Increased Risk Of Depression Research Articles

Frailty increases depression risk independently of cognitive decline: Insights from Mendelian randomization and cross-sectional analysis

BackgroundFrailty, cognitive decline, and depression are common syndromes among the elderly and are closely interconnected. However, it is still unclear whether the impact of frailty on depression depends on the role of cognitive decline. MethodWe conducted the Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis based on the instrumental variables (IVs) from the genome-wide association study (GWAS) databases, and we also performed a cross-sectional study consisting of 1362 older adults aged ≥65 for validation. ResultsThe results of the multivariable MR analysis showed that frailty significantly increased the risk of depression, even after controlling for the influence of cognitive performance. Conversely, after controlling for frailty, the effect of cognitive performance on depression risk was noticeably reduced. In the cross-sectional study, frailty mediated 24.04 % of the relationship between cognition and depression, and cognition mediated 7.63 % of the relationship between frailty and depression. ConclusionsWe provide evidence that frailty could increase depression risk independently of cognitive decline. Further research with a larger sample size is necessary.

Associations between rest–activity/light-exposure rhythm characteristics and depression in United States adults: A population-based study

This cross-sectional study investigated the association between 24-hour rest-activity rhythm (RAR), light exposure rhythm (LER), and depression symptoms in American adults, using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2011–2014, N = 6852). RAR and LER characteristics were derived from a 24-hour activity recorder and analyzed using the extended cosine model, focusing on intradaily variability (IV), interdaily stability (IS), and relative amplitude (RA). Depression was assessed via the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9).Multiple logistic and linear regression models showed that higher IV in RAR and LER were associated with increased depression risk (RAR-IV OR = 1.92 [95 % CI: 0.89–4.13]; LER-IV OR = 2.5 [1.45–4.30]), while higher IS and RA in both rhythms were linked to lower depression risk (RAR-IS OR = 0.22 [0.10–0.48], RAR-RA OR = 0.20 [0.11–0.37], LER-IS OR = 0.22 [0.10–0.49], LER-RA OR = 0.29 [0.15–0.56]). Participants in the highest tertile for IS and RA had a significantly lower depression risk compared to the lowest tertile. Subgroup analyses indicated interactions between age and RAR-IV, gender and LER-IV, and BMI and LER-RA (p-interaction < 0.05). Disruptions in RAR and LER are positively associated with depression, emphasizing the need for rhythm regulation interventions considering age, gender, and BMI factors.

Depression risk and resilience in a diverse sample of older adults in the United States

Living in poor and physically deteriorating neighborhoods is associated with heightened likelihood of experiencing depression. At the same time, not all people experience their neighborhoods in the same way. We predicted and tested the possibility that variability in this association can be explained by the social support that people derive both from their personal networks and other people residing in the same neighborhood, and that this moderation varies by race/ethnicity. Health and Retirement Study data (2018/2020 waves) were used to evaluate the role of individual-level and contextual risk and resilience factors in association with depression among US older non-Hispanic white adults (n = 4,986, mean age 67 years), non-Hispanic black adults (n = 1,342, mean age 65 years), and Hispanic adults (n = 937, mean age 64 years). Four notable findings emerged. First, perceived neighborhood disorder was related to increased depression risk for non-Hispanic white and black participants, but not Hispanic participants. Second, participants residing in census tracts with higher poverty rates were more likely to report depression. Third, non-Hispanic white participants residing in census tracts with greater Hispanic resident density had reduced depression risk. This same pattern was not observed among non-Hispanic black participants. Finally, perceived support from family was associated with reduced depression risk among all participants. These data suggest both individual- and contextual-level sources of risk and resiliency for depression. The implications for theories that seek to explain the relative resilience to neighborhood disorder observed among US Hispanic residents are discussed.

