Depressive Symptoms In Adults Research Articles

Exercise as medicine! Physical activity mitigated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on depressive symptoms in adults with depression

We investigated the longitudinal association between physical activity (PA) and symptoms of depression and anxiety in people with depression during the COVID-19 pandemic. We used data from baseline (June 2020) to wave 3 (June 2021) of the PAMPA Cohort, an ambispective cohort with adults in south Brazil. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale assessed depressive and anxiety symptoms in all waves. Participants reported frequency (minutes), type (aerobic, strength, combined), and place (out of home, at home) of physical activity at baseline. Generalized linear models were used to investigate the interaction between time and PA, adjusting for possible confounding variables. Subjective memory decline was assessed using multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression models to obtain adjusted hazard ratio (HR) and respective 95% confidence interval (CI). Participants (n = 424) with self-reported clinically diagnosed depression were included. We observed a non-linear increase trajectory of depression during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. PA was associated with a slower trajectory of depressive (slope: −1.89; 95%CI: −3.34, −0.43 points) but not anxiety (slope: −1.33; 95%CI: −2.93, 0.25 points) symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants who continued physically active from pre-pandemic in wave 1 showed a lower risk of subjective memory decline during follow-up than those who persisted inactive in the same period (HR: 0.52; 95%CI: 0.30, 0.89). PA attenuated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on depressive symptoms in adults living with depression in south Brazil. Regularity of physical activity was associated with fewer depression and anxiety symptoms and a lower risk of subjective memory decline.

A network analysis of depressive symptoms in adults with and without diabetes: findings from the Irish longitudinal study on ageing.

This study aimed to estimate networks of depressive symptoms among Irish adults with and without diabetes at two time points and compare between the two groups at each time point using data from the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA). Participants were from Wave 1 (2009-2011) and Wave 4 (2016) of TILDA, with n = 639 participants with diabetes and n = 7,837 without diabetes at Wave 1, and n = 1,151with diabetes and n = 4,531 without diabetes at Wave 4. Depressive symptoms were measured using the 8 items of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Network psychometric analysis was used to examine symptom centrality, symptom-level associations, and network comparisons at each time point. Stable, strongly connected networks emerged for people with and without diabetes at both time points. The symptoms of feeling depressed, feeling like everything's an effort, not enjoying life, feeling sad, and couldn't get going were the most central nodes in all networks, which did not differ between people with and without diabetes. However, for people with diabetes, the network was more densely connected at Wave 4, when the sample was predominately people with newly diagnosed diabetes. Furthermore, the relationship between 'felt lonely' and 'couldn't get going' and between 'not enjoying life' and 'sad' was significantly stronger for people with diabetes than for those without. This study provides a more detailed understanding of the structure of depressive symptoms at two time points in older Irish adults with and without type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

From classroom to life: Gender differences in the persistent effect of learning disabilities on adult depressive symptoms

Despite the well-established link between adolescent learning disabilities (LD) and mental health, little is known about its long-term consequences. This study examines the relationship between adolescent LD and adult depressive symptoms, with a focus on gender differences and underlying mechanisms. Using a sibling sample from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (N = 3,414), this study estimated sibling fixed effects models to account for unobserved family-level characteristics such as genes and early childhood family and social context. Sobel mediation analyses were conducted to examine social-psychological mechanisms, including the student-teacher relationship, the student-student relationship, and a sense of school belonging. LD in adolescence was positively associated with depressive symptoms in adulthood (b = 0.823, p < 0.05). This association remained robust when controlling for unobserved family-level confounders as well as educational attainment in adulthood. Gender-stratified models showed that only the association for women is statistically significant (b = 1.935, p < 0.05), and its magnitude is nearly three times that of the association for men. Sobel mediation tests indicate that a decline in a sense of school belonging mediates approximately 17% of the association between adolescent LD and adult depressive symptoms. This study's findings suggest that LD in adolescence is associated with an increase in depressive symptoms in adulthood, particularly in women, and a low sense of school belonging may be a potential mediator. Implementing interventions to improve the school integration of girls with LD could be an effective means of improving their long-term mental health.

186. Ventral Striatal-Cingulate Resting-State Connectivity in Healthy Adolescents Relates to Depression Symptoms in Adulthood: The Potential Role for Childhood Trauma

186. Ventral Striatal-Cingulate Resting-State Connectivity in Healthy Adolescents Relates to Depression Symptoms in Adulthood: The Potential Role for Childhood Trauma

Association between Oral Health and Depressive Symptoms in Chinese Older Adults: The Mediating Role of Dietary Diversity.

