Experience Symptoms Of Depression Research Articles

"Skip the Small Talk" Virtual Event Intended to Promote Social Connection During a Global Pandemic: Online Survey Study.

BackgroundSocial distancing measures meant to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the past year have exacerbated loneliness and depression in the United States. While virtual tools exist to improve social connections, there have been limited attempts to assess community-based, virtual methods to promote new social connections.ObjectiveIn this proof-of-concept study, we examined the extent to which Skip the Small Talk (STST)—a business dedicated to hosting events to facilitate structured, vulnerable conversations between strangers—helped reduce loneliness in a virtual format in the early months of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. We predicted that participants who attended STST virtual events would show a reduction in loneliness, improvement in positive affect, and reduction in negative affect after attending an event. We were also interested in exploring the role of depression symptoms on these results as well as the types of goals participants accomplished by attending STST events.MethodsAdult participants who registered for an STST virtual event between March 25 and June 30, 2020, completed a survey before attending the event (pre-event survey; N=64) and a separate survey after attending the event (postevent survey; n=25). Participants reported on their depression symptoms, loneliness, and positive and negative affect. Additionally, participants reported the goals they wished to accomplish as well as those they actually accomplished by attending the STST event.ResultsThe four most cited goals that participants hoped to accomplish before attending the STST event included the following: “to make new friends,” “to have deeper/better conversations with other people,” “to feel less lonely,” and “to practice social skills.” A total of 34% (20/58) of participants who completed the pre-event survey reported depression symptoms that indicated a high risk of a major depressive episode in the preceding 2 weeks. Of the 25 participants who completed the pre- and postevent surveys, participants reported a significant reduction in loneliness (P=.03, Cohen d=0.48) and negative affect (P<.001, Cohen d=1.52) after attending the STST event compared to before the event. Additionally, depressive symptoms were significantly positively correlated with change in negative affect (P=.03), suggesting that the higher the depression score was prior to attending the STST event, the higher the reduction in negative affect was following the event. Finally, 100% of the participants who wished to reduce their loneliness (11/11) or feel less socially anxious (5/5) prior to attending the STST event reported that they accomplished those goals after the event.ConclusionsOur preliminary assessment suggests that the virtual format of STST was helpful for reducing loneliness and negative affect for participants, including those experiencing depression symptoms, during the COVID-19 pandemic. While encouraging, additional research is necessary to demonstrate whether STST has benefits when compared to other social events and interventions and whether such benefits persist beyond the events themselves.

Injection and Non-Injection Drug Use Among Adults with Diagnosed HIV in the United States, 2015-2018.

Understanding behavioral characteristics and health outcomes of people with HIV (PWH) who inject drugs and PWH who use drugs, but do not inject, can help inform public health interventions and improve HIV clinical outcomes. However, recent, nationally representative estimates are lacking. We used 2015-2018 Medical Monitoring Project data to examine health outcome differences among adults with diagnosed HIV who injected drugs or who only used non-injection drugs in the past year. Data were obtained from participant interviews and medical record abstraction. We reported weighted percentages and prevalence ratios with predicted marginal means to assess differences between groups (P < 0.05). PWH who injected drugs were more likely to engage in high-risk sex; experience depression and anxiety symptoms, homelessness, and incarceration; and have lower levels of care retention, antiretroviral therapy adherence, and viral suppression. Tailored, comprehensive interventions are critical for improving outcomes among PWH who use drugs, particularly among those who inject drugs.

Perinatal maternal depressive symptoms and risk of behavioral problems at five years.