Exposure to acrylamide and increased risk of depression mediated by inflammation, oxidative stress, and alkaline phosphatase: Evidence from a nationally representative population-based study

BackgroundThe health risk associated with acrylamide exposure has emerged as a significant issue of public health, attracting global attention. However, epidemiologic evidence on whether and how daily acrylamide exposure increases depression risk of the general population is unclear. MethodsThe study included 3991 adults from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The urinary metabolites of acrylamide (N-Acetyl-S-(2-carbamoylethyl)-L-cysteine [AAMA] and N-Acetyl-S-(2-carbamoyl-2-hydroxyethyl)-L-cysteine [GAMA]) identified as reliable indicators of acrylamide exposure were examined to determine their relationships with depressive symptoms that were evaluated using the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire. Besides, the measurements of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and biomarkers of inflammation (white blood cell [WBC] count) and anti-oxidative stress (albumin [ALB]) were conducted to investigate their mediation roles in above relationships. ResultAAMA, GAMA, and ΣUAAM (AAMA+GAMA) were linearly associated with increased risk of depressive symptoms. Each 2.7-fold increase in AAMA, GAMA, or ΣUAAM was associated with a 30 % (odds ratio: 1.30; 95 % confidence interval: 1.09, 1.55), 47 % (1.47; 1.16, 1.87), or 36 % (1.36; 1.13, 1.63) increment in risk of depressive symptoms, respectively. Increased WBC count (mediated proportion: 4.48–8.00 %), decreased ALB (4.88–7.78 %), and increased ALP (4.93–5.23 %) significantly mediated the associations between acrylamide metabolites and depressive symptoms. ConclusionsAcrylamide exposure of the general adult population was related to increased risk of depressive symptoms, which was mediated in part by inflammation, oxidative stress, and increased ALP. Our findings provided pivotal epidemiologic evidence for depression risk increment from exposure to acrylamide.

Exploring depression risk among breast cancer survivors: A nationwide cohort study in South Korea.

19 Background: With advances in early diagnosis and treatment, the population of breast cancer survivors globally continues to grow. Depression among these survivors poses a significant concern for their long-term survivorship and overall quality of life. This study aims to investigate the incidence of depression among breast cancer survivors and identify associated risk factors. Methods: We used the National Health Insurance Service database of Korea from 2010 to 2016 and examined 59,340 breast cancer survivors and 1:2 age-matched individuals without breast cancer to investigate the incidence of depression. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to calculate the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). The risk of depression was assessed based on age, categorizing individuals as under or over 50 years old. We conducted 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year lag sensitivity analysis to demonstrate changes in risk over time. The study identified risk factors for developing depression through multivariable Cox regression, and Kaplan-Meier analysis was conducted to illustrate the incidence probabilities of depression in breast cancer survivors. Results: Breast cancer survivors exhibited a 39% increased risk of depression compared to individuals without breast cancer, and those under the age of 50 years facing higher risk than their older counterparts (HR 1.64, 95% CI 1.58-1.70 and HR 1.23, 95% CI 1.20-1.27, respectively). Chemotherapy (anthracycline and taxane) and endocrine therapy (tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitor) emerged as potential risk factors for depression among breast cancer survivors. Sensitivity analysis revealed a decreasing trend in depression risk over time, particularly among survivors aged older than 50 years. Conclusions: This study highlights a significant increase in depression risk among breast cancer survivors, particularly those under 50 years old. Specific treatments such as chemotherapy and endocrine therapy were identified as potential risk factors. These findings emphasize the necessity for targeted interventions and support strategies to address the heightened risk of depression in breast cancer survivors, ultimately improving their long-term well-being and quality of life.

How do victims of bullying develop depression? Testing interpersonal style to explain the victimization-depression link.

This study tested to what extent the relation between bullying victimization and future symptoms of depression could be explained by victims being more hostile and less assertive than non-involved individuals. Data came from waves 2-4 of the Dutch TRacking Adolescents' Individual Lives Survey (TRAILS). Participants' bullying experiences were assessed at age 13, interpersonal style at age 16, and depression symptoms at age 19. Mediation analyses were performed primarily on 274 self-reported victims and 1498 non-involved peers. Self-reported victims had an increased risk for depression symptoms. About a third of that risk could be explained by victims' hostile style, which was also higher than those of non-involved peers. Although victims also reported lower levels of assertiveness than non-involved peers, this interpersonal style did not mediate the link between bullying victimization and depression. Our findings suggest that high hostility, but not low assertiveness, partly explains the increased depression risk of self-reported victims. Therefore, interventions could focus on addressing hostility, to help reduce the likelihood that adolescents who have experienced bullying victimization will have more interpersonal conflicts and mental health problems in the future. Supplementary materials also include analyses for bullies and bully-victims, and for peer-reported measures.