Diet is a modifiable factor in healthy population aging. Additionally, oral health and diet are important factors affecting depressive symptoms. To assess the mediating role of dietary diversity (DD) in oral health and depressive symptoms in older adults, we selected 8442 participants aged ≥ 65 years from the 2018 Chinese Longitudinal Health Longevity Survey (CLHLS) for a cross-sectional study. Depressive symptoms were determined based on scores on the 10-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CESD-10). Dietary diversity scores (DDS) were established based on the frequency of intake of food groups. Oral health was measured by denture use and toothbrushing frequency. Stepwise multiple linear regression and PROCESS macros were used for mediated effects analysis and testing. The sample had a positive detection rate of 44.1% for depressive symptoms, 40.8% for denture use, and 41.9% for once-a-day toothbrushing. Denture use (ρ = -0.077, p < 0.01) and toothbrushing frequency (ρ = -0.115, p < 0.01) were negative predictors of depressive symptoms in older adults. DD significantly mediated the association between denture use (indirect effect -0.047; 95%CI: -0.068-0.028; p < 0.001), toothbrushing frequency (indirect effect -0.041; 95%CI: -0.054-0.030; p < 0.001), and depressive symptoms. Denture use and toothbrushing frequency not only directly reduce the risk of depressive symptoms in older adults, but also indirectly affect depressive symptoms through DD.

Anxiety and depression symptoms in adolescents and young adults with juvenile idiopathic arthritis: results of an outpatient screening

BackgroundPrevious studies have shown that growing up with rheumatic conditions can fuel dissatisfaction and psychological distress, which in turn affects disease self-management and treatment adherence. Primary objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of anxiety and depression symptoms in adolescents and young adults (AYA) with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and to identify correlates of conspicuous screening results.MethodsInitiated as part of the COACH multicenter observational study, outpatients aged 12 to 21 years participating in the National Pediatric Rheumatological Database (NPRD) were prospectively screened for mental health using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and the Generalised Anxiety Disorder Scale-7 (GAD-7).ResultsData from 1,150 adolescents with JIA (mean age 15.6 ± 2.2 years; mean disease duration 7.2 ± 4.9 years, 69% female, 43% oligoarthritis, 26% polyarthritis) were analysed. Overall, 32.7% (n = 316) of AYA showed conspicuous screening results, of whom 30.4% reported clinically relevant suicidal or self-harm thoughts. About 19% of screened patients showed moderate to severe depressive or anxious symptoms. AYA with conspicuous screening results were older (15.8 vs. 15.2 years; p < 0.0001), more often female (81% vs. 64%; p < 0.0001) and more often overweight (25% vs. 17%; p = 0.006). They had higher disease activity (physician global assessment on NRS 0–10; 1.7 vs. 1.2; p < 0.0001), more functional limitations (CHAQ; 0.44 vs. 0.14; <0.0001) and rated their health status worse (NRS 0–10; 3.5 vs. 1.8; p < 0.0001) than AYA with inconspicuous screening results. Females (OR 2.33 [CI 1.53–3.56]; p < 0.0001), older age (OR 1.09 [CI 1.01–1.18]; p = 0.026), patients with more functional limitations (OR 3.36 [CI 1.98–5.72]; p < 0.0001), and patients with worse subjective health status (OR 1.17 [CI 1.07–1.27]; p < 0.0001) were more likely to have a conspicuous screening result. Regular sports participation was associated with a lower likelihood of conspicuous screening result (OR 0.69 [CI 0.49–0.98]; p = 0.039).ConclusionsA large-scale outpatient screening of AYA with JIA in Germany shows a high prevalence of anxiety and depression symptoms. The need for routine screening for early detection of mental health problems became apparent.

Do Religion and Spirituality Buffer the Effect of Childhood Trauma on Depressive Symptoms? Examination of a South Asian Cohort from the USA.