Evidence on the association between perinatal maternal depression and children's behavioral development is limited. We investigated the association between maternal depressive symptoms during pregnancy and postpartum and the risk of childhood behavioral problems using data from a birth cohort study. Study subjects were 1199 mother-child pairs. Maternal depressive symptoms were assessed with the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale during pregnancy and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale at 4 months postpartum. Children's behavioral development at 5 years of age was assessed with the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Compared with children whose mothers did not experience depressive symptoms during pregnancy, those whose mothers did experience depressive symptoms during pregnancy had increased risk of emotional symptoms, conduct problems, hyperactivity, peer problems, and low prosocial behavior. Maternal depressive symptoms at around 4 months postpartum were associated with increased risk of childhood emotional problems. Compared with children whose mothers did not experience depressive symptoms during the perinatal period, those whose mothers did experience depressive symptoms both during pregnancy and postpartum had a fivefold increased risk of childhood emotional symptoms and a threefold increased risk of peer problems. Our findings suggest that perinatal maternal depression is associated with behavioral problems in children. Several epidemiological studies in Western countries have examined the association between perinatal maternal depression and children's behavioral development, yet the results are conflicting and inconclusive. There is limited evidence on this topic in Asia. In our study using data from a prospective pregnancy birth cohort, maternal depressive symptoms around 4 months postpartum were associated with an increased risk of emotional symptoms in children aged 5 years. Children whose mothers had exhibited depressive symptoms both during pregnancy and postpartum had a fivefold increased risk of childhood emotional symptoms and a threefold increased risk of peer problems.

The Psychological and Sleep-Related Impact of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): A Systematic Review

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had a global impact on mental health and sleeps quality that is unprecedented in the 21st century. This systematic review aimed to assess the psychological impact of COVID-19 and its effect on people’s sleep. Systematic searches were conducted via PubMed, ScienceDirect, and ProQuest from 2019 to August 2020, following PRISMA guidelines. Articles were selected based on eligibility criteria such as having a cross-sectional study design, assessing the general public’s mental health status or sleep problems, medical workers and non-medical workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, and using standardized and validated scales for measurement. The keywords: COVID-19 OR SARS-CoV-2 AND Mental health OR Psychological health AND General population OR General public AND sleep AND Impact of Coronavirus disease 2019. A total of 23 articles were selected after being assessed. During the period of the COVID-19 pandemic, medical workers were found to have psychological problems such as anxiety, depression, stress, PTSD, psychological distress, somatization symptoms, suicidal ideation, high risk of severe mental illness, worry, and insomnia. Non-medical workers experienced symptoms of depression. The general public experienced psychological problems: depression, anxiety, stress, bad mood, inability to stop thinking about COVID-19, panic, and experiencing sleep problems such as changing sleep patterns, sleep disturbances, sleep quality, difficulty with sleep initiation, and shortened sleep duration. The COVID-19 pandemic has been associated with psychological problems and sleep disorders for medical workers, non-medical workers, and the general public.

Relationships of excessive internet use with depression, anxiety, and sleep quality among high school students in northern Vietnam

PurposeTo examine the associations of excessive internet use with depression, anxiety, and sleep quality among high school students in northern Vietnam, a country experiencing rapid economic growth. Design and methodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in a high school in northern Vietnam from July to September 2019. Symptoms of depression and anxiety were respectively assessed using the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale and the Vietnamese Anxiety Scale. Sleep quality was measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Internet use and demographic characteristics were obtained using structured questionnaires. A multiple logistic regression was performed. ResultsIn total, 678 participants with an average age of 16.1 (standard deviation 0.9) years were included. Nearly one-third of the adolescents (30.7%) exhibited excessive internet use (> 4 h/day), 19.6% experienced depressive symptoms, 14.5% presented anxiety symptoms, and 58.8% reported poor sleep quality. Compared to non-excessive internet users, excessive internet users (> 4 h/day) experienced significantly higher levels of depressive symptoms (p = .001), anxiety (p = .008), and poorer sleep quality (p < .001). Students who were female and with fair/poor self-rated health experienced higher depression, anxiety, and poor sleep quality (p < .05). After adjusting for demographic and health-related factors, students with excessive internet use were 58% more likely to experience poor sleep quality (odds ratio, 1.58, 95% confidence interval [1.06, 2.35]). ConclusionsExcessive internet use in Vietnamese high school students was significantly associated with poor sleep quality, but not with depression or anxiety.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on biopsychosocial health and quality of life among Danish children and adults with neuromuscular diseases (NMD)-Patient reported outcomes from a national survey.

