Lower Incidence Of Depression Research Articles

Association between geriatric nutritional risk index and depression prevalence in the elderly population in NHANES

BackgroundThe prevalence of depression is increasing in the elderly population, and growing evidence suggests that malnutrition impacts mental health. Despites, research on the factors that predict depression is limited.MethodsWe included 2946 elderly individuals from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) spanning the years 2011 through 2014. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the PHQ-9 scale. Multinomial logistic regression was performed to evaluate the independent association between Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) and depression prevalence and scores. Subgroup analysis was conducted to explore potential factors influencing the negative correlation between GNRI and depression. Restricted cubic spline graph was employed to examine the presence of a non-linear relationship between GNRI and depression.ResultsThe depression group had a significantly lower GNRI than the non-depression group, and multivariate logistic regression showed that GNRI was a significant predictor of depression (P < 0.001). Subgroup analysis revealed that certain demographic characteristics were associated with a lower incidence of depression in individuals affected by GNRIs. These characteristics included being female (P < 0.0001), non-Hispanic black (P = 0.0003), having a moderate BMI (P = 0.0005), having a college or associates (AA) degree (P = 0.0003), being married (P = 0.0001), having a PIR between 1.50 and 3.49 (P = 0.0002), being a former smoker (P = 0.0002), and having no history of cardiovascular disease (P < 0.0001), hypertension (P < 0.0001), and diabetes (P = 0.0027). Additionally, a non-linear negative correlation (non-linear P < 0.01) was found between GNRI and depression prevalence, with a threshold identified at GNRI = 104.17814.ConclusionThe GNRI demonstrates efficacy as a reliable indicator for forecasting depression in the elderly population. It exhibits a negative nonlinear correlation with the prevalence of depression among geriatric individuals.

Implementation of Debriefing Services for Pharmacy Residents in a 24-Hour, In-House Clinical Pharmacy On-Call Program: A Pilot Study.

Background: This clinical pharmacy on-call program (CPOP) is a 24-hour, in-house service provided by pharmacy residents. During shifts, challenging situations may arise, which may correlate with depression, anxiety, and stress. Objective: This pilot study aims to describe the implementation of a debriefing program and characterize mental health patterns of residents in the CPOP. Methods: A structured debriefing process was developed to provide support to residents in the CPOP. Over a 1-year period, twelve outgoing pharmacy residents and ten incoming pharmacy residents completed a modified Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (mDASS-21) questionnaire and received a stress perception score (SPS) during debriefing. Data from first and final on-call shifts were compared via a paired Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Residents were referred to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) based on mDASS-21 and SPS results. Scores from final on-call shifts were compared between residency classes via a Wilcoxon rank sum test. Results: Following successful implementation, 106 debriefing sessions were completed. Pharmacy residents responded to a median number of 38 events per shift. Significant reductions in anxiety and stress scores were observed from the first and final on-call shifts. Six residents were referred to EAP. A lower incidence of depression, anxiety, and stress was observed in pharmacy residents who received debriefing compared to previous residents. Conclusion: The debriefing program provided emotional support to pharmacy residents participating in the CPOP. Implementation of debriefing demonstrated a reduction of anxiety and stress from the beginning to the end of the academic year and in comparison to the previous year.

A pilot study for a smartphone app for the prevention of depression in non-professional caregivers

Objectives The main objective of the current study was to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a cognitive-behavioral prevention intervention administered through a smartphone app in non-professional caregivers with symptoms of depression. The secondary objective was to make a preliminary evaluation of its effectiveness either alone or supplemented with telephone conference calls. Methods Eighty-seven participants (M age = 51.8 years) were randomly assigned to an app-based cognitive–behavioral intervention (CBIA; n = 29), CBIA supplemented with telephone conference calls (CBIA + CC; n = 28), or an attention control group (ACG; n = 30). The participants for both interventions received five cognitive–behavioral modules through the app, and those in CBIA + CC an additional 30-minute phone call in each module. Results 3.4% of caregivers dropped out. In all groups, the number of modules completed was high. Participants completed a high percentage of the homework and were highly satisfied with both CBIA and CBIA + CC. At post-intervention, there was a lower incidence of depression and depressive symptoms for CBIA + CC compared with CBIA, and for CBIA and CBIA + CC compared with ACG. Conclusion The results supported the feasibility and acceptability of the cognitive-behavioral intervention, and demonstrated that telephone contact improves its effectiveness.