Asian Americans have been identified as a racial group that is disproportionately affected by childhood trauma. The goal of this study was to assess if religion/spirituality moderate the effects of childhood trauma on adult depressive symptoms among a sample of South Asians in the USA. Our analysis drew from the study on stress, spirituality, and health (SSSH) questionnaire fielded in the Mediators of Atherosclerosis in South Asians Living in America (MASALA) study (n = 990) during 2016-2018. A series of regression models with multiplicative interaction terms were conducted. Emotional neglect, emotional abuse, and physical neglect were associated with higher depressive symptoms. Higher religious attendance and negative religious coping techniques were found to exacerbate this relationship. There were two findings conditional on gender. Among men, gratitude and positive religious coping also exacerbated the relationship between childhood trauma and depressive symptoms. Negative religious coping also exacerbated the association between childhood trauma and depressive symptoms for women. This is the first community-based study of US South Asians to consider the association between various forms of childhood trauma and depressive symptom outcomes. South Asians remain an understudied group in the religion and health literature, and this study sheds light on the important differences in the function and effectiveness of religion/spirituality for those faced with early life trauma.

A case study in developmental discontinuity: PROSPER Interventions and adolescent substance use trajectories shape young adult substance use and mental health problems.

The loss of John Schulenberg reverberates across the developmental and prevention sciences. In honor of his many contributions, this paper applies his ideas of developmental continuity and discontinuity to understand the process by which PROSPER delivered universal prevention programs (delivered in Grades 6 and 7) affect young adult outcomes. Guided by these developmental models, we deconstructed adolescent substance use initiation trajectories into two discrete phases-early and late adolescence, demarcated by substance use initiation levels at the end of 9th grade. We evaluated the effects of PROSPER interventions on these phases, and in turn, the effects of adolescent substance use initiation on young adult antisocial behavior, alcohol and drug use consequences, and depression symptoms. This sample included 1,984 young adults who participated in the PROSPER intervention trial in Grade 6 (two cohorts, 2002 and 2003), followed over 8 adolescent measurement occasions (Fall and Spring of Grade 6; Spring of Grades 7-12). Young adult outcomes were averaged across three waves (collected at ages 20, 23, and 25). PROSPER interventions were associated with reduced substance use initiation in early adolescence, but not escalation during late adolescence. In turn, substance use in both early and late adolescence was uniquely associated with young adult antisocial behavior, depression symptoms, and substance use consequences. PROSPER interventions were associated with young adult antisocial behavior and problematic substance use via reduced risk for early initiation status. Findings are discussed in terms of developmental continuity and discontinuity.

Food insecurity and mental health among US adults during the COVID-19 pandemic: Results from National Health Interview Survey, 2020–2021

ObjectiveTo examine socio-demographic disparities in food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic and the association between food insecurity and mental health among US adults overall and communities vulnerable to food insecurity. MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted using the 2020–2021 National Health Interview Survey of 57,456 US adults. Weighted multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate the association between food insecurity and anxiety or depression symptoms in overall US adults and subgroups including young adults (18–34 years), females, Hispanic people, non-Hispanic Black people, individuals with prior COVID-19 infection, the unemployed, low-income participants, participants with children, and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants. ResultsYoung or middle age, female sex, Hispanic/non-Hispanic Black/other race/ethnicity, lower education level, unmarried/other marital status, unemployment, being below the federal poverty level, and greater number of persons in the household were associated with food insecurity (AOR ranged from 1.35 to 2.70, all p < 0.05). Food insecurity was independently associated with anxiety (AOR = 2.67, 99 % CI: 2.33, 3.06) or depression (AOR = 3.04, 99 % CI: 2.60, 3.55) symptoms in the overall adults. Significant associations between food insecurity and anxiety or depression symptoms were also observed in all subgroups (AOR ranged from 1.95 to 3.28, all p < 0.0001). Compared with overall adults, the magnitude of the association was greater for participants with children, females (for depression only), and non-Hispanic Black people (for depression only). LimitationsThe cross-sectional design prevents inference of causality. ConclusionsComprehensive policies are needed to ensure accessible and affordable food resources to reduce disparities in food insecurity and improve mental health, especially for those socioeconomically disadvantaged communities.