The purpose was to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on biopsychosocial health, daily activities, and quality of life among children and adults with neuromuscular diseases, and to assess the prevalence of COVID-19 infection and the impact of this in patients with neuromuscular diseases. The study was a national questionnaire survey. Responses were obtained from 811 adults (29%) and 67 parents of children (27%) with neuromuscular diseases. Many patients reported decreased health or physical functioning, and changes in access to physiotherapy or healthcare due to the pandemic. Participants generally perceived themselves or their child to be at high risk of severe illness from COVID-19, but only 15 patients had suffered from COVID-19 and experienced mild flu-like symptoms. 25.3% of adults and 46.6% of parents experienced anxiety. 20.4% of adults and 27.6% of parents experienced symptoms of depression. In general, the pandemic contributed to anxiety, a depressed mood as well as to fewer leisure activities, less social contact, isolation from work/school and a reduced quality of life, in particular for patients who perceived themselves to be at high risk of severe illness. The results demonstrate that the pandemic has had a negative impact on biopsychosocial health and quality of life of patients with neuromuscular diseases.

Feelings of Parental Authenticity Moderate Concurrent Links Between Breastfeeding Experience and Symptoms of Postpartum Depression

A negative breastfeeding experience is a contextual risk factor for the development of postpartum depressive symptoms among mothers. Many current interventions targeted at disrupting this association rely on the ability to make breastfeeding experiences positive. As a beginning step toward identifying alternative approaches, we investigated a potential psychological buffer of the negative relation between breastfeeding experience and symptoms of postpartum depression: feeling authentic in one's role as a parent. Authenticity appears to enhance well-being and buffer negative outcomes more generally, but has largely gone unaddressed in mothers, particularly during the critical peripartum period when depressive symptoms are at increased prevalence. We tested whether three facets of felt authenticity in the parent role (authentic living, acceptance of external influence, and self-alienation) moderated the association between satisfaction with breastfeeding experience and postpartum depressive symptoms in mothers (N = 92, 81% White, 85% non-Hispanic, college-educated, Mage = 30.49). We found that mothers who felt high in authentic living in the parent role showed fewer depressive symptoms when breastfeeding experiences were positive. In addition, we found that the association between negative breastfeeding experience and greater postpartum depression was mitigated when feelings of self-alienation in the parent role, or the sense that one is unaware of or disconnected from who “she really is” as a mother, were low. This work suggests that enhancing women's feelings of connectedness to “who they truly are” as a mother may be protective against some of the negative mental health effects linked to problems with breastfeeding.

Face Mask Wearing Behaviors, Depressive Symptoms, and Health Beliefs Among Older People During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected more than 100 countries. Despite the global shortage of face masks, the public has adopted universal mask wearing as a preventive measure in many Asian countries. The COVID-19 mortality rate is higher among older people, who may find that wearing a face mask protects their physical health but jeopardizes their mental health. This study aimed to explore the associations between depressive symptoms, health beliefs, and face mask wearing behaviors among older people. By means of an online survey conducted between March and April 2020, we assessed depressive symptoms, health beliefs regarding COVID-19, and face mask use and reuse among community-dwelling older people. General linear models were employed to explore the associations among these variables. Of the 355 valid participants, 25.6% experienced depressive symptoms. Health beliefs regarding the perceived severity of disease (p = 0.001) and perceived efficacy of practicing preventive measures (p = 0.005) were positively associated with face mask use. Those who reused face masks (p = 0.008) had a stronger belief in disease severity (p < 0.001), had poorer cues to preventive measures (p = 0.002), and were more likely to experience depressive symptoms. Mask reuse was significantly associated with depression only among those who perceived the disease as serious (p = 0.025) and those who had poorer cues to preventive measures (p = 0.004). In conclusion, health beliefs regarding perceived severity and efficacy contributed to more frequent face mask use, which was unrelated to depressive symptoms. Older people who had a stronger belief in disease severity had less adequate cues to preventive measures and reused face masks experienced greater depressive symptoms. A moderation effect of health beliefs (i.e., disease severity and cues to preventive measures) on face mask reuse and depression was observed.

