Depressive Symptoms In Individuals Research Articles

Pilot study on the effects of assertion video viewing and physical activity on depressive symptoms in workers witnessing workplace bullying

BackgroundStudies have reported that depressive symptoms in individuals who witness workplace bullying are worsening. Consequently, companies in Japan were legally obligated to implement the necessary employment management regulations to prevent workplace bullying in 2019. Notably, assertion and physical activities can reduce depressive symptoms. This study examined the effects of assertion video viewing and physical activity interventions on depressive symptoms in workers who witnessed workplace bullying.MethodsForty-five Japanese adults participated in this study. After viewing the workplace bullying video, the participants were randomly divided into three groups: assertion video viewing, physical activity, and control. Depressive symptoms were assessed by the Multiple Mood Scale before the intervention (T1), after viewing the video (T2), and immediately after the intervention (T3). Two-factor analysis of variance was conducted with group and time as independent variables and depressive symptoms as the dependent variable.ResultsAnalysis of variance revealed that the interaction effect was significant. Simple main effect analysis revealed that depressive symptom scores at T3 were significantly lower than those at T2 in the assertion group and that depressive symptom scores at T3 were significantly lower than those at T1 and T2 in the physical activity group.ConclusionsVideo viewing and physical activity may ameliorate depressive symptoms in workers who have witnessed workplace bullying.

Improvement in symptoms of anxiety and depression in individuals with type 2 diabetes: retrospective analysis of an intensive lifestyle modification program

BackgroundType 2 diabetes (T2D) is a chronic metabolic disorder that has a notable influence on mental well-being, contributing to elevated morbidity and mortality rates. Depression and anxiety disorders are the most common mental health concerns among patients with T2D worldwide. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess the impact of an online intensive lifestyle intervention (ILI) on mental health outcomes (depression and anxiety) in patients with T2D in India.Materials and methodsThis retrospective pre-post analysis included adult patients (aged > 18 years) diagnosed with T2D who were enrolled in a diabetes management program in India between June 2021 and June 2023. The intervention consisted of lifestyle modifications such as a customized plant-based diet, regular physical activity, psychological support through group and individual therapy, and medical management. Data were extracted from the electronic database of the clinic, including anthropometry, medical history, biochemical parameters, symptoms of depression, and anxiety (assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and Generalized Anxiety Disorders-7 (GAD-7) scale) at the start and end of the six-month intervention period.ResultsOf the 1061 eligible patients (177 with prediabetes), 40.3% were female. The mean age, duration of diabetes, and HbA1c levels were 52 ± 10.4 years, 9.8 ± 7.8 years, and 8 ± 1.7%, respectively. The prevalence of symptoms of depression and anxiety (ranging from mild to severe) was 46% and 44.3%, respectively, which reduced to 28.7% and 29.2%, respectively, post-intervention.ConclusionIntegrated ILI successfully improved the symptoms of anxiety and depression, highlighting the importance of a multidisciplinary approach that includes diet, physical activity, psychological support, and medical management in enhancing mental health outcomes among patients with T2D. Future prospective studies are needed to explore the long-term effects of such interventions and develop effective strategies for promoting mental health in diverse populations.Trial registrationThe study was approved by the Freedom from Diabetes Research Foundation Institutional Ethics Committee (approval number FFDRF/IEC/2024/7) and registered in the Clinical Trials Registry of India (CTRI/2024/03/064596, registered on March 21, 2024).

Use of passively collected actigraphy data to detect individual depressive symptoms in a clinical subpopulation and a general population.

The presentation of major depressive disorder (MDD) can vary widely due to its heterogeneity, including inter- and intraindividual symptom variability, making MDD difficult to diagnose with standard measures in clinical settings. Prior work has demonstrated that passively collected actigraphy can be used to detect MDD at a disorder level; however, given the heterogeneous nature of MDD, comprising multiple distinct symptoms, it is important to measure the degree to which various MDD symptoms may be captured by such passive data. The current study investigated whether individual depressive symptoms could be detected from passively collected actigraphy data in a (a) clinical subpopulation (i.e., moderate depressive symptoms or greater) and (b) general population. Using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a large nationally representative sample (N = 8,378), we employed a convolutional neural network to determine which depressive symptoms in each population could be detected by wrist-worn, minute-level actigraphy data. Findings indicated a small-moderate correspondence between the predictions and observed outcomes for mood, psychomotor, and suicide items (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUCs] = 0.58-0.61); a moderate-large correspondence for anhedonia (AUC = 0.64); and a large correspondence for fatigue (AUC = 0.74) in the clinical subpopulation (n = 766); and a small-moderate correspondence for sleep, appetite, psychomotor, and suicide items (AUCs = 0.56-0.60) in the general population (n = 8,378). Thus, individual depressive symptoms can be detected in individuals who likely meet the criteria for MDD, suggesting that wrist-worn actigraphy may be suitable for passively assessing these symptoms, providing important clinical implications for the diagnosis and treatment of MDD. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Effects of Family Audio Recordings on Depression, Cognitive Function, and Sleep Quality of Individuals With Alzheimer's Disease: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

