabilities in clinical research and practice.&lt;/p&gt;

Evaluating the impact of adjunct bright light therapy on subjective sleep quality in major depressive disorder

BackgroundSleep disturbances are a fundamental feature of depression, with their persistence after remission serving as a key risk factor for recurrence of depressive episodes, suicide, and hypnotics abuse. Though Adjunct Bright Light Therapy (BLT) has shown efficacy in treating depression by improving sleep duration and timing, its impact on subjective sleep quality remains underexplored. ObjectiveThis study investigates the effect of adjunct BLT on the subjective experience of sleep quality of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) inpatients. MethodsA randomized controlled trial was undertaken with 100 MDD consecutively admitted inpatients on consistent antidepressant regimens. Participants were divided into two groups; Group A, received pharmacotherapy augmented with BLT, Group B, received pharmacotherapy alone. The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale assessed depressive symptoms, while the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) evaluated subjective sleep quality. ResultsWhile both groups displayed enhanced depressive symptomatology, only Group A manifested significant improvement in perceived sleep quality (PSQI scores: A T0 8.05 ± 5.07 vs. T1 5.64 ± 3.64, p < 0.001; B T0 7.11 ± 3.17 vs. T1 6.50 ± 3.04, p = 0.072). LimitationsStudy limitations include its single-site design, lack of objective sleep measurement, and exclusive SSRI use, suggesting caution in generalizing findings. Further, the absence of placebo control and unmeasured expectancy effects may influence treatment outcomes. ConclusionsThese findings underscore the criticality of subjective sleep quality in clinical evaluations and highlight the potential of adjunct BLT as an augmentation therapeutic strategy to ameliorate sleep perception in MDD patients, emphasizing its potential role in enhancing therapeutic outcomes.

Abrupt introduction of distance learning during the covid-19 pandemic: What psychological impact on teachers?

As soon as the COVID-19 pandemic appeared, the Moroccan education ministry decided to adopt distance learning (DL). Our target was to study the psychological impact of DL on Moroccan teachers during the pandemic. This cross-sectional study used an online questionnaire based on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Among 148 responses, 64.9% were women, and the average age was 41.1±11.5 years. 79.1% participated in DL, 58.8% were required to acquire DL tools and 71.6% had never received DL training. Between the start and the end of confinement, we noticed a decrease in the motivation of teachers.36.2% had definite depressive symptomatology and 41.3% had certain anxiety symptomatology with a significant predominance in women. The frequencies of depression and anxiety were higher in those who had participated in DL, but the association was not significant. Depression was significantly frequent among teachers who were obliged to acquire tools to practice DL P=0.02, those who had never received training DL P=0.046, and those who were not satisfied with the situation P=0.03. We didn't find a direct association between DL and anxiety and depression, which the small sample size may explain, but we did find an association with the variables related to DL.

Understanding of Depressive Symptomatology across Major Depressive Disorder and Bipolar Disorder: A Network Analysis.

Background and Objectives: Depressive symptoms are prominent in both major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder (BD). However, comparative research on the network structure of depressive symptoms in these two diagnostic groups has been limited. This study aims to compare the network structure of depressive symptoms in MDD and BD, providing a deeper understanding of the depressive symptomatology of each disorder. Materials and Methods: The Zung Self-Rating Depressive Scale, a 20-item questionnaire, was administered to assess the depressive symptoms in individuals with MDD (n = 322) and BD (n = 516). A network analysis was conducted using exploratory graph analysis (EGA), and the network structure was analyzed using regularized partial correlation models. To validate the dimensionality of the Zung SDS, principal component analysis (PCA) was adopted. Centrality measures of the depressive symptoms within each group were assessed, followed by a network comparison test between the two groups. Results: In both diagnostic groups, the network analysis revealed four distinct categories, aligning closely with the PCA results. "Depressed affect" emerged as the most central symptom in both MDD and BD. Furthermore, non-core symptoms, "Personal devaluation" in MDD and "Confusion" in BD, displayed strong centrality. The network comparison test did not reveal significant differences in the network structure between MDD and BD. Conclusions: The absence of significant differences in the network structures between MDD and BD suggests that the underlying mechanisms of depressive symptoms may be similar across these disorders. The identified central symptoms, including "Depressed affect", in both disorders and the distinct non-core symptoms in each highlight the complexity of the depressive symptomatology. Future research should focus on validating these symptoms as therapeutic targets and incorporate various methodologies, including non-metric dimension reduction techniques or canonical analysis.

Psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Spanish healthcare workers: a systematic review of prevalence and wave-based patterns

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the mental health of the entire population, and especially of the healthcare, due to their close contact with the virus and the health emergency. However, the diversity of studies makes it difficult to determine the prevalence of mental health problems in Spanish healthcare workers. This study aims to examine the studies carried out during COVID-19 with the Spanish healthcare population to determine the prevalence of anxiety, depression, stress, post-traumatic stress (PTSD) and burnout symptomatology. A systematic search of the articles in the PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science databases was performed following PRISMA criteria. Pooled prevalence was obtained for all the mental health symptomatology from moderate to severe, as well as divided by wave. Our data revealed that 50.54% of healthcare workers reported stress, 41.02% burnout, 35.25% anxiety, 29.76% depression, and 25.82% PTSD symptomatology. Anxiety, depression, PTSD and burnout symptomatology diminished in the second and/or the third waves but increased in the following waves. However, stress showed the maximum prevalence during the second wave. Our study highlights a significant impact on the mental health of healthcare workers during health crises, and emphasizes the immediate need for mental health support for healthcare workers during and after pandemics. Anxiety, depression, PTSD, and burnout symptomatology exhibit a “valley” effect, initially decreasing but increasing with prolonged exposure to the COVID-19 health crisis. This underscores the necessity to implement prevention strategies to enhance stress management, emotional regulation skills, and coping abilities.

A machine learning pipeline for efficient differentiation between bipolar and major depressive disorder based on multimodal structural neuroimaging

Due to the overlapping depressive symptomatology with major depressive disorder (MDD), 60% of patients with bipolar disorder (BD) are initially misdiagnosed, calling for the definition of reliable biomarkers that can support the diagnostic process. Here, we optimized a machine learning pipeline for the differentiation between depressed BD and MDD patients based on multimodal structural neuroimaging features. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data were acquired for 282 depressed BD (n = 180) and MDD (n = 102) patients. Images were preprocessed to obtain axial (AD), radial (RD), mean (MD) diffusivity, fractional anisotropy (FA), and voxel-based morphometry (VBM) maps. Each feature was entered separately into a 5-fold nested cross-validated predictive pipeline differentiating between BD and MDD patients, comprising: confound regression for nuisance variables removal, feature standardization, principal component analysis for feature reduction, and an elastic-net penalized regression. The DTI-based models reached accuracies ranging from 75% to 78%, whereas the VBM model reached 61% of accuracy. All the models were significantly different from a null model distribution at a 5000-permutation test. A 5000 bootstrap procedure revealed that widespread differences drove the classification, with BD patients associated to overall higher values of AD and FA, and grey matter volumes. Our results suggest that structural neuroimaging, in particular white matter microstructure and grey matter volumes, may be able to differentiate between MDD and BD patients with good predictive accuracy, being significantly higher than chance-level.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOCIAL PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS AND CAREGIVER BURDEN AMONG DEMENTIA CARE PARTNERS