Depression, Anxiety, and Acute Stress Disorder Among Patients Hospitalized With COVID-19: A Prospective Cohort Study.

BackgroundThe epidemiology of psychiatric symptoms among patients with coronavirus disease 2019 is poorly characterized.ObjectiveThis article sought to identify the prevalence of anxiety, depression, and acute stress disorder among hospitalized patients with coronavirus disease 2019.MethodsAdult patients recently admitted to nonintensive care unit medical ward settings with coronavirus disease 2019 were eligible for enrollment. Enrolled patients were screened for depression, anxiety, and delirium. Subsequently, patients were followed up by phone after 2 weeks and rescreened for depression, anxiety, and acute stress disorder symptoms. Subjects' medical records were abstracted for clinical data.ResultsA total of 58 subjects were enrolled; of whom, 44 completed the study. Initially, 36% of subjects had elevated anxiety symptoms and 29% had elevated depression symptoms. At 2-week follow-up, 9% had elevated anxiety symptoms, 20% had elevated depression symptoms, and 25% had mild-to-moderate acute stress disorder symptoms. Discharge to home was not associated with improvement in psychiatric symptoms.ConclusionsA significant number of patients hospitalized with coronavirus disease 2019 experienced symptoms of depression and anxiety. While anxiety improved after index admission, depression remained fairly stable. Furthermore, a significant minority of patients experienced acute stress disorder symptoms, though these were largely mild to moderate.

Mental Health in Women Living With HIV: The Unique and Unmet Needs.

Women living with HIV (WLWH) experience depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress symptoms at higher rates than their male counterparts and more often than HIV-unaffected women. These mental health issues affect not only the well-being and quality of life of WLWH, but have implications for HIV management and transmission prevention. Despite these ramifications, WLWH are under-treated for mental health concerns and they are underrepresented in the mental health treatment literature. In this review, we illustrate the unique mental health issues faced by WLWH such as a high prevalence of physical and sexual abuse histories, caregiving stress, and elevated internalized stigma as well as myriad barriers to care. We examine the feasibility and outcomes of mental health interventions that have been tested in WLWH including cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness-based interventions, and supportive counseling. Future research is required to address individual and systemic barriers to mental health care for WLWH.

Questionnaire to Assess Knowledge, Attitude, and Prevention Behaviors of Taiwanese Postpartum Women Regarding Postpartum Depression

Aim: Postpartum depression is a highly prevalent disorder, and it has been recognized as a public health problem. In Chinese culture, after childbirth, women must stay at home for postpartum confinement. However, more than 50% of postpartum women tend to experience depression symptoms 3–4 days after delivery. Although the prevention and causes of postpartum depression have been extensively studied, the assessment tools used are usually based on Western cultures. A Chinese-version assessment scale was necessary. The objective of this study was to develop a culturally sensitive questionnaire for assessing the knowledge, attitude, and prevention behaviors toward postpartum depression of Taiwanese women, and examined the associations among postpartum depression knowledge, attitude, and prevention. Methods: Two-phase study was conducted. First, a postpartum depression scale was developed and its reliability and validity were tested in 50 people. Second, 639 postpartum women from seven hospitals were asked to complete the questionnaire. Results: The questionnaire, which contained four subscales and 16 questions (Cronbach's α = .82–.84), was administered in the postpartum room and required 5–10 min for completion. This questionnaire showed face validity and high acceptance, the factor analysis showed that the questionnaire has acceptable structural reliability. High scores on the postpartum depression knowledge and attitude subscales were associated with higher prevention behavior subscale scores. Conclusion: The finding of this questionnaire is an effective tool for determining postpartum women’s understanding of postpartum depression. Understanding postpartum depression knowledge, attitude and prevention are essential to assess and promote the postnatal care

Anxiety, depression and health locus of control in secondary school students during the COVID-19 pandemic