To explore the effects of family audio recordings on depression, cognitive function, and sleep quality among individuals with Alzheimer's disease in nursing homes. A randomized controlled study design was used, and 107 participants with Alzheimer's disease were stratified and randomly assigned to groups based on Clinical Dementia Rating Scale scores. The control group received usual care and health education, and the experimental group received usual care, health education, and a family audio recording intervention. The experimental group showed significantly lower depression scores compared to the control group post-intervention. A within-group comparison of sleep quality scores in the experimental group was significantly different. At post-intervention, cognitive function scores in the control group significantly decreased compared to before the intervention. Family audio recording interventions helped alleviate depression symptoms in individuals with Alzheimer's disease, improved their sleep quality, and delayed the progression of cognitive decline to some extent. [Journal of Gerontological Nursing, xx(x), xx-xx.].

Longitudinal Analyses of Mental Health in Autistic Individuals: A Systematic Review.

Co-occurring mental health conditions affect autistic individuals at high rates, impacting their well-being and quality of life. Mental health conditions are often appropriate treatment targets that can improve the lives of autistic individuals. Because of this, there is growing interest in predictors of mental health and behavioral outcomes. Given the rapidly evolving evidence base and growing literature using longitudinal cohorts, it is unclear which predictors of symptoms of anxiety and depression are consistent, and which are not. Additionally, it is difficult to deduce which predictors of mental health symptoms at a given time also predict change over time. This can be partially due to the different statistical approaches that are implemented, including trajectory vs. non-trajectory methodologies. We conducted a systematic review to evaluate how non-trajectory and trajectory analyses inform our knowledge of how symptoms of anxiety and depression change over time. Additionally, we aimed to identify important predictors of change and later anxiety and depressive symptoms in autistic individuals. There is variability in symptoms of anxiety and depression in autistic individuals. Adaptive skills arose as significant predictors of change and of later symptoms of both anxiety and depression. Peer relationships in school age seem to be particularly important in predicting later symptoms of depression. This review provides evidence that there are different trajectories and different patterns of mental health symptoms over the lifespan, providing further evidence that autism is a developmental condition that changes over time in different ways for different people. Implications and future directions are further discussed.

Network analysis of correlations between suicide exposure, depression, and anxiety symptoms in adolescents.

Adolescents with a history of suicide exposure, defined as experiencing the suicide death of a family member, friend, or other acquaintances, are more likely to experience mental health issues such as depression or anxiety. This study aimed to explore prevalence rates and the network of adolescents' suicide exposure, depression, and anxiety symptoms, and to clarify the correlations between suicide exposure and symptoms of depression and anxiety. A total of 8,957 adolescents were included in this cross-sectional study. Data regarding general information, symptoms of depression and anxiety, and suicide exposure were collected from mid-September to early October 2021. Network analysis was employed to assess relationships between suicide exposure and individual symptoms of both depression and anxiety. Central symptoms were identified by strength; the flow network was visualized to identify symptoms directly related to suicide exposure. The prevalence rates of suicide exposure, depression, and anxiety were 5.28%, 12.87%, and 10.48%. Results indicated that suicide exposure was associated with both depression and anxiety, and had the strongest positive association with suicidal ideation. Central symptoms of the network were sad mood, nervousness, fatigue, irritability, and uncontrollable worry. Bridge symptoms were suicidal ideation and irritability. Appetite changes, suicidal ideation, uncontrollable worry, sleep difficulties, and irritability were symptoms directly related to suicide exposure. There were significant inter-symptom associations between suicide exposure, depression, and anxiety in adolescents. It is recommended that future studies explore whether targeted interventions and long-term monitoring concerning these inter-symptom associations can protect adolescents with suicide exposure.