Abstract Background This study examined the extent to which social problem-solving abilities, care situations, and depressive symptomatology were associated with caregiver burden among care partners of adults with Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD). Methods Baseline survey data were analyzed from care partners of ADRD who participated in a larger state-funded study. We used validated measures to assess social problem-solving abilities, care situation, positive aspects of caregiving, depressive symptomatology, and caregiver burden. Multivariate regression analysis with backward stepwise entry was used to identify factors associated with caregiver burden. Results Care partners were, on average, age 60.4 (±12.4) and most were female (82.5%) and lived with their care recipient (69.1%). Care partners who reported high caregiver burden were more likely to be male (p&amp;lt; 0.0001) and have a positive problem-solving orientation (p=0.0002), but less likely to have a negative problem-solving orientation (p=0.0376). Higher caregiver burden was also associated with more resentment for caregiving role (p&amp;lt; 0.0001), more anger towards care recipients (p&amp;lt; 0.0001), more depressive symptomology (p&amp;lt; 0.0001), and higher positive aspects of caregiving (p=0.0010). Care partners who reported high caregiver burden also reported less social support (p=0.0076) and less family conflict (p=0.0159). Discussion Findings suggest that factors thought to be protective against caregiver burden may not sufficiently reduce caregiver burden when considering their feelings of resentment and anger towards their care recipient, limited perceived social support, and high depressive symptomology. Interventions to reduce caregiver burden must consider care partners’ internal conflict as a caregiver and the relationship between the care partner and their care recipient.

DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS IN CENTENARIANS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC: FINDINGS FROM THE SWISS100 STUDY

Abstract Depressive symptoms (DS) are prevalent among older adults (WHO, 2021). However, data on DS appear to be scarce in centenarians. In addition, DS may have been aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in centenarians who may have been more susceptible to the negative consequences of pandemic restrictions. Thus, as part of the SWISS100 study (Jopp et al., 2023), we measured DS in centenarians living in Switzerland during the COVID-19 pandemic. Randomly selected centenarians from across the country and their proxies were invited to participate in a telephone interview between December 2020 and June 2022. The study sample was composed of 171 centenarians, with a mean age of 101.8 (SD=1.7) years; 128 (74.9%) participants were female and 63 (36.8%) lived at home. DS were assessed via five selected items of the Geriatric Depression Scale (Sheikh and Yesavage, 1986). The mean DS score was 1.6 (SD=1.6). Considering a cut-off ≥2 (Brañez-Condorena et al., 2021), 75 (43.9%) centenarians were screened positive for possible depression. Further analysis indicated that women had a higher level of DS, and that nursing home residents were more depressed than community-dwelling centenarians. Thus, our study suggests that almost half of the centenarians may have presented with relevant DS during the pandemic in Switzerland, which is notably higher than in other studies. DS in centenarians should be screened systematically, not less so in the context of a health crisis. Depressive symptomatology in the very old is highly relevant for successful professional care and needs further investigation to develop best practice.

Trajectories of Loneliness During Adolescence Predict Subsequent Symptoms of Depression and Positive Wellbeing

There is a need to identify the outcomes of changes in loneliness during adolescence, and to consider this within a multidimensional framework of loneliness. This study considered the effects of different trajectories of change in Isolation Loneliness and in Friendship Loneliness upon both positive wellbeing and symptoms of depression. To achieve this, 1782 (43% female; 12.92 years old at the start of the study, SD = 1.60) young people took part in a longitudinal study with four data points across 2 years. Four Isolation Loneliness trajectories and five Friendship Loneliness trajectories were identified. Youth who experienced low levels of Isolation Loneliness that subsequently increased appear to be at particular risk for poor outcomes. Similarly, initially high levels of Friendship Loneliness that decreased rapidly, or which began at a low level and only increased marginally, seem to also be a risk. Loneliness is a multi-dimensional construct and its development during adolescence impacts upon young people’s depressive symptomatology and positive mental wellbeing.