Introduction: During the COVID-19 pandemic young people are experiencing anxiety and tension associated with an unusual, unclear and unpredictable situation. Deterioration of the economic situation resulting from the pandemic, social distancing, school closure and a real threat to health and life are strong anxiety-inducing factors. Aim: The aim of the study was to determine the level of depression among adolescents and which of the factors related to the pandemic (health-related anxieties and restrictions) were the most difficult for them. We also wanted to verify the differences in depression and anxiety in girls and boys, and the relationship between anxiety, depression and health locus of control in adolescents. Method: The study covered 296 people from 17 to 19 years old. The research was carried out using the Kutcher Adolescent Depression Scale (KADS), the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control (MHLC). Results: The results of the study indicate that the youth experience elevated levels of depression during the COVID-19 pandemic. 75% of the participants experienced depression symptoms. The severity of the perceived state of anxiety and depressive symptoms was significantly higher among adolescent girls than among boys. In addition, individuals who reported anxious thoughts about the possibility of someone in their family contracting COVID-19 experienced significantly higher levels of depressive symptoms than those who did not. Additionally, the internal health locus of control negatively correlated with both anxiety as a state and depression, while the external (chance-related) health locus of control correlated positively with depression and anxiety.

Factors Affecting Mental Health Outcomes of Healthcare Workers During Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Pandemic at Cardinal Santos Medical Center

Background: The outbreak of the novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 2020. Studies show that healthcare workers from previous pandemics (A/H1N1 influenza; severe acute respiratory syndrome, SARS), have experienced high levels of stress, anxiety and low mood with negative psychological impacts sustained after one year. This paper aims to identify factors affecting mental health outcomes of healthcare workers during Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic at Cardinal Santos Medical Center. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study of factors affecting mental health outcome of healthcare workers with direct contact to a patient with confirmed or suspected case Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) at Cardinal Santos Medical Center from March 2020 to September 2020. The severity of mental health outcome in terms of depression, anxiety and distress were measured using the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire, the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale, and the 22-item Impact of Event Scale–Revised, respectively. Binomial multiple logistic regression model was used to identify the factors associated with mental health outcome. Results: A total of 172 healthcare workers were included in this study. Prevalence of depression, anxiety and distress symptoms among all healthcare workers were 57%, 47.7%, 65.1%, respectively. After multivariate analysis, age and living with a family with comorbidities are significantly associated with depression and anxiety. Healthcare workers aged 31 years and above are 70% less likely to have depression symptoms (OR 0.278, CI 95%, 0.11-0.72 p=0.008 and OR 0.273, CI 95%, 0.12-0.61, p=0.002). Those living with relatives with comorbidities are 2.7 times more likely to experience depression symptoms (OR 2.731, CI 95%, 1.36-5.5, p=0.005). Healthcare workers age 31-40 years has 80% less likely to experience anxiety symptoms (OR 0.212, CI 95%, 0.09-0.5, p<0.001), and those age 41 and above have 73% less likely to have anxiety symptoms (OR 0.37, CI 95%, 0.14-0.98, p<0.045). Those living with relatives with comorbidities are 2.9 times more likely to have anxiety symptoms (OR 2.889, CI 95%, 1.46-5.73, p=0.002). Level of knowledge on COVID-19 among health care workers significantly differs across severity but has no significant association with prevalence of depression. No factors were associated with distress symptom. Conclusion: Emotional strain by health care workers during pandemic can cause adverse outcomes not only for individual wellbeing, but also for patient care and the healthcare system. Cognizant of high rates of depression, anxiety and distress among our younger health care workers living with relatives with comorbidities during this time will be a challenge to both hospital management and the government to establish and/or improve existing programs to promote mental wellbeing and address their mental health needs. These programs should be readily available and accessible to healthcare workers seeking psychological support. Psychological stress can accumulate over time and have an impact later in the outbreak, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which should be investigated in future studies. Funding Statement: No Funding. Declaration of Interests: No conflict of interest. Ethics Approval Statement: The clinical protocol was reviewed and approved by the Research Ethics Review Committee (RERC) of Cardinal Santos Medical Center. The researchers ensured that all information gathered were kept strictly confidential and used solely for the purpose of the study. An informed consent was given is attached together with the questionnaire.