Replacement of sedentary behavior with various physical activities and the risk of incident depression: a prospective analysis of accelerator-measured and self-reported UK Biobank data.

To examine the dose‒response relationships of sedentary behavior (SB) and physical activities (PAs) with depression, and to explore the effects of replacing SB with PAs on depression risk. The study used data from UK Biobank aged 37 to 73 years. Light physical activity (LPA), moderate-to-vigorous activity (MVPA), sleep duration, and total sedentary behavior (TSB) were measured by accelerometers. Self-reported SB was also adopted when daily screen-sedentary behavior time (SSB) and leisure-sedentary behavior time (LSB) were the focus. Incident depression was obtained from the part of mental and behavioral disorders in the "first occurrence fields" of UK Biobank. A Cox proportional hazard model and isotemporal substitution model were performed to explore the associations of LPA, MVPA, TSB, LSB, SSB, and sleep on depression and the effects of replacing SB time with equal PA time. Highest levels of MVPA (HR = 0.58, 95%CI: 0.50-0.68) were associated with decreased depression risk compared with the lowest level (Q1). Longer SSB time (HR = 1.18, 95%CI: 1.06-1.32), LSB time (HR = 1.19, 95%CI: 1.07-1.32), and TSB time (HR = 1.17, 95%CI: 1.00-1.38) could increase depression risk significantly. Replacing 1h/day TSB, SSB, and LSB with MVPA brought the greatest risk reductions [31% (HR = 0.69, 95%CI: 0.62-0.77), 30% (HR = 0.70, 95%CI: 0.65-0.77), and 29% (HR = 0.71, 95%CI: 0.65-0.77)]. Under the same conditions, the effects of LPA replacement were also significant, but weaker than those of MVPA. Subgroup analyses showed that replacing 1h/d TSB with LPA could significantly decrease the depression risk for the females, but not for the males. Large benefits for reducing the risk of incident depression could be attained by replacing a period of TSB, SSB, or LSB with equal PA time, especially for MVPA. Regular PA and less SB were recommended for improving mental health.

Low Vitamin D Concentration Is Associated with Increased Depression Risk in Adults 20-44 Years Old, an NHANES 2007-2018 Data Analysis with a Focus on Perinatal and Breastfeeding Status.

The objective was to investigate associations of serum vitamin D concentration with depressive symptoms and assess the impact that vitamin D concentration has on the occurrence of depressive symptoms in 20-44-year-old pregnant women, postpartum women, non-pp women (non-pregnant/postpartum women), and men, including a separate subgroup analysis of postpartum breastfeeding and non-breastfeeding women. The study populations were selected from the 2007-2018 NHANES public data. Subjective interview data and objective laboratory data including depressive symptoms, serum vitamin D concentration, nutrient intake, and demographic information were utilized. Two diet patterns were created using principal component analysis, and a Bayesian multinomial model was fit to predict the depression outcomes for each subpopulation. The estimates for the log vitamin D slope parameter were negative for all cohorts; as vitamin D increased, the probability of having no depression increased, while the probability of depression decreased. The pregnant cohort had the steepest vitamin D slope, followed by postpartum women, then non-pp women and men. Higher vitamin D concentration had more impact on decreasing depression risk in pregnant and postpartum women compared to non-pp women and men. Among postpartum women, higher vitamin D concentration had a greater influence on decreasing breastfeeding women's depression risk than non-breastfeeding women.