Supplemental Material for Use of Passively Collected Actigraphy Data to Detect Individual Depressive Symptoms in a Clinical Subpopulation and a General Population

Supplemental Material for Use of Passively Collected Actigraphy Data to Detect Individual Depressive Symptoms in a Clinical Subpopulation and a General Population

The impact of trauma core dimensions on anxiety and depression: a latent regression model through the Post-Traumatic Symptom Questionnaire (PTSQ)

Adverse life events (e.g., severe accidents, violence/abuse, organic disorders) can elicit traumatic responses characterized by intrusive thoughts, hyperarousal, and avoidance—highlighting the need for sound assessment tools. Also, these traumatic components could heighten anxiety and depression symptoms. This study aims included to: (1) assessing the psychometric properties of the Post-Traumatic Symptom Questionnaire (PTSQ) and delineating clinical cut-offs; (2) investigating how distinct trauma components contribute to anxiety and depression symptoms. Involving 761 participants who experienced a traumatic event, Part I tested the PTSQ psychometric properties, defining clinical cut-offs. Part II tested the impact of traumatic components on anxiety and depression symptoms, using a multiple multivariate latent regression model. PTSQ exhibited exemplary fit indices and robust psychometric properties. Clinically relevant cut-offs were identified. The differential contributions of intrusion, avoidance, and hyperarousal to anxiety and depression symptoms were evaluated, elucidating the strength and nature of these relationships. This study reaffirms the PTSQ as a psychometrically sound and reliable instrument. It underscores the effects of intrusion, avoidance, and hyperarousal on anxiety and depression symptoms in individuals with traumatic experiences. These insights advocate for evidence-based interventions aimed at alleviating the psychological suffering associated with trauma components, fostering adaptation and supporting psychological health.

Associations between C-reactive protein and individual symptoms of depression in a lower-middle income country.

Data on associations between inflammation and depressive symptoms largely originate from high income population settings, despite the greatest disease burden in major depressive disorder being attributed to populations in lower-middle income countries (LMICs). We assessed the prevalence of low-grade inflammation in adults with treatment-resistant depression (TRD) in Pakistan, an LMIC, and investigated associations between peripheral C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and depressive symptoms. This is a secondary analysis of two randomised controlled trials investigating adjunctive immunomodulatory agents (minocycline and simvastatin) for Pakistani adults with TRD (n = 191). Logistic regression models were built to assess the relationship between pre-treatment CRP (≥ or <3 mg/L) and individual depressive symptoms measured using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. Descriptive statistics and regression were used to assess treatment response for inflammation-associated symptoms. High plasma CRP (≥3 mg/L) was detected in 87% (n = 146) of participants. Early night insomnia (odds ratio 2.33, 95% CI 1.16-5.25), early morning waking (odds ratio 2.65, 95% CI 1.29-6.38) and psychic anxiety (odds ratio 3.79, 95% CI 1.39-21.7) were positively associated, while gastrointestinal (odds ratio 0.38, 95% CI 0.14-0.86) and general somatic symptoms (odds ratio 0.34, 95% CI 0.14-0.74) were negatively associated with inflammation. Minocycline, but not simvastatin, improved symptoms positively associated with inflammation. The prevalence of inflammation in this LMIC sample with TRD was higher than that reported in high income countries. Insomnia and anxiety symptoms may represent possible targets for personalised treatment with immunomodulatory agents in people with elevated CRP. These findings require replication in independent clinical samples.

Could intranasal oxytocin enhance the effects of psychotherapy in individuals with mental disorders? A systematic review and meta-analysis

Interest in the therapeutic potential of oxytocin for the treatment of mental health disorders, especially those involving social dysfunction, has increased considerably in recent years. To date, most studies have only evaluated oxytocin as monotherapy, with highly inconsistent results. A new line of research is exploring the effects of combining oxytocin with psychotherapy. The aim of the present review was to evaluate the therapeutic effects of intranasal oxytocin combined with psychotherapy in individuals with psychiatric disorders. Only randomized clinical trial design was eligible for inclusion. A search of relevant databases yielded 2480 articles published through April 30, 2024. Of these, 13 trials (518 participants) were included in this review and 4 of them in a meta-analysis. The trials evaluated a range of different psychotherapeutic interventions, oxytocin doses, and mental disorders. Overall, the trials suggested that combined treatment reduced negative mental representations, decreased stress, and increased therapeutic alliance. Meta-analysis showed that combined treatment significantly reduced depressive symptoms (d= −1.58, 95 % CI: −3.15 to −0.01). However, the treatment with oxytocin had no significant effects on psychiatric symptoms (d= 0.00, 95 % CI: −0.56–0.57) or social functioning (d = 0.21, 95 % CI: −0.07–0.49). Limitations included the heterogeneity and limited sample sizes of the trials. The findings suggest that the combination of intranasal oxytocin and psychotherapy may be an effective therapeutic approach to reduce depressive symptoms in individuals with mental disorders and may improve retention and therapeutic alliance.