BARRIERS TO DISEASE SELF-CARE AMONG OLDER NON-HISPANIC BLACK AND HISPANIC MEN WITH CHRONIC CONDITIONS

Abstract Disease self-care is multi-faceted and influenced by physical, mental, social, and environmental factors. Because males traditionally underutilize preventive healthcare services, self-care is increasingly important to manage disease symptomatology and slow disease progression. This study examines factors associated with barriers to disease self-care among Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black men ages ≥65 years with ≥1 chronic condition. Data were analyzed from a national sample of 470 Hispanic (43.2%) and non-Hispanic Black (56.8%) men and collected with an internet-delivered questionnaire. The 5-item Barriers to Self-Care Scale served as the dependent variable (range=5-20). A least squares regression model was fitted to identify factors associated with barriers to disease self-care. The model adjusted for sociodemographics, disease characteristics, health status, and social engagement and support. On average, participants were age 70.1 (±4.5) years and reported 3.9 (±2.6) chronic conditions. Men with higher body mass index (β=0.13, P=0.001), more depressive symptomatology (β=0.09, P=0.046), and lower self-rated quality of life (β=-0.23, P&amp;lt; 0.001) reported higher barriers to disease self-care. Further, men with poorer access to healthcare (β=-0.17, P&amp;lt; 0.001) and higher healthcare frustrations (β=0.17, P&amp;lt; 0.001) reported higher barriers to disease self-care. Barriers to self-care were positively associated with being more socially disconnected (β=0.09, P=0.049) and higher reliance on others to manage health problems (β=0.14, P&amp;lt; 0.001). Findings reinforce the importance of mental health, healthcare access, and social support for disease self-management among Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black men. Efforts are needed in clinical and community-based settings to reduce self-care barriers through culturally appropriate self-management education, interventions, and services.

Moderating Effect of Grip Strength in the Association between Diabetes Mellitus and Depressive Symptomatology.

Diabetes mellitus and depression rank among the leading causes of disease burden and are present in the top ten causes of disability-adjusted life years worldwide. Numerous studies have shown that both depression and diabetes have a detrimental effect on the quality of life, and when they coexist, the effect is considerably worse. This study aimed to analyse how grip strength moderates the relationship between diabetes and depressive symptoms among middle-aged and older adults. In total, 41,701 participants (18,003 men) in wave 8 of the cross-sectional population-based Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe (2019/2020) data were studied. A dynamometer was used to test grip strength twice on each hand. Depressive symptoms were measured using the 12-item EURO-D scale. The relationship between diabetes and depressive symptoms is negatively moderated by grip strength (male: B = -0.03, 95% CI = -0.04, -0.03; female: B = -0.06, 95% CI = -0.07, -0.06). Furthermore, the significant zone grip strength moderation values for males and females were less than 48.7 kg and 38.9 kg, respectively. Muscular strength was a moderator of depressive symptoms, attenuating its association with diabetes. This supports the premise that physical activity, namely muscle-strengthening exercises, should be included in diabetes treatment programs.

Depression Scale in Students in Two Schools in Risaralda, Colombia

BACKGROUND: Depressive episodes encompass a spectrum of affective disorders that distinguish themselves by the number and severity of symptoms, yet ultimately converge into a common conceptualization. Within a depressive episode, the primary characteristic is a diminished mood, accompanied by reduced energy and the inability to derive pleasure from activities that were once of interest. Depression also extends its reach to the pediatric population, constituting a distinct clinical entity with comparable features to adult depression. In children, it manifests with mood disturbances that interfere with their cognition and behavior, often marked by prolonged subjective feelings of sadness. This demographic, however, exhibits a unique vulnerability to masking the symptoms of depressive disorders or episodes, owing to the challenge minors face in recognizing their own emotional experiences and expressing them verbally. Globally, mood disorders have a prevalence ranging from 0.5% to 3%. The prevalence of depression among children aged 6 to 12 is estimated at 2.8%, rising to 4% to 8% among preadolescents and adolescents. Among teenagers, the prevalence is higher in females, with a 2:1 ratio. In Colombia, it is estimated that 54% of children aged 8 to 14 exhibit depressive symptomatology. This demographic is particularly prone to concealing depressive disorder symptoms, underscoring the necessity of describing the frequency of depressive symptomatology in children across different social conditions and delineating risk factors associated with depression manifestation in this age group. METHODS: An observational, descriptive, and cross-sectional study was conducted, involving the administration of the Children's Depression Scale and the collection of sociodemographic data (age and gender) from a population of 167 schoolchildren aged 8 to 14 (5th to 7th grade), hailing from both public and private educational institutions in the Risaralda department. It is important to note that, although the instrument has not been validated in Colombia, it has undergone validation in Mexico. STATA 14.0 was employed for data analysis. RESULTS: Findings indicated a higher participation of students from private schools and a greater incidence of depressive indices in girls as opposed to boys, particularly in the sixth and seventh grades, regardless of the educational institution. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that the sociodemographic factor most closely associated with the development of depressive symptomatology in children, girls, and preadolescents, as measured by the Children's Depression Scale, is female sex. The sub-scales miscellaneous depressive, guilt, and preoccupation with sickness and death were statistically significant with respect to sex. Furthermore, age and grade displayed a directly proportional relationship with the total Depressive score, while the type of school did not exhibit statistical significance in depressive symptomatology.