Antibiotic exposure and depression incidence: A cohort study of the Korean population

Recent research highlights the crucial role of the gut-brain axis in understanding depression etiologies. While burgeoning studies suggest an association between disruptions in gut microbiota and the development of depression, limited longitudinal studies have investigated this link. To address this gap, we conducted a retrospective cohort study using National Health Insurance Service-Health Screening Cohort (NHIS-HEALS) data in South Korea, involving 199,144 individuals aged 40–79. We examined the impact of cumulative antibiotic exposure (2004–2008) on subsequent depression incidence (2009–2013) by conducting Cox proportional hazards regressions. Our findings show an increasing depression risk with extended antibiotic exposure after adjusting for comorbidities and behavioral covariates. A broader antibiotic spectrum was associated with a higher depression risk. These trends persisted after adjusting for the original antibiotic indications. In conclusion, our study highlights the duration-dependent association between antibiotic exposure and increased depression risk, offering insights into depression etiologies and relevant novel therapeutic tools, and advocating for heightened antibiotic stewardship considering their impact on mental health.

Prenatal maternal Inflammation, childhood cognition and adolescent depressive symptoms

BackgroundAccumulating evidence indicates that higher prenatal maternal inflammation is associated with increased depression risk in adolescent and adult-aged offspring. Prenatal maternal inflammation (PNMI) may increase the likelihood for offspring to have lower cognitive performance, which, in turn, may heighten risk for depression onset. Therefore, this study explored the potential mediating role of childhood cognitive performance in the relationship between PNMI and adolescent depressive symptoms in offspring. MethodsParticipants included 696 mother-offspring dyads from the Child Health and Development Studies (CHDS) cohort. Biomarkers of maternal inflammation [interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA) and soluble TNF receptor-II (sTNF-RII)] were assayed from first (T1) and second trimester (T2) sera. Childhood (ages 9–11) cognitive performance was assessed via standardized Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (PPVT), a measure of receptive vocabulary correlated with general intelligence. Adolescent (ages 15–17) depressive symptoms were assessed via self-report. ResultsThere were no significant associations between T1 biomarkers and childhood PPVT or adolescent depressive symptoms. Higher T2 IL1-RA was directly associated with lower childhood PPVT (b = -0.21, SE = 0.08, t = -2.55, p = 0.01), but not with adolescent depressive symptoms. T2 IL-6 was not directly associated with childhood PPVT, but higher T2 IL-6 was directly associated at borderline significance with greater depressive symptoms in adolescence (b = 0.05, SE = 0.03, t = 1.96, p = 0.05). Lower childhood PPVT predicted significantly higher adolescent depressive symptoms (b = -0.07, SE = 0.02, t = -2.99, p < 0.01). There was a significant indirect effect of T2 IL-1RA on adolescent depressive symptoms via childhood PPVT (b = 0.03, 95 % CI = 0.002–0.03) indicating a partially mediated effect. No significant associations were found with T2 sTNF-RII nor IL-8. ConclusionsLower childhood cognitive performance, such as that indicated by a lower PPVT score, represents a potential mechanism through which prenatal maternal inflammation contributes to adolescent depression risk in offspring.

Tobacco, Marijuana, and Antidepressant Use Prior to Concussion Are Associated with Increased Depression Risk in Post-concussive Syndrome Patients (P2-14.015)

Tobacco, Marijuana, and Antidepressant Use Prior to Concussion Are Associated with Increased Depression Risk in Post-concussive Syndrome Patients (P2-14.015)

Examining the association of breakfast skipping with sleep disturbance, mental health, and health-related quality of life: data from the 2018 Korean community health survey

ABSTRACT Objectives: This study aimed to explore the relationship between breakfast skipping and its effects on sleep disorders, mental health, and health-related quality of life among Korean adults. Methods: Utilizing data from the 2018 Korea Community Health Survey, this cross-sectional analysis included 173,272 adults aged 19 years and older. Instruments used for assessment included the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 for depression, the EuroQol 5-dimension (EQ-5D) for health-related quality of life, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index for sleep disorders. The complex sample logistic regression analysis was employed to adjust for potential confounders. Results: Breakfast skipping was found to be significantly associated with delayed mid-sleep time, an increased propensity for daytime sleepiness, and a notable decline in sleep quality. Additionally, it was linked to a significant increase in depression risk, compromised health-related quality of life, and elevated stress levels across both genders. All five dimensions of the EQ-5D were negatively impacted by breakfast skipping. Discussion: The findings highlight the detrimental effects of skipping breakfast on sleep patterns, mental health, and overall quality of life, stressing the importance of regular breakfast consumption for enhancing these health outcomes. The study suggests the need for further research to uncover the mechanisms behind these associations and to devise targeted interventions to mitigate the negative impacts of breakfast skipping.