Adherence to a Mediterranean Diet is inversely associated with anxiety and stress but not depression: a cross-sectional analysis of community-dwelling older Australians

An increasing body of evidence has emerged suggesting that lifestyle behaviours, including diet quality, may be an important modifiable risk factor for mental health disorders. The Mediterranean diet (MedDiet), which is often heralded as an anti-inflammatory diet, has been widely investigated and promoted as one of the ‘healthiest’ dietary patterns for reducing chronic disease risk and promoting healthy ageing(1). Greater adherence to a MedDiet and/or anti-inflammatory diet is inversely associated with the risk of depression or depressive symptoms in younger and middle-aged adults(2). However, these findings have been inconsistent, particularly in older adults. We therefore explored the independent associations between adherence to a MedDiet and severity of symptoms related to depression, anxiety and stress in community-dwelling older adults from Australia. We conducted a cross-sectional study of older Australians aged ≥ 60 years. Older adults who were permanent residents of Australia, free from dementia or cognitive decline and could independently complete an anonymous online survey in English were invited to participate. A 75-item self-administered questionnaire was used to assess the relationship between adherence to a MedDiet and severity of symptoms related to depression, anxiety, and stress. MedDiet adherence was assessed using the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS)(3) and the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21)(4) was used to assess the severity of negative emotional symptoms. Multivariable linear regression analysis (and 95% CI) was used to investigate the independent association between adherence to a MedDiet and severity of symptoms related depression, anxiety and stress using one unadjusted and six adjusted predictor models. A total of n = 294 participants were included in the final analyses (70.4 ± 6.2 years; Females, n = 201; Males, n = 91; n = 2 unspecified). Adherence to a MedDiet was inversely associated with severity of anxiety symptoms (β = −0.118; CI: −0.761, −0.012; P = 0.043) independent of age, gender, BMI, physical activity, sleep, cognitive risk and ability to perform activities of daily living. Furthermore, MedDiet adherence was inversely associated with symptoms of stress (β = −0.151; CI: −0.680, −0.073; P = 0.015) independent of age, gender, BMI, physical activity and sleep. However, no relationship between MedDiet adherence and depressive symptoms was observed. We showed that adherence to a MedDiet is inversely associated with severity of symptoms related to anxiety and stress but not for depression. Exploration of these findings using longitudinal analyses and robust clinical trials are needed to better elucidate these findings in older adults.

Heightened neural reward responsiveness functions as a plasticity factor moderating the association between childhood emotional abuse and young adult depressive symptoms: Evidence of differential susceptibility.

As a neural indicator of reward responsiveness (RR), reward positivity (RewP) has been demonstrated to moderate the association between stress exposure and depressive symptoms. However, extant research has primarily (a) focused on life stress rather than early maltreatment, (b) ignored the time-frequency components, and (c) has been based on a traditional perspective of diathesis stress. The present study aimed to comprehensively examine whether and how neurophysiological (RewP and its time-frequency decomposition components) and self-reported measures of RR interact with childhood emotional abuse on young adult depressive symptoms. The sample of 192 Chinese university students aged 18-25 (Mage = 21.08 ± 1.91 years; 59.4% girls) completed self-reported questionnaires of emotional abuse, depressive symptoms and RR. The RewP and its time-frequency components delta and theta were elicited via a monetary reward task. The results demonstrated that RewP significantly moderated the association between emotional abuse and young adult depressive symptoms in a differential susceptibility but not diathesis-stress manner. However, gain-related delta, loss-related theta, or self-reported RR did not drive such moderation effects. These findings were robust and survived a series of rigorous sensitivity analyses. The current findings provide preliminary evidence that heightened RewP may function as a plasticity factor moderating the association between early maltreatment exposure and depression, and highlight the effect specific to emotional abuse. However, caution should be paid to the generalizability of these findings in high-risk clinical samples, in light of the current high-functioning sample features and low rates of high symptom and abuse levels. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Association between weight-adjusted-waist index and depression in US adults: A cross-sectional study

BackgroundCurrent evidence implicates a significant association between depression and obesity and related metabolic dysfunction. The weight-adjusted-waist index (WWI) was recently identified as an ideal index that integrates total body fat, muscle mass, and bone mass. This study investigated the relationship between WWI and depressive symptoms in adults. MethodsParticipants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2005–2018) were enrolled. Depressive symptom severity was measured with the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Survey-weighted multivariable logistic regression, subgroup analysis, and generalized additive models were used to determine the relationship between WWI and depressive symptoms. ResultsA total of 34,575 participants were included, with a mean WWI of 11.01; 2,979 participants were suspected of having depressive symptoms (PHQ-9 score ≥ 10). A significant positive association was identified between WWI and depressive symptoms (odds ratio = 1.416, 95 % confidence interval: 1.303–1.539, P < 0.0001). Subgroup analyses suggested that the association between WWI and depressive symptoms was stronger in individuals who were female, overweight, divorced, middle-aged or older (over 40 years old), and had diabetes. Furthermore, the non-linear multivariable regression revealed an inflection point for the WWI at 11.438, and the association was only significant when the WWI was higher than this point. LimitationsThis study was retrospective and only included participants from the United States; therefore, further validation is needed from studies in other countries, especially middle-to-low-income countries, using longitudinal cohorts. ConclusionsThis study identified a significant positive association between WWI and depressive symptoms.