Postpartum Mental Health and Perceptions of Discrimination Among Asian Fathers During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The purpose of this study was twofold: (1) to examine the prevalence of postpartum depression and anxiety symptomatology among fathers of Asian descent living in North America during the COVID-19 pandemic, and (2) to identify the occurrences of online racial discrimination. Using a cross-sectional design and convenience sampling methods, we recruited fathers online via social media sites (Facebook, Instagram) between March 12 and July 31, 2022. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, General Anxiety Scale, and the Online Victimization Scale assessed mental health well-being and discrimination outcomes. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, two sample t-test, chi-square test of independence, and Pearson's correlation analysis. Our sample included 61 fathers within 6 months postpartum living in the United States and Canada. Participants were on average 34 years old, married, and represented 17 Asian ethnic groups, including Asian Indian (41%), Filipino (11.3%), and Korean (8.1%). One-third of our participants (31.1%, n = 19) were at high risk of developing postpartum depression and scores of three (4.9%) fathers indicated they had clinically significant anxiety. Overall, 26.3% reported experiencing direct online racial discrimination and 65% reported occurrences of indirect online racial discrimination. There was a high rate of depressive symptoms and occurrences of online racial discrimination among fathers of Asian descent living in North America. These rates are higher than the general perinatal population and further research is warranted to examine risk factors and preventive strategies among this unique paternal ethnic group.

Correlation between pain and depressive symptoms in patients with confirmed endometriosis during COVID-19 pandemic

BackgroundEndometriosis is a chronic, estrogen-dependent, inflammatory condition which affects women of reproductive age physically and psychologically in their everyday life. The most common symptom is chronic lower abdominal pain. Apart from physical pain, endometriosis often also leads to an unfulfilled desire to give birth. In general, these two main aspects alone lead to emotional stress for patients and often initiate depressive symptoms. To what extent endometriosis patients are additionally affected by the COVID pandemic and its effects is to be determined in this study.MethodsPatients who presented at our endometriosis center and met the study criteria were offered participation in the study. A link to an online questionnaire (SoSci-Survey) was sent by email. The online questionnaire evaluated depressive symptoms before and during the pandemic as well as the pain perception and perceived support during the pandemic. The data of 167 fully completed questionnaires were evaluated and analyzed using SPSS.ResultsThe analysis of the questionnaires revealed a significant association between pain levels and depressive symptomatology in endometriosis patients during the pandemic. Patients with more severe pain showed significantly higher depressive symptoms than patients with little or no pain. During the pandemic, patients showed higher depressive symptoms than before. In addition, it was found that those endometriosis patients who felt left alone with their pain due to the consequences of the COVID pandemic, or who felt they had to endure the pain alone, also had higher depressive symptoms.ConclusionIn summary, it can be observed that endometriosis patients with a high pain burden had significantly higher depressive symptoms during the COVID pandemic. The consequences of the pandemic often led to the feeling of having to cope with the symptoms alone or having to endure pain alone, which in turn increased the depressive symptoms. As treating physicians, we should be aware of these connections and try to counteract them with targeted offers and support.

Companion Animals: Associations With Social Isolation, Loneliness, and Satisfaction With Life in Portuguese Community-Dwelling Older Adults