Body composition, lifestyle, and depression: a prospective study in the UK biobank.

Obesity has been related to depression and adhering healthy lifestyle was beneficial to lower the risk of depression; however, little is known about the relationship between body composition and fat distribution with depression risk and the influence of body composition and fat distribution on the association of lifestyle and depression. Therefore, we aimed to investigate whether body composition and fat distribution were associated with the adverse events of depression and the relationship between lifestyle and depression. We included 330,131 participants without depression at baseline in the UK Biobank (mean age, 56.9 years; 53.83% females). The assessment of depression was sourced from health outcomes across self-report, primary care, hospital inpatient data, and death data. Body composition was determined by bioelectrical impedance. Seven lifestyles (no current smoking, moderate alcohol consumption, regular physical activity, healthy diet, less sedentary behavior, healthy sleep pattern, and appropriate social connection) were used to generate a lifestyle score. During a median of 11.7 years of follow-up, 7576 incident depression occurred. All the body composition measures were positively associated with depression risk, with the Hazard ratios (HR) for the uppermost tertile (T3) versus the lowest tertile (T1) ranging from 1.26 (95% CI: 1.15-1.39) for trunk fat-free mass (TFFM) to 1.78 (1.62-1.97) for leg fat percentage (LFP). In addition, we found significant interactions between fat mass-related indices, especially leg fat mass (LFM) (p = 1.65 × 10-9), and lifestyle score on the risk of depression, for which the beneficial associations of a healthy lifestyle with the risk of depression were more evident among participants with low body fat measurement. High levels of body composition measures were associated with an increased depression risk. Adverse body composition measures may weaken the link between a healthy lifestyle and a reduced risk of depression.

A galantamine–curcumin hybrid lacks the depressant side effect of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors

Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEIs) are drugs that enhance cholinergic neuro-transmission and are used for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease and myasthenia gravis. Common AChEIs include rivastigmine, donepezil and galantamine (GAL), but they can cause side effects like nausea, vomiting, depression and bradycardia. A potential link exists between AChEIs and increased depression risk. Recently, we have discovered a hybrid compound (4b) combining GAL and curcumin (CCN), which shows improved anticholinesterase activity and neuroprotective effects. It could be developed as a potential multitarget agent for neurodegenerative disorders. Here, we examine the compound’s depressant side effect on mice, comparing it to GAL and CCN. Tests were conducted twice using the tail suspension test (TST) and the forced swim test over an 8-day treatment period. The results showed that 4b lacked the depressant effect of GAL and even displayed a mild antidepressant effect similar to CCN in TST. This suggests that incorporating antidepressant fragments, like CCN, into AChEIs can potentially neutralize their depressive side effects.

Physical Activity-Induced Modification of the Association of Long-Term Air Pollution Exposure with the Risk of Depression in Older Adults.

Evidence suggests that long-term air pollution exposures may induce depression; however, the influence of physical activity on this effect is unclear. We investigated modification of the associations between air pollution exposures and depression by the intensity of physical activity. This cross-sectional study included 1454 Korean adults. Depression was defined as a Geriatric Depression Scale score ≥8. Concentrations of particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5: diameter ≤10 µm and ≤2.5 µm, respectively) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) level at each participant's residential address were estimated. Based on metabolic equivalents, physical activity intensity was categorized as inactive, minimally active, or health-enhancing physical activity (HEPA). Each 1-part per billion (ppb) NO2 concentration increase was significantly associated with a 6% [95% confidence interval (CI), 4%-8%] increase in depression risk. In older adults (≥65 years), a 1-ppb NO2 increase was associated (95% CI) with a 4% (1%-7%), 9% (5%-13%), and 21% (9%-33%) increase in depression risk in the inactive, minimally active, and HEPA groups, respectively. Compared with the inactive group, the minimally active (p=0.039) and HEPA groups (p=0.004) had higher NO2 exposure-associated depression risk. Associations of PM10 and PM2.5 with depression did not significantly differ by the intensity of physical activity. We suggest that older adults who vigorously exercise outdoors may be susceptible to air pollution-related depression.