Association Between Antepartum Admission and Postpartum Depressive Symptoms: Short Title: Antepartum Hospital Admission and Postpartum Depressive Symptoms

BackgroundPostpartum depression affects 14% of pregnant individuals and is a leading cause of preventable maternal mortality. Complications of pregnancy, such as preterm labor or pre-eclampsia, may require hospitalization for close monitoring and management. The impact of an antenatal hospitalization during pregnancy on postnatal depression remains understudied. ObjectiveTo evaluate whether hospital admission during pregnancy was associated with postpartum depressive symptoms in individuals who were enrolled in a collaborative care model and to evaluate whether enrollment in the collaborative care model during pregnancy mitigated this association. Study DesignThis secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study included perinatal people enrolled in a collaborative care model at a quaternary academic center between 2017-2021. The primary outcome was presence of moderately severe or severe postpartum depressive symptoms at 6 weeks postpartum defined as a score of 15 or greater on a PHQ-9. The prevalence of symptoms of this severity was compared between those who experienced an antepartum hospitalization and those who did not using bivariable and multivariable analyses. A Breslow Day test was used to evaluate whether any observed association between antepartum hospitalization and postpartum depressive symptoms differed based on timing of enrollment in the collaborative care model. ResultsDuring the study period, 1897 individuals met inclusion criteria. Of these, 162 (8.5%) were admitted to the hospital during pregnancy. Of those with an antepartum hospitalization, 20 (12.4%) developed moderately severe to severe postpartum depressive symptoms compared to 136 (7.8%) of those who were not hospitalized (p=0.046). After adjustment for confounders identified through use of a directed acyclic graph, this difference did not persist in multivariable analysis (aOR 1.55, 95% CI [0.87-2.75]). A Breslow Day test demonstrated heterogeneity across enrollment timing, so subgroup analyses were performed for those enrolled during pregnancy (n=930) vs postpartum (n=967). Hospital admission was associated with higher rates of moderately severe to severe postpartum depressive symptoms in those enrolled in the collaborative care model postpartum (19.7% vs 10.6%, p=0.015, aOR 2.25, 95% CI [1.07-4.71]), but not those enrolled antenatally (5.8% vs 5.0%, p=0.735, aOR 1.09, 95% CI [0.38-3.19]). ConclusionsAntepartum hospital admission was associated with higher rates of moderately severe to severe depressive symptoms. This association did not exist among individuals enrolled in collaborative care model during pregnancy, suggesting a potential protective effect afforded by engagement in a mental health support programming.

Peer-led intervention for individuals with major depression: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial (SUPEERMood)

BackgroundMajor Depressive Disorder (MDD) is one of the most disabling mental health problems worldwide. The Recovery Model emphasizes peer support to empower individuals with MDD, improve self-management, and patients' quality of life. Despite the demonstrated efficacy of peer-led interventions, further research is needed due to methodological limitations and variability in interventions across studies. Therefore, the objective of this trial is to evaluate the effectiveness of an adjuvant peer-led intervention for the reduction of depressive symptoms in individuals diagnosed with MDD attended in primary care mental health units.MethodsA controlled, parallel, randomized clinical trial will be conducted. The intervention group (n = 35) will receive 6 weeks of peer-led sessions based on a peer support program drive whilst supervised by nurses, while the control group (n = 35) will use a mobile Health (mHealth) application for emotional wellness based on CBT for 6 weeks. Measurements will be collected at baseline, at 6 weeks, at 6 and 12 months after the intervention to evaluate post-intervention effects. The primary outcome is the reduction of depressive symptoms through the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) after the intervention. Secondary outcomes will involve measures such as adherence to psychiatric treatment, quality of life, adherence to mediterranean diet, alcohol consumption and physical activity.DiscussionWe hypothesize that this peer-led intervention, in contrast to the mHealth, will show improvement in BDI-II score reduction of 6 points after six weeks, 6 and 12 months. Standardized peer-led programs can benefit patients and professionals in terms of efficacy and feasibility of clinical treatment of depression, healthy habits, self-care and quality of life. In addition, they can provide recovery and relapse reduction, improved psychosocial support, minimization of intensive care use, and support for patient autonomy through self-management.Trial registrationThe trial protocol is prospectively registered with ClinicalTrials.gov under protocol registration number NCT06398561. Date of registration: May 01, 2024. Recruitment is ongoing.