Interaction between Fokl polymorphism and vitamin D deficiency in the symptoms of mental disorders in adults: a population-based study

Mental disorders are intricate and multifaceted and encompass social, economic, environmental, and biological factors. This study aimed to explore the potential association between vitamin D deficiency and anxiety and depression symptoms in adults, considering the role of the vitamin D receptor gene polymorphism FokI (rs2228570). This was a population-based cross-sectional study with stratified and cluster sampling, evaluating anxiety symptoms (AS) and depression symptoms (DS) in 1637 adults. Vitamin D levels were measured using electrochemiluminescence and were considered deficient when < 20 ng/mL in a healthy population or < 30 ng/mL in at-risk groups. Genotyping was performed using real-time polymerase chain reaction with TaqMan probes. The prevalence rates of AS, DS, and vitamin D deficiency were 23.5%, 15.8%, and 30.9%, respectively. No direct association was observed between vitamin D deficiency and AS or DS. However, interaction analysis revealed a combined effect of vitamin D deficiency and FokI for DS but not for AS. Individuals with vitamin deficiency and one or two copies of the altered allele of the FokI exhibited a higher prevalence of DS than individuals homozygous for the wild-type allele and vitamin D sufficiency. The interaction between vitamin D deficiency and the FokI polymorphism was associated with DS.

Development of a Multiplatform Tool for the Prevention of Prevalent Mental Health Pathologies in Adults: Protocol for a Randomized Control Trial.

The prevalence of depression and anxiety has increased in recent years, with many individuals having trouble accessing mental health support. Smartphones have become an integral part of modern life, with apps offering new ways to deliver evidence-based self-help strategies to cope with common mental health symptoms. However, most of them do not have empirical evidence of their overall effectiveness or the effectiveness of their components, which could pose a risk for users. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the modules of evaluation, psychoeducation, and emotional regulation strategies in a multiplatform self-help mental health mobile app in the Maule region of Chile. A sample of 196 adults will be selected, who will be randomly assigned to different components of the app for a fixed period to assess its ability to reduce symptomatology. The trial is not yet recruiting and is expected to end in October 2024. The first results are expected in April 2024. This is the first study in Chile to develop and test the effectiveness of a mobile app to manage anxiety and depression symptoms in adults. The intervention proposed is based on evidence suggesting that the internet or remote intervention tools and self-management of prevalent symptomatology could be the future of mental health care systems in the digital era. If the effects of the intervention are positive, wide implementation in Chile and other Spanish-speaking countries could be possible in the future. PRR1-10.2196/52324.

Impacts of physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and sleep on depression symptoms in Canadian older adults 65 years of age and above: a compositional data analysis of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging

BackgroundDaily time spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), light-intensity physical activity (LIPA), sedentary behaviour (SB) and sleep (collectively known as ‘movement behaviours’) are compositional, co-dependent variables. However, most studies examining effects of these behaviours on depression outcomes in older adults do not account for this. Study objectives were to use compositional data analysis methods to (1) examine the relationship between movement behaviour composition (daily time spent in MVPA, LIPA, SB, sleep) and depression symptoms, (2) estimate the extent to which changing time spent in any given movement behaviour within the movement behaviour composition was associated with changes in depression symptoms.Methods5643 older Canadian adults ≥ 65 years of age from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging were studied using a quasi-longitudinal study design. Exposure was baseline daily movement behaviours; time spent in MVPA, LIPA and SB were derived from self-reported Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly responses. Night-time sleep was self-reported separately. Outcome was depression symptoms at follow-up obtained using the ten item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Compositional data analysis was used to investigate associations between movement behaviours and depression symptoms.ResultsMovement behaviour composition was significantly associated with depression symptoms. Time spent in MVPA [exp(B) = 0.97 (95% CI: 0.94, 0.99)] and sleep [exp(B) = 0.91 (95% CI: 0.85, 0.97)] relative to the remaining movement behaviours were associated with lower depression symptoms scores. Relative time spent in SB was associated with higher depression symptoms scores [exp(B) = 1.09 (95% CI: 1.04, 1.15)]. Time displacement estimates revealed that the greatest change in depression symptoms scores occurred when time spent in MVPA was decreased and replaced with LIPA, SB, sleep or combination of these behaviours (+ 0.22 to 0.26 points increase on depression symptoms scores for 30 min/day displacements).ConclusionsDaily movement behaviour composition was associated with depression symptoms in older Canadians. Replacing time in MVPA with equivalent time from any other behaviour was associated with increased depression symptoms. Preserving time spent in MVPA may play a key role in mitigating and improving mental health in this demographic.