University Students' Perceived Peer Support and Experienced Depressive Symptoms during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Mediating Role of Emotional Well-Being.

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has adversely affected individuals’ mental health. Social isolation as a result of social distancing during the pandemic potentially affects the associations among perceived available peer support, emotional well-being, and depression in university students. The present study examined the associations among university students’ perceived available peer support, emotional well-being (as indicated negatively by loneliness and negative affects and positively by positive affects and hope), and depressive symptoms. During the third wave of the COVID-19 outbreak in July, 2020, 255 students at a public university in Hong Kong participated in an online-based survey that assessed their perceived available peer support, emotional well-being, and depressive symptoms. Results showed that perceived available peer support negatively contributed to depressive symptoms; both negative and positive indicators of emotional well-being mediated the association between perceived available peer support and depressive symptoms. Our results also suggested that university students showed signs of elevated depressive symptoms during the pandemic. Thus, our study advanced the theoretical understanding of university students’ mental health in the time of a global pandemic. Our study also highlighted the practical needs for preventive efforts and accessible care to support the psychological and emotional needs of young people during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Health behaviors in major chronic diseases patients: trends and regional variations analysis, 2008\u20132017, Korea

BackgroundImproving the health behaviors of those with chronic diseases such as hypertension and diabetes is important for disease management. Few in-depth studies have been conducted in Korea on the health behaviors of chronic disease patients. This study examined the health behaviors of chronic disease patients over time and compared them with those of the general population.MethodsCross-sectional time-series data obtained from the Korea Community Health Survey from 2008 to 2017 were analyzed. Thirteen diseases were included in this analysis, namely, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, stroke, myocardial infarction, angina, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, asthma, allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, cataract, and depression. The current smoking rate, drinking rate, and the walking rate, which are leading health behaviors necessary for preventing chronic diseases, were analyzed by disease type. We compared patients’ health behaviors with those of the general population and identified regional variations.ResultsAlthough the current overall smoking rate was seemingly declining, the overall monthly drinking and high-risk drinking rates were increasing. In 2017, patients experiencing depression symptoms had a higher smoking rate than did the general population; hypertension and diabetes patients had a higher risk-drinking rate than did the latter. The general population’s walking rate was highest. There were considerable variations by region among chronic disease patients.ConclusionsChronic disease patients displayed worse health behaviors than those of the general population, in some instances. Rather than focusing only on chronic disease patients’ medication adherence, strategies must be devised to increase their smoking cessation rate, decrease their drinking rate, and increase their walking rate.

DESCRIPTION OF DEPRESSION SYMPTOMS IN HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS AT JEMURSARI HOSPITAL, SURABAYA

Chronic kidney disease is decreasing glomerular filtration rate of less than 15mL/minute which causes someone to undergo a hemodialysis therapy that replaces kidney function. The course of chronic kidney disease is progressive and irreversible and may cause psychological problems in hemodialysis patients such as depression. This study aimed to describe to what extent patients under hemodialysis treatment at Jemursari Hospital, Surabaya experience depression symptoms in patients. This study was descriptive research with a cross-sectional approach. The simple random sampling technique was performed to select 72 patients who had scheduled hemodialysis treatment and been qualified for the inclusion criteria. Data were then analyed using a univariate analysis in variable frequency distribution. The results show that patients with depression symptoms were mostly men as many as 31 people (43.1%), and the majority were aged 46-65 years as many as 24 people (49%). The latest formal education in most respondents was high school (23.6%). There were 38 respondents (77.5%) who got married, and most respondents were unemployed (77.5%) and had undergone hemodialysis for more than 12 months (77.5%). This study concludes that the patients under hemodialysis treatment at the hospital experienced mild depression symptoms. Keyword: hemodialysis, depression, Beck Depression Inventory.

