Hopkins Symptom Checklist Scores Research Articles

Association between caregiver depression symptoms and child executive functioning. Results from an observational study carried out in four sub-Saharan countries

ABSTRACTDepressive symptoms among HIV-positive (HIV+) women may negatively impact their health and possibly that of their young children through risk of compromised caregiving. We evaluated how depression symptoms in predominantly (97%) female caregivers relate to neurodevelopmental outcomes in their HIV affected children. Data come from the IMPAACT P1104s Study, an observational cohort across six sites in four countries: Zimbabwe, South Africa, Uganda and Malawi. Participants (n = 611) were 5–11-year-old children with HIV (HIV), HIV exposed uninfected (HEU), or HIV unexposed uninfected (HUU). Primary caregivers were assessed for depression with the Hopkins Symptom Checklist (HSCL) and children with Behavior Rating Inventory for Executive Function (BRIEF) parent-report, Kauffman Assessment Battery for Children II (KABC), Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency 2nd Ed. (BOT-2), Test of Variables of Attention (TOVA), Multiple Indicators Cluster Survey, Child Disability and Development scales (MICS-4). Caregivers with higher depression scores (>1.75 mean HSCL score) reported more executive function problems in their children, regardless of HIV status. All executive function scores were significantly (p < 0.001) associated with depressive symptomatology at baseline and across time. Caregiver depressive symptomatology was not associated with other assessed neurocognitive outcomes. These results highlight the potential impact of caregiver depression on child behavioral outcomes.

Effectiveness of a collaborative care intervention for managing major depression and chronic musculoskeletal pain in primary care: A cluster-randomised controlled trial

BackgroundDepression and chronic musculoskeletal pain commonly occur as comorbid conditions, which increases their negative effects on health outcomes. The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of the DROP (DepRessiOn and Pain) programme designed for the management of major depression and chronic musculoskeletal pain in primary care. MethodsA cluster-randomised controlled trial was carried out between June 2015 and December 2017 with 328 patients with major depression and chronic musculoskeletal pain, randomly allocated to either intervention arm or usual care arm. The intervention included care management, optimised management of depression, and a psychoeducational programme. Outcomes were monitored using blinded interviews over a 12-month period. Trial registration: NCT02605278 (ClinicalTrials.gov). ResultsAfter 12 months, 274 patients were evaluated (83.5% participation). The severity of depression (Hopkins Symptom Checklist score) was 0.23 points lower in the intervention arm [1.11 vs. 1.34; CI95% = -0.42 to -0.04]. Intervention arm's response rate to antidepressant treatment was 18.9% higher [39.6% vs. 20.7%; OR = 2.74; CI95% = 1.12–6.67] and its remission rate for depression was 9.0% higher [20.1% vs. 11.1%; OR = 2.13; CI95% = 0.94–4.85] compared to the usual care arm. There were no significant differences between the two arms in terms of pain severity (Brief Pain Inventory severity score) [6.23 vs. 6.66; difference = -0.39; CI95% = -1.13–0.35] or pain response rate [18.7% vs. 18.5%; OR = 1.02; CI95% = 0.46–2.26]. LimitationsThis is a pragmatic study, and poor adherence to the programme by patients and physicians was a main limitation. ConclusionThe programme improves clinical outcomes for depression, although no clinical benefits were seen for pain.

Impact of different controlled ovarian stimulation protocols on the physical and psychological burdens in women undergoing in vitro fertilization/intra cytoplasmic sperm injection

CONTEXT:Infertility treatment involves a considerable amount of physical and psychological burden which may impact the outcome.AIM:The objective was to understand the amount of physical and psychological burden in women undergoing their first in vitro fertilization (IVF)/intra cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles.SETTING AND DESIGN:Multi-center, prospective, parallel, observational study.MATERIALS AND METHODS:The study was conducted across 12 IVF centers in India. A total of 692 women undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation as a part of the first cycle IVF/ICSI completed the trial. Women were recruited in 2 groups based on type of treatment (Group A - gonadotropin-releasing hormone [GnRH] antagonist; Group B - GnRH agonist) and were asked to fill questionnaires during the 2 treatment visits.RESULTS:The mean changes between Visit 1 (baseline) and Visit 2 in anxiety and depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) scores in Group A for anxiety and depression were −0.5 (3.67), −0.1 (3.57) respectively and for Group B were −0.4 (3.68), 0.1 (3.67) respectively, which was not statistically significant. In Group A, the mean (±standard deviation [SD]) Hopkins Symptom Check List (HSCL) score was 17.9 (±5.17) in visit 1 and 19.1 (±5.45) Visit 2. The change between visits was 1.1 (P < 0.0001) with higher score reflecting higher somatic distress symptoms. In Group B, the mean (±SD) HSCL score was 18.2 (±5.19) in Visit 1 and 18.8 (±5.23) in visit 2. The change between visits was 0.6 (P < 0.0014). The difference of the mean change in physical burden between Group A and Group B was not statistically significant.CONCLUSION:A significant impact in both treatment protocols with respect to the physical burden was found between Visit 1 and Visit 2 but no difference in physical or psychological burden between the two treatment groups was observed.