Coping with COVID-19: a prospective cohort study on young Australians' anxiety and depression symptoms from 2020–2021

BackgroundStudies have shown that the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic negatively impacted the mental health of young Australians. However, there is limited longitudinal research exploring how individual factors and COVID-19 related public-health restrictions influenced mental health in young people over the acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to identify risk and protective factors associated with changes in individual symptoms of anxiety and depression among young Australians during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsThis prospective cohort study collected data on anxiety and depression symptoms of young Australians aged 15–29 years old using the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale short form (DASS-21). We delivered four online questionnaires from April 2020 to August 2021 at intervals of 3, 6, and 12 months after the initial survey. We implemented linear mixed-effects regression models to determine the association among demographic, socioeconomic, lifestyle and COVID–19 public health restrictions related factors and the severity of anxiety and depression symptoms over time.ResultsAnalyses included 1936 young Australians eligible at baseline. There was a slight increase in DASS-21 anxiety mean scores from timepoint 3 to timepoint 4. DASS-21 depression scores showed slight fluctuations across timepoints with the highest mean score observed in timepoint 2. Factors associated with increases in anxiety and depression severity symptoms included LGBTQIA + identity, financial insecurity both before and during the pandemic, higher levels of loneliness, withdrawal or deferral of studies, spending more time on social media, and difficulties to sleep. Risk factors for only depression symptoms include unemployment during COVID-19 pandemic and being in lockdown. Living with someone was a protective factor for both anxiety and depression symptoms, pre-COVID-19 unemployment for depression symptoms, and older age and unemployment during the pandemic for anxiety symptoms.ConclusionThese findings indicate that during the first year of the pandemic in Australia, there were significant changes in young people’s mental health which were associated with multiple demographic, socioeconomic, lifestyle, and lockdown factors. Hence, in future public health crises, we suggest more inclusive guidelines that involve young people in their development and implementation ensuring that their unique perspectives and needs are adequately considered.

Prevalence of Depressive Symptoms and Related Factors in Türkiye: Results of the 2016 and 2019 Turkish Health Survey.

We investigated the prevalence and distribution of depressive symptoms in individuals aged 15 and older, as well as the relationship between depressive symptoms and sociodemographic characteristics, chronic diseases, health status and health behaviors. The analysis of data collected from the Türkiye Health Surveys conducted by Turkish Statistical Institute (TURKSAT) in 2016 and 2019 involved using the Chi-Square independence test. Effect sizes were evaluated using Phi or Cramer's V coefficients. Patient Health Questionnaire-8 (PHQ-8) module was used to scan the depressive symptoms. The adult population's point of prevalence of depressive symptoms was 4.7%±0.24 in males and 8%±0.19 in females, with a population total of 6.3%±0.21. The yearly prevalence of depressive symptoms was 6.1%±0.45 in males, 13.2%±0.53 in females and a population total of 10%±0.49. Age, gender, income, education, social support, health status, disability, and chronic illnesses were found to be significant predictors of the incidence of depressive symptoms (p<0,05). The results indicated that the rate of people with depression getting help from psychologists, psychotherapists,and psychiatrists was low. Age, gender, income, education, marital status, self-rated health status, social support, number of chronic illnesses, and disability were the most important risk factors for depressive episodes. In addition to such self-reported research completed before the pandemic and Kahramanmaraş earthquakes in Türkiye, further studies based on structured diagnostic interviews are required.