Oral microbiome diversity shapes the association between sleep duration and depression.

Emerging research suggests the relationship between the oral microbiome and sleep duration with depression, however, the precise mechanisms by which oral microbial diversity influences the sleep-depression nexus remain to be elucidated. We analyzed data from 4,692 participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), incorporating key demographic variables, oral microbiome diversity metrics, sleep duration, and depression assessment variables. Classical multidimensional scaling facilitated dimensionality reduction, while unsupervised clustering divided participants into groups based on β-diversity dissimilarity matrices. We examined the moderating effects of oral microbiome diversity on the sleep-depression relationship by incorporating interaction terms sleep-oral microbiome diversity into multiple linear regression models. Our analysis revealed a U-shaped relationship between sleep duration and depression. Specifically, α-diversity was a significant moderator, with reduced diversity linked to an increased depression risk in participants with insufficient sleep. Regarding β-diversity, using both Bray-Curtis and UniFrac distance measures, Cluster 2 exhibited the strongest associations in sleep-deprived individuals (Bray-Curtis: β = 1.02, p < 0.001; Weighted UniFrac: β = 0.91, p < 0.001). In contrast, Cluster 1 displayed notable effects in individuals with excessive sleep (Bray-Curtis: β = 0.63, p = 0.008). Additionally, Cluster 3 was prominently associated with depression in sleep-deprived participants using unweighted UniFrac distance (β = 0.93, p < 0.001), and Cluster 2 was significant among those with excessive sleep across both unweighted (β = 0.80, p = 0.0004) and weighted UniFrac distances (β = 0.60, p = 0.001). This study highlights the crucial role of oral microbiome diversity in moderating the U-shaped relationship between sleep duration and depression risk.

EFFECT OF EARLY-LIFE DISCRIMINATION IN PARENTING ON THE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH OF MIDDLE-AGED AND OLDER ADULTS

Abstract This study aimed to explore the early-life discrimination in parenting on the physical and mental well-being of middle-aged and older adults, while also exploring the potential mediating role of early-life health. By combined data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) in 2018 and related life history survey in 2014, 8204 females and 7305 males aged 45-84 were analyzed in this study. Logistic regression was employed to analyze the association between early-life discrimination in parenting and the incidence of chronic diseases as well as depression in middle-aged and older individuals. The KHB method was used to assess the mediating effect of early-life health in these connections. Regarding gender-based discrimination in parenting, parental preference for sons during early life was found escalated the probability of chronic diseases by 18% (OR=1.18, 95%CI: 1.01-1.38) and increased depression risk by 16% (OR=1.16, 95%CI: 1.03-1.31) among middle-aged and older females. In terms of sibling-related discrimination, parental inclination towards specific siblings heightened the likelihood of depression during middle and older years among females (OR=1.17, 95%CI: 1.03-1.34). However, these effects were not significant in males. The study further identified that early-life health partially mediated the influence of gender-based parental preferences on the mental well-being of middle-aged and older females, accounting for 8.603% of the overall effect. These findings underscored the potential for early-life discrimination within parenting to impact both the physical and mental health of middle-aged and older females by shaping their early-life health status, consequently resonating throughout their mental well-being in later life.

Mood, Activity Participation, and Leisure Engagement Satisfaction (MAPLES): results from a randomised controlled pilot feasibility trial for low mood in acquired brain injury