Psychological and Socio-Demographic Data Contributing to the Resilience of Holocaust Survivors

ABSTRACTThe authors provide a within-group study of 65 Former Hidden Children (FHC; i.e., Jewish youths who spent World War II in various hideaway shelters across Nazi-occupied Europe) evaluated by the Hopkins Symptom Check List (HSCL), the Sense of Coherence Scale (SOCS), the Resilience Scale for Adults (RSA), and a socio-demographic questionnaire. The aim of the present article is to address the sensitization model of resilience (consisting in a reduction of resistance to additional stress due to previous exposure to trauma) and to identify the family, psychological, and socio-demographic characteristics that predict resilience among a group of FHC. The RSA score is negatively correlated with the number of post-war traumas and positively correlated with the SOCS score. FHC who have children present a higher RSA score than FHC who have no children. RSA global score negatively and significantly predicts HSCL score. In a global multivariate model, and in accordance with the sensitization model, the number of post-war traumas negatively predicts the RSA score. Moreover, the SOCS score and the number of children positively predict it. Therapeutic implications are discussed, limitations are considered, and further investigations are proposed.

Condemning Self, Condemning Other: Blame and Mental Health in Women Suffering Stillbirth

Every year around the globe there are more than two million stillbirths, yet stillbirth is generally treated as a non-event, considered less impactful than the death of a live-born child. In up to 60 percent of third-trimester stillbirths, the causes of death were attributed to maternal conditions or were "undetermined." As a result, mothers blame themselves or specific others. This analysis set out to determine how the attitudes of 2,232 bereaved mothers predict their mental health outcomes measuring depressive and anxious symptoms with the Hopkins Symptom Checklist (HSCL). Of the women sampled, 24.6% reported blaming themselves, and 42.3% reported elevated HSCL mean scores. Self-blame in particular is correlated with symptoms of anxiety and depression. Multivariate analyses predicting elevated HSCL scores demonstrated the importance of time after death, level of education, and reported abuse during pregnancy in the models, as did self-blame and blaming others. Controlling for other demographic and pregnancy-related variables, self-blame was the strongest predictor of poor mental health outcomes. Implications for mental health counselors are discussed.

Sexual Relationship Power and Depression among HIV-Infected Women in Rural Uganda

BackgroundDepression is associated with increased HIV transmission risk, increased morbidity, and higher risk of HIV-related death among HIV-infected women. Low sexual relationship power also contributes to HIV risk, but there is limited understanding of how it relates to mental health among HIV-infected women.MethodsParticipants were 270 HIV-infected women from the Uganda AIDS Rural Treatment Outcomes study, a prospective cohort of individuals initiating antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Mbarara, Uganda. Our primary predictor was baseline sexual relationship power as measured by the Sexual Relationship Power Scale (SRPS). The primary outcome was depression severity, measured with the Hopkins Symptom Checklist (HSCL), and a secondary outcome was a functional scale for mental health status (MHS). Adjusted models controlled for socio-demographic factors, CD4 count, alcohol and tobacco use, baseline WHO stage 4 disease, social support, and duration of ART.ResultsThe mean HSCL score was 1.34 and 23.7% of participants had HSCL scores consistent with probable depression (HSCL>1.75). Compared to participants with low SRPS scores, individuals with both moderate (coefficient b = −0.21; 95%CI, −0.36 to −0.07) and high power (b = −0.21; 95%CI, −0.36 to −0.06) reported decreased depressive symptomology. High SRPS scores halved the likelihood of women meeting criteria for probable depression (adjusted odds ratio = 0.44; 95%CI, 0.20 to 0.93). In lagged models, low SRPS predicted subsequent depression severity, but depression did not predict subsequent changes in SPRS. Results were similar for MHS, with lagged models showing SRPS predicts subsequent mental health, but not visa versa. Both Decision-Making Dominance and Relationship Control subscales of SRPS were associated with depression symptom severity.ConclusionsHIV-infected women with high sexual relationship power had lower depression and higher mental health status than women with low power. Interventions to improve equity in decision-making and control within dyadic partnerships are critical to prevent HIV transmission and to optimize mental health of HIV-infected women.