Associations of childhood household dysfunction and healthy lifestyle with depressive symptoms in adolescents

ObjectiveLimited understanding exists regarding the cumulative impact of childhood household dysfunction (CHD) on adolescent depressive symptoms in developing countries, as well as the role of lifestyles in this association. This study aims to explore the associations of individual and cumulative CHD indicators with depressive symptoms among Chinese adolescents. Additionally, we investigate potential interactions and joint associations of CHD and lifestyles on depressive symptoms. MethodsIn the second phase of the Longitudinal Study of Adolescents’ Mental and Behavioral Well-being Research, data on depressive symptoms, CHD indicators, lifestyle factors, and other covariates were collected from 3106 students (mean [SD] age, 15.16 [1.52] years). Linear and logistic mixed-effects models were employed, with both stratified and joint analyses conducted. ResultsExcept for parental death, each CHD indicator was associated with an increased risk of depressive symptoms. The accumulation of CHD indicators exhibited a positive, graded association with depressive symptoms scores (β = 3.22, 95% CI: 2.48 to 3.97 for one CHD indicator; β = 5.45, 95% CI: 4.41 to 6.49 for two or more CHD indicators, all P < 0.01). A significant interaction was found between the number of CHD indicators and the healthy lifestyle score (interaction β = −0.40, 95% CI: −0.78 to −0.03, P < 0.05), indicating that healthy lifestyles may mitigate the risk of depressive symptoms in individuals experiencing CHD. For example, the OR for having depressive symptoms among adolescents with favourable lifestyles compared with those with unfavourable lifestyles was 0.21 (95% CI: 0.10 to 0.45, P < 0.01) among those experiencing CHD. Moreover, adolescents with two or more CHD indicators and unfavourable lifestyles faced the highest risk of having depressive symptoms (OR = 8.03, 95% CI: 4.83 to 13.34, P < 0.01) compared with those with no CHD indicator and favourable lifestyles. ConclusionsThese findings underscore the importance of promoting comprehensive healthy lifestyles and reducing CHD exposure for the prevention of depressive symptoms in adolescents.

Investigation of Psychosocial, Clinical Outcomes of Individuals with Limb Loss After Earthquakes

The purpose of this study is to investigate the severity of symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depression, psychache, and coping styles in individuals who have experienced limb loss or have not sustained any permanent injuries while trapped under rubble following an earthquake. Furthermore, the study aims to explore the differences between groups in terms of sociodemographic and event characteristics. The study included individuals who were trapped under rubble during the earthquake and had a limb amputated, as well as those who were trapped under rubble but did not experience any permanent physical function loss. Semi-structured sociodemographic form, PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), Psychache Scale, Coping with Earthquake Stress Scale (CESS), and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) assessment tools were used. A total of 64 participants, 32 with and 32 without limb loss, were included in the study. It was found that the severities of traumatic stress and depressive symptoms and psychache were significantly higher in the earthquake survivors with limb loss than those without limb loss (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, and p = 0.005, respectively). It was found that earthquake survivors with limb loss made fewer positive reappraisals than those without limb loss (p = 0.012). According to the multiple linear regression analysis, having limb loss predicted BDI and PCL-5 scores (β = -12,239, p < 0,001; β = -10,105, p = 0,008, respectively). Additionally, suicidal ideation exacerbates the severity of psychache in individuals who are were trapped under rubble. Identifying the factors related to the mental state of these individuals is useful for determining those who are most likely to need psychological support.

Daily Associations Between Sleep Parameters and Depressive Symptoms in Individuals with Insomnia: Investigating Emotional Reactivity and Regulation as Mediators

ABSTRACT Objectives Previous research suggests that insomnia and depressive symptoms might be causally related. Emotional reactivity and regulation have been proposed to explain the potential causal relationship between insomnia and depression. However, longitudinal evaluations of their mediating effects are limited. Hence, the current study aimed to examine the mediating effects of emotional reactivity and regulation on the longitudinal associations between daily sleep parameters and depressive symptoms over 14 days in individuals with insomnia. Methods Participants were sixty adults aged 18–65 who had clinically significant insomnia. They filled out a survey each morning and evening and wore actigraphy watches for 14 consecutive days. The five sleep parameters were measured by sleep diary in the morning survey (subjective total sleep time, subjective sleep efficiency, and sleep quality) and actigraphy watches (objective total sleep time and objective sleep efficiency). Emotional reactivity and emotion regulation strategy use during the day were assessed in the evening survey using the International Positive and Negative Affect Schedule Short Form, Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, and Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire. Depressive symptoms of the day were evaluated in the evening survey with the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Results Results showed that sleep quality and depressive symptoms, as well as actigraphy-measured sleep efficiency and depressive symptoms, predicted each other in individuals with insomnia, mediated by negative reactivity but not emotion regulation. Conclusions The present findings support the mediating role of negative emotional reactivity in the bidirectional, daily relationship between sleep parameters and depression in individuals with insomnia.