BackgroundAcquired brain injury (ABI) is linked to increased depression risk. Existing therapies for depression in ABI (e.g., cognitive behavioural therapy) have mixed efficacy. Behavioural activation (BA), an intervention that encourages engaging in positively reinforcing activities, shows promise. The primary aims were to assess feasibility, acceptability, and potential efficacy of two 8-week BA groups.MethodsAdults (≥ 18 years) recruited from local ABI services, charities, and self-referral via social media were randomised to condition. The Activity Planning group (AP; “traditional” BA) trained participants to plan reinforcing activities over 8 weeks. The Activity Engagement group (AE; “experiential” BA) encouraged engagement in positive activities within session only. Both BA groups were compared to an 8-week Waitlist group (WL). The primary outcomes, feasibility and acceptability, were assessed via recruitment, retention, attendance, and qualitative feedback on groups. The secondary outcome, potential efficacy, was assessed via blinded assessments of self-reported activity levels, depression, and anxiety (at pre- and post-intervention and 1 month follow-up) and were compared across trial arms. Data were collected in-person and remotely due to COVID-19.ResultsN = 60 participants were randomised to AP (randomised n = 22; total n = 29), AE (randomised n = 22; total n = 28), or re-randomised following WL (total n = 16). Whether in-person or remote, AP and AE were rated as similarly enjoyable and helpful. In exploring efficacy, 58.33% of AP members had clinically meaningful activity level improvements, relative to 50% AE and 38.5% WL. Both AP and AE groups had depression reductions relative to WL, but only AP participants demonstrated anxiety reductions relative to AE and WL. AP participants noted benefits of learning strategies to increase activities and learning from other group members. AE participants valued social discussion and choice in selecting in-session activities.ConclusionsBoth in-person and remote group BA were feasible and acceptable in ABI. Though both traditional and experiential BA may be effective, these may have different mechanisms.Trial registrationClinicaltrials.gov, NCT03874650. Protocol version 2.3, May 26 2020.

Reported Depression and Anxiety Symptoms among Social Media Users in the General Population of Saudi Arabia: A Cross-sectional Survey

Objectives: In this study, we assessed the impact of social media use on the mental health of a sample of adults in Saudi Arabia. Methods: Using multi-stage cluster random sampling of staff from 12 schools and their families, we administered a cross-sectional survey to adults in Buraidah, Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire included demographics, social media use patterns, and anxiety and depression scales. We used a 2-step cluster analysis used to classify participants according to their social media use, resulting in 2 categories ‐ high use and low use. Our statistical analysis included independent sample t-tests and multiple linear regression. Results: A total of 574 participants were enrolled with a mean (SD) age of 34.33 (10.61) years; 324 (56.4%) were women. Those with high social media use had significantly increased depression (adjusted mean difference = 3.88, 95% CI 2.99-4.78, p &lt; .001) and anxiety (3.605, 95% CI 2.8-4.4, p &lt; .001) scores compared to the low use group. Patterns of social media use showed a weak to moderate correlation with depression and anxiety (p &lt; .001). Conclusion: Adults with problematic and high use of social media have higher reported symptoms of depression and anxiety. Certain patterns of social media use have a negative impact on mental health and increase risk of depression and anxiety.

Sex difference in the non-linear relationship between ethylene oxide exposure and depressive symptoms: A cross-sectional study

BackgroundEthylene oxide (EO) has been recognized as an animal carcinogen and environmental EO exposure was linked to several diseases. However, the association of EO exposure with depression prevalence is still not clear. MethodsWe included 6016 participants with complete data on HbEO concentrations, depression diagnosis, and necessary covariates using the 2013–2020 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Weighted multivariable logistic model was applied to examine the association of HbEO concentrations with depression risk. Weighted restricted cubic spline model was applied to draw the dose-response curve. ResultsIn the total population, individuals in the second, third, and fourth quartile of HbEO respectively had an adjusted OR of 0.99 (95%CI: 0.60, 1.63), 1.13 (95%CI: 0.73, 1.75), and 2.87 (95%CI: 1.86, 4.45) (Ptrend < 0.001) for depression with a significant “J” shaped non-linear dose-response relationship (Pnon-linear < 0.001). Females, drinkers, and smokers were susceptible to the depressive effect of EO. Doubling the HbEO concentrations was respectively associated with a 1.50-fold (95%CI: 1.25, 1.79), 1.29-fold (1.15, 1.44), and 1.17-fold (1.04, 1.33) increased risk of depression for females, drinkers, and smokers. LimitationsCross-sectional study design and self-reported depressive symptoms. ConclusionsEnvironmental EO exposure was associated with increased depression risk, especially among females, drinkers, and smokers. Further prospective studies are required to affirm these findings.