Deficient sleep, altered hypothalamic functional connectivity, depression and anxiety in cigarette smokers

BackgroundDeficient sleep is implicated in nicotine dependence as well as depressive and anxiety disorders. The hypothalamus regulates the sleep-wake cycle and supports motivated behavior, and hypothalamic dysfunction may underpin comorbid nicotine dependence, depression and anxiety. We aimed to investigate whether and how the resting state functional connectivities (rsFCs) of the hypothalamus relate to cigarette smoking, deficient sleep, depression and anxiety. MethodsWe used the data of 64 smokers and 198 age- and sex-matched adults who never smoked, curated from the Human Connectome Project. Deficient sleep and psychiatric problems were each assessed with Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Achenbach Adult Self-Report. We processed the imaging data with published routines and evaluated the results at a corrected threshold, all with age, sex, and the severity of alcohol use as covariates. ResultsSmokers vs. never smokers showed poorer sleep quality and greater severity of depression and anxiety. In smokers only, the total PSQI score, indicating more sleep deficits, was positively associated with hypothalamic rsFCs with the right inferior frontal/insula/superior temporal and postcentral (rPoCG) gyri. Stronger hypothalamus-rPoCG rsFCs were also associated with greater severity of depression and anxiety in smokers but not never smokers. Additionally, in smokers, the PSQI score completely mediated the relationships of hypothalamus-rPoCG rsFCs with depression and anxiety severity. ConclusionsThese findings associate hypothalamic circuit dysfunction to sleep deficiency and severity of depression and anxiety symptoms in adults who smoke. Future studies may investigate the roles of the hypothalamic circuit in motivated behaviors to better characterize the inter-related neural markers of smoking, deficient sleep, depression and anxiety.

TDCS reduces depression and state anxiety symptoms in older adults from the augmenting cognitive training in older adults study (ACT)

BackgroundPharmacological interventions for depression and anxiety in older adults often have significant side effects, presenting the need for more tolerable alternatives. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a promising non-pharmacological intervention for depression in clinical populations. However, its effects on depression and anxiety symptoms, particularly in older adults from the general public, are understudied. ObjectiveWe conducted a secondary analysis of the Augmenting Cognitive Training in Older Adults (ACT) trial to assess tDCS efficacy in reducing psychological symptoms in older adults. We hypothesized that active stimulation would yield greater reductions in depression and state anxiety compared to sham post-intervention and at the one-year follow-up. We also explored tDCS effects in subgroups characterized by baseline symptom severity. MethodsA sample of 378 older adults recruited from the community completed a 12-week tDCS intervention with cognitive or education training. Electrodes were placed at F3/F4, and participants received active or sham tDCS during training sessions. We assessed the association between tDCS group and changes in depression, state anxiety, and trait anxiety from baseline to post-intervention and one-year controlling for covariates. ResultsThe active tDCS group demonstrated greater reductions in depression and state anxiety compared to sham post-intervention, particularly in individuals with mild depression and moderate/severe state anxiety at baseline. Furthermore, the active tDCS group with moderate/severe state anxiety maintained greater symptom reductions at one-year. ConclusionstDCS effectively reduced depression and state anxiety symptoms in a large sample of older adults. These findings highlight the importance of considering symptom severity when identifying those who may benefit most from this intervention.