Household food insecurity and symptoms of anxiety and depression during pregnancy: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Household food insecurity (HFI) has been related to adverse maternal-child health outcomes and mental health worsening during pregnancy. Few studies evaluated the temporal association between HFI and anxiety and depressive symptoms in pregnant women, and this association remains not completely understood. This study aimed to systematically review the association between HFI and symptoms of depression and anxiety in pregnant individuals. The systematic review protocol was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (CRD42022373615). Systematic searches were conducted on 10 electronic databases and grey literature. Two researchers independently conducted the study selection, data extraction process, and the risk of bias assessment. Random-effects meta-analysis models were used, and I2 > 40% indicated high heterogeneity across studies. Eighteen articles were included for the systematic review, comprising n = 27,882, and a total of 18,987 pregnant individuals aged between 14 and 45 years were included in the meta-analysis. The prevalence of HFI reported in studies ranged from 12.6% to 62.1% (n = 17). The prevalence of depressive and anxiety symptoms ranged from 18% to 49% (n = 11) and 23% to 34% (n = 2), respectively. HFI during pregnancy was associated with increased odds of experiencing symptoms of depression [(OR: 2.52; 95% CI: 2.11-3.02), I2 = 73.23%]. The quality of evidence was very low due to high heterogeneity. Our findings highlighted the association between HFI and depression symptoms during pregnancy. Findings from this study suggest the importance of assessing HFI and mental health during pregnancy.

Replicable and robust cellular and biochemical blood marker signatures of depression and depressive symptoms

Background: Identification of replicable and robust peripheral blood-based markers associated with depression remains elusive, given that studies frequently identify potential biomarkers that ultimately fail to replicate in other studies, impeding progress in psychiatric research. Peripheral biochemical and cellular markers (PBCs; e.g., albumin) may play an important role in depression. Methods: Using a test-replication design including participants from the NHANES community cohort (ntest=17,450, nreplication=17,449), we examined 42 PBCs to identify PBCs that were both replicably and robustly associated with either overall depression severity or individual symptoms of depression across both cohorts across a wide range of possible combinations of analytic decisions (n's = 17,000+). Results: We found that a small set of PBCs (e.g., bilirubin) were robustly and replicably associated with overall depression severity, with unique signatures of PBCs linked with individual symptoms of depression when stratified by gender. A varying degree of correlation was found between measures of replicability. Conclusions: We identified replicable and robust cellular biochemical blood marker signatures associated with both overall depression severity and individual symptoms of depression. Our findings can be used to enhance other researchers’ abilities to better understand factors associated with depression and potentially drive the development of effective treatments for depression.

A network approach to emotion regulation and symptom activation in depression and anxiety.

Emotions can be regulated through several regulatory strategies that are involved in the development of psychopathological symptoms. Despite the well-established association between psychopathology and emotion dysregulation, little is known about the relationship between individual symptoms of depression and anxiety and emotion regulation strategies (ERS), as well as between ERS themselves. We conducted a cross-sectional study and examined the interactions between six ERS (reappraisal, engagement, rumination, suppression, arousal control, and distraction) and assessed their distinctive association with the activation of specific symptoms of depression and anxiety in a community sample of 376 adults (80.4% female; Mage = 32.70; SDage = 11.80). The Regulation Emotion Systems Survey (RESS) was used to measure ERS. The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) were used to assess psychological symptoms. An exploratory graph analysis was performed to examine the structural properties of the network of interactions between these behaviors. Additionally, to test the association of ERS with the activation of the depression symptoms network, an expected symptoms activity (ESA) was conducted. Six communities were found that correspond to the six ERS. Rumination and suppression have a significant association with symptom activation (particularly low self-esteem), whereas reappraisal reduces symptomatic activation. The effect of arousal control, engagement, and distraction appears to depend on the remaining ERS rather than having much influence on their own. This study provides insight into how ERS interact with each other and with individual symptoms of depression and anxiety. Understanding the effects of these interactions on symptom activation and comorbidity can improve our understanding of psychopathology.