Psychological Functioning in a Cohort of Gay Men at Risk for AIDS

This study describes the mental health of a large cohort of gay men participating in the Chicago Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study/Coping and Change Study. Six biannual questionnaires were self-administered between 1984 and 1988. General mental health was determined by the Hopkins Symptom Checklist (HSCL). An abbreviated version of the Center for Epidemiologic Study Depression Scale (CESD-5) and an adapted Diagnostic Interview Schedule (DIS) question also measured depression. Suicidal ideation was assessed by one question in the HSCL. AIDS-specific distress was determined by three subscales specifically developed for this study. While mean HSCL and CESD-5 scores were stable during the observational period, AIDS-specific distress increased over time. The HSCL scores for the cohort were somewhat elevated above general population norms but considerably below psychiatric outpatient norms. Fewer than 12% of the men reported elevated HSCL or CESD-5 scores three or more times. A self-reported episode of depression of two weeks or more, measured by the DIS screening question, was experienced by 40.1% of the sample. Suicidal ideation was reported on three or more visits by 18.8% of the men. The younger members of this cohort exhibit greater general and AIDS-specific distress. Income was inversely associated with general distress. HIV-seropositive participants had generally higher AIDS-specific distress scores than those who were seronegative, but their scores were equivalent on the HSCL and CESD-5.

The Value of Self-Report Assessment in Studies of Anxiety Disorders

This review compares the sensitivities of a physician-rated scale, the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAS), and a patient-rated scale, the Hopkins Symptom Checklist (HSCL), in detecting the anti-anxiety effects of benzodiazepines in a large sample of placebo-controlled trials. Scales and subscales were compared within the same study, a methodologic feature unique to this review. The total score, psychic factor, and somatic factor of the HAS were equally sensitive to the effects of benzodiazepines. The total score, anxiety factor, and somatization factor of the HSCL also were equally sensitive. The HAS total score, however, was consistently more sensitive than any of the HSCL scores. There was no evidence that physicians used side effects to make their ratings more sensitive. Sedative side effects, however, adversely affected the sensitivity of patient ratings. The data suggest that patient ratings reflect a cost-benefit computation taking account of both antianxiety and sedative effects.

A 3-year outcome study of normal-weight bulimia: Assessment of psychosocial functioning and eating attitudes

The Eating Attitudes Test, Social Adjustment Scale: Self-Report (SAS-SR), and Hopkins Symptom Checklist (HSCL) were administered to 18 normal-weight bulimics at 1- and 3-year followups. Eating attitudes and depressive symptoms improved significantly at year 1. There was no significant improvement on the SAS-SR at year 1. At year 3, significant improvement in all HSCL scores was evident, but only in the Work scale of the SAS-SR.

One-Year Follow-up of Anxious Patients Treated with Diazepam

A 1-year follow-up was conducted on patients who had participated in a 6-month diazepam maintenance study. Of 180 patients contacted, 131 patients (73%) responded. Observed relapse rate was 63%, and Hopkins Symptom Checklist (HSCL) scores at follow-up were significantly higher for relapsed than for nonrelapsed patients. Two thirds of all relapsed patients sought some kind of medical, social, or psychiatric help, frequently including medication. Patients who were the most improved at the end of the diazepam maintenance trial consistently had the lowest HSCL scores at the time of follow-up. The implication of these findings for the management of chronic anxious patients is discussed.

Therapy improvement in two out-patient mental health clinics.

This study describes clients, therapists, treatment characteristics, and therapy outcomes for 551 consecutive, first-time clients at two out-patient mental health clinics. Significant improvement was found on target problems, global outcome ratings, and Hopkins Symptom Checklist scores for clients who mutually terminated therapy. The target problem and outcome ratings remained higher for this group than for dropouts at a six-month follow-up interview. Clients who improved most were those who were initially most uncomfortable and disturbed. Improvement was also strongly related to the number of therapy sessions. The implications of these and other results are discussed.