Development and preliminary validation of a depressive symptomatology detection scale among children and adolescents on the autism spectrum.

Many individuals on the autism spectrum experience depressive symptoms. These symptoms contribute to poor quality of life and may have a more negative impact than core autistic features. However, identifying depressive symptoms among individuals on the spectrum is a real challenge. In this study, we investigate the psychometric qualities of a French scale for evaluating depressive symptoms among youth on the autism spectrum. Participants were 153 autistic children and adolescents aged between 3 and 17 years. The majority of the sample was male (73.86%). One of their parents completed the scale for evaluating depressive symptoms among youth on the autism spectrum during an interview with a psychologist. Overall, the findings indicate the scale may be reliably used with children and adolescents on the autism spectrum. Experts deemed the items as being representative of depressive symptoms. The scale is composed of two factors: behavioral changes on one hand and cognitive and emotional changes on the other. The results are encouraging and show the scale is a promising instrument for assessing Major Depressive Disorder symptomatology among youth on the spectrum. Future studies should focus on testing this scale among adults and developing an auto-evaluative section.

\u2018I Felt Like I was Floating in Space\u2019: Autistic Adults\u2019 Experiences of Low Mood and Depression

It is recognised that a high proportion of adults on the autism spectrum experience depressive symptoms. However, limited research has explored autistic peoples’ experiences of low mood and depression. The aim of this study was to explore the lived experiences of low mood and depression for adults on the autism spectrum. The study employed Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis to investigate the experiences of 8 adults (7 males and 1 female), aged between 19 and 51, who had a diagnosis of autism without co-occurring learning disabilities, and experienced low mood or depression. All participants recorded their thoughts and feelings in a mood diary for 1 week and participated in a semi-structured interview. Three superordinate themes emerged from the data: ‘Autism has made me the person I am’, ‘I can’t function in the world’ and ‘It’s like trying to do accounts on the futures market’: Making sense of emotions. Findings highlight a need for specialist mental health provision for adults who are on the autism spectrum. Limitations of this study and implications for future research are discussed.

Mindful Moms: Motivation to Self-Manage Depression Symptoms.

Nearly 20% of women in the United States experience depressive symptoms during the perinatal period, with known detrimental effects for the mother, child, and family. Depressive symptoms affect motivation to engage in healthy behaviors and self-management of symptoms. The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of women with depressive symptoms who participated in a 12-week mindful physical activity intervention (Mindful Moms) throughout their pregnancy. In this qualitative study, we explore the lived experience of women with depressive symptoms who participated in Mindful Moms, a self-management intervention involving nurse-led motivational sessions and group-based mindful physical activity (yoga). Semistructured interviews conducted at approximately 6 weeks postpartum provided rich qualitative data that was analyzed using a phenomenological approach. Twenty-five women participated. Findings suggest that participants in Mindful Moms felt empowered to manage their depressive symptoms through the combination of four key factors: a newly recognized need for help, a felt sense of physical and emotional benefit from participation, the power of shared safe space with other pregnant women, support from study staff, and an overall sense of empowerment. Mindful Moms appears to be a feasible and acceptable approach to enhancing motivation to self-manage depressive symptoms in pregnant women. Nurses working with childbearing women should be aware of the potential benefits of self-management strategies, such as mindful physical activity and motivational interviewing, for women facing perinatal depressive symptoms.

Esketamine Nasal Spray for Treatment-Resistant Depression

Major depression affects millions of adults in the United States, and women are affected at twice the rate of men. Approximately 30% of individuals may continue to experience depression symptoms despite treatment with oral antidepressants. In March 2019, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved esketamine (Spravato), which is specifically indicated for treatment-resistant depression. Available as a nasal spray in a health care office or facility, esketamine has the potential to fill an unmet need for individuals who continue to experience depression with conventional treatment. Symptom improvement may be seen as rapidly as 1 week after treatment initiation. This article provides an overview of esketamine, including administration, adverse effects, and practice implications for women’s health nurses.