Relationships of hypoglycemia awareness, hypoglycemia beliefs, and continuous glucose monitoring glycemic profiles with anxiety and depression symptoms in adults with type 1 diabetes using continuous glucose monitoring systems

AimsTo evaluate relationships of hypoglycemia awareness, hypoglycemia beliefs, and continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) glycemic profiles with anxiety and depression symptoms in adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D) who use CGM. MethodsA cross-sectional survey and data collections were completed with 196 T1D adults who used CGM (59% also used automated insulin delivery devices (AIDs)). We assessed hypoglycemia awareness (Gold instrument), hypoglycemia beliefs (Attitudes to Awareness of Hypoglycemia instrument), CGM glycemic profiles, demographics, and anxiety and depression symptoms (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale). Analysis included simple and multiple linear regression analyses. ResultsLower hypoglycemia awareness, weaker “hypoglycemia concerns minimized” beliefs, stronger “hyperglycemia avoidance prioritized” beliefs were independently associated with higher anxiety symptoms (P < 0.05), with similar trends in both subgroups using and not using AIDs. Lower hypoglycemia awareness were independently associated with greater depression symptoms (P < 0.05). In participants not using AIDs, more time in hypoglycemia was related to less anxiety and depression symptoms (P < 0.05). Being female and younger were independently associated with higher anxiety symptoms, while being younger was also independently associated with greater depression symptoms (P < 0.05). ConclusionOur findings revealed relationships of impaired hypoglycemia awareness, hypoglycemia beliefs, CGM-detected hypoglycemia with anxiety and depression symptoms in T1D adults who use CGMs.

The Association of Childhood Parental Connection With Adult Flourishing and Depressive Symptoms.

To determine whether a common measure of childhood emotional neglect, scored instead as a continuous measure of increasing parental connection, is associated with adult flourishing and depressive symptoms, and to compare the magnitude of these 2 associations. We pooled cross-sectional survey data from the Midlife in the United States study, collected from 2 national cohorts (2004-2006 and 2011-2014) of English-speaking, US adults, aged 25 to 74 years. Using the 5-item emotional neglect subscale of the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, a score of increasing childhood parental connection was created by not reverse-scoring responses. The adult outcomes were standardized scores of flourishing, from Ryff's Psychological Well-Being Scale, and depressive symptoms, from the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Data were available for 2079 of 2118 participants (98.2%). The mean (SD) age was 53.1 (12.6) years and 54.6% were female. After adjusting for covariates (age, gender, race and ethnicity, marital status, chronic disease, socioeconomic disadvantage), the adult flourishing score was 0.74 (95% confidence interval 0.63-0.86) SD units higher in those in the highest quartile of childhood parental connection compared with the lowest, whereas the depressive symptoms score was lower by a similar magnitude (-0.65 [95% confidence interval -0.77 to -0.54] SD units). When emotional neglect is reframed as parental connection, it has associations with adult flourishing and depressive symptoms that are of similar magnitude but opposite direction. Clinicians and researchers should consider the more positive and aspirational frame of parental connection and its potential contribution to life course flourishing.

Longitudinal Assessment of Hair Cortisol as a Predictor of Psychological Symptoms During COVID-19

BackgroundThere is a lack of evidence regarding enduring psychoneuroendocrine changes following an initial traumatic event, particular in the presence of an ongoing stressor. The coronavirus pandemic presents an opportunity to explore this matter. Consequently, the purpose of the present study was to investigate the impact of the ongoing pandemic (2021) on individuals, who experienced a first-time motor vehicle crash (MVC) at least 6 years earlier. To this end, we hypothesized that hair cortisol concentrations (HCC) following a first-time traumatic event positively predict symptoms of depression. MethodWe investigated N = 69 individuals (18 – 65 yrs.), who were victims of a MVC during 2010 – 2014. Hair strands were collected 10 days (t1) and 3 months after the MVC (t2), as well during the pandemic in 2021 (t3). To assess symptoms of depression, the participants filled out the Beck Depression Inventory at t1 - t3 and were additionally interviewed (Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I) at t1 and t2. Exclusion criteria conveyed a lifetime or acute mental disorder (incl. past trauma exposure). ResultsElevated pre-pandemic HCC following adversity (i.e., MVC) significantly predicted symptoms of depression in adults during the coronavirus pandemic (BDI: ß =.44, p =.010, R2 =.20), even after controlling for confounders. HCC significantly decreased over time, while in average psychological symptoms remained consistent. ConclusionCortisol dysregulation in the past presents an enduring vulnerability to ongoing stress. In this regard, vulnerable groups may benefit from preventive measures. This finding validates the predictive power of HCC and extended past evidence in this regard, at the same time reinforcing the concept of the diathesis-stress model.