ABSTRACT Companion animals play an increasingly important role in people’s lives. However, research on how they affect community-dwelling older adults remains scarce and there are inconsistent results. This study examined the impact of companion animals on loneliness, social isolation, depressive symptomatology, satisfaction with life, and satisfaction with social support in Portuguese community-dwelling older adults. This cross-sectional descriptive and correlational questionnaire study involved 250 participants (≥ 65 years old). The questionnaire comprised sociodemographic questions; questions about companion animals; self-perception of loneliness; the Social Isolation Scale; Lubben’s Brief Social Network Scale; the Satisfaction with Life Scale; the Satisfaction with Social Support Scale; and the Geriatric Depression Scale. Descriptive, inferential, and correlational analyses and logistic regression were conducted. Caregivers of companion animals, compared with non-caregivers, tended to live in rural areas (OR = 1), in houses (OR = 2.465), and with extended families (OR = 4.540). No significant differences between caregivers and non-caregivers were found for social isolation, loneliness, satisfaction with social support, and satisfaction with life. However, people with depressive symptoms were 1.7 times more likely to have companion animals than those with no depressive symptoms (p = 0.032). Companion animals, which included some farm animals, provided a high degree of companionship (8.39 ± 1.94, on a scale of 0–10), and this differed significantly between the groups having “only dogs,” “only cats,” “dogs and cats,” and “neither dogs nor cats” (H = 13.279, p = 0.004). Having “only dogs” (8.81) and “both dogs and cats” (9.22) provided the highest degree of companionship when compared with “only cats” (7.86) and “neither dogs nor cats” (7.67). Companion animals did not seem to be instrumental in terms of social interaction and satisfaction with life. Therefore, companion animals are important in providing companionship for older people. Future research should look more closely at the bond between older caregivers and companion animals.

Associations of Cannabis Use, High-Risk Alcohol Use, and Depressive Symptomology with Motivation and Attempts to Quit Cigarette Smoking Among Adults: Findings from the 2020 ITC Four Country Smoking and Vaping Survey

AbstractThis study assessed independent and interaction effects of the frequency of cannabis use, high-risk alcohol use, and depressive symptomology on motivation and attempts to quit cigarette smoking among adults who regularly smoked. Cross-sectional data are from the 2020 International Tobacco Control Four Country Smoking and Vaping Survey and included 7044 adults (ages 18 + years) who smoked cigarettes daily in Australia (n = 1113), Canada (n = 2069), England (n = 2444), and the United States (USA) (n = 1418). Among all respondents, 33.1% of adults reported wanting to quit smoking “a lot,” and 29.1% made a past-year quit attempt. Cannabis use was not significantly associated with either outcome (both p ≥ 0.05). High-risk alcohol use was significantly associated with decreased odds of motivation to quit (p = 0.02) and making a quit attempt (p = 0.004). Depressive symptomology was associated with increased odds for both outcomes (both p &lt; 0.001). There were no significant 2- or 3-way interactions between cannabis use, alcohol consumption, and depressive symptomatology. Overall, just over a quarter of adults who smoked daily reported making a recent quit attempt, and most were not highly motivated to quit. Longitudinal research should investigate whether there are linkages between cannabis use, risky alcohol consumption, and/or depression on successful long-term smoking cessation.

Screening for perinatal depression and stress: a prospective cohort study.

There is currently a heightened need for perinatal medical services to timely recognize and accurately meet the psychological needs of pregnant women. Psychological disturbances a mother experiences during pregnancy, such as depression and anxiety, can be later associated with inadequate maternal capacity for antenatal care for herself and the baby, and may lead to subsequent mental health problems later in the mother's life. Routine prenatal assessment could significantly benefit from being proactively enriched with early prevention mental health screening tools to assess, appropriately manage vulnerable populations, and subsequently implement preventive actions. 178 pregnant women, under routine prenatal medical assessment, were measured regarding depressive symptomatology and stress, through the use of two validated psychometric tools (the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-14)). Heightened perceived stress and depressive symptomatology levels were associated with younger maternal age, an obstetrical record of more than one births and a history of abortion. Results additionally showed a connection between the requirement for a psychiatric referral-based on the levels of symptomatology recorded through the psychometric assessment and a clinical interview-and currently running the earlier stages (weeks) of pregnancy. Our revised proposed prenatal screening protocol for depression and stress suggests an amplified follow-up assessment including all pregnant women scoring high in both depression and in perceived stress, regardless of previous history of prenatal depression or of suicidality, to detect earlier or less manifest expressions of distress during pregnancy, in vulnerable perinatal populations.