Assessment of Depression in Patients with COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic is probably the greatest natural disaster of our generation and the 21st century with a great impact on mental health. The present study aims to quantify, with the help of the Beck questionnaire, the degree of depression in a group of 109 patients with moderate forms of COVID-19, hospitalized in the Second Clinic of the Clinical Hospital for Infectious Diseases St. Cuv. Parascheva Galati during the period: 1.01-30.03.2021. Of these, 35 patients (32.11%) had varying degrees of depression, and had an age and body mass index statistically significantly higher than those without depression. These patients also had statistically significantly higher Charlson scores of cumulative comorbidities and required longer hospitalization than patients without depression. The severity of COVID-19 and the percentage of favorable prognosis did not show statistically significant differences between the two groups. Our study reveals a lower incidence of depression among patients with COVID-19 compared to existing studies in the literature. This can be explained by the fact that our study is conducted at the end of the first year of the pandemic when antiviral therapy schemes stabilized and population vaccination began. The high genetic variability of the virus, which can determine at any time the appearance of new strains with greater aggression, contagion or with mutations on the spike protein, maintains the need to keep non-specific preventive measures and the mental tension related to this pathology. Thus, intrapandemic psychiatric disorders remain a major public health problem and require strong government prevention and control measures.

A Meta-Analysis of the Effect of Physical Activity on Depressive Symptoms: Influence of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a significant number of people experienced higher levels of depression. Concerning the unprecedented impact of depression on physical health, it is important to combat this situation. Physical activity (PA) has been found to have a positive effect on reducing depression (Schuch et al., 2018). However, there is a lack of a systematic review of the association between PA and depression during these unique times of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study was designed to serve as a meta-analysis of the overall effects of PA on depression in studies conducted before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Empirical studies on the link between PA and depression were searched from academic databases including PubMed and EBSCO. A total of 15 studies (total participants were 170,195) qualified for inclusion in the meta-analysis. Comprehensive Meta-Analysis version 3 was used to compute weighted average effect size and random-effects analyses were conducted. The average effect size (odds ratio) across all 15 studies was 0.722 (95% CI = 0.651, 0.800, Z = -6.229, p &lt; .001), demonstrating that study participants with high levels of PA had lower incidence of depression, compared to those with low PA levels. For the subgroup analysis, significant effects of high PA were found in the 11 studies conducting before the COVID 19 as well as in the four studies that assessed the influence of the COVID-19 (odds ratio = .734, p &lt; .001; odds ratio = .683, p &lt; .001 respectively). The Q-value (Q = 41.061, p &lt; .001) and I-squared value (65.904) demonstrated that the studies were heterogeneous. The main finding of this study supported the evidence that PA can play an important role in reducing depression, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Public health professionals should incorporate the significance of improving PE levels into social distancing guidelines (CDC, 2020).

Psychological Flexibility and Depression in Advanced CKD and Dialysis

Rationale & ObjectiveDepression is prevalent and highly associated with mortality among patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Psychological flexibility can be captured as acceptance in psychology, and its improvement by behavioral therapy is associated with reduced depression in some clinical settings. However, no study has been reported on patients with CKD. This study aimed to examine the association between psychological flexibility and depression in patients with CKD.Study DesignCohort study.Setting & ParticipantsThis multicenter study of 5 hospitals in Japan included patients with nondialysis stage 3-5 CKD or stage 5D CKD receiving hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis.PredictorPsychological flexibility measured using the 7-item Acceptance and Action Questionnaire (AAQ-II).OutcomesThe prevalence and incidence of depression after 1 year, which was defined by a score ≥ 16 points on the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) questionnaire.Analytical ApproachGamma regression was used in the examination of correlates of the psychological flexibility value. Modified Poisson regression models were fit for the prevalence and incidence of depression.ResultsThe cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses included 433 and 191 patients, respectively. Lower (ie, worse) psychological flexibility levels were associated with hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. Higher (ie, better) psychological flexibility levels were associated with lower prevalence of depression (per 5-point increase; adjusted prevalence ratio, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.70-0.80) and lower incidence of depression (per 5-point increase; adjusted risk ratio, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.61-0.85).LimitationsDepression was assessed using the CES-D questionnaire. Cultural differences may exist in the interpretation of AAQ-II scores.ConclusionsBetter psychological flexibility was associated with lower prevalence and incidence of depression in patients with CKD. Further studies are warranted to determine the possible prevention and treatment of depression by the development of behavioral interventions to improve psychological flexibility.

The evolution of depression in first-episode psychosis: A naturalistic database study.

Depression is commonly seen in the course of schizophrenia and can occur during any of the phases of the psychotic illness. The present study examines the incidence of depression at baseline and de novo depression in first episode of nonaffective psychoses and the course of depression in the 12 months following first-episode psychosis, any predictive significance of baseline depression with recurrence of depression in the subsequent phases of the psychotic illness. The study was conducted with a clinical sample of 460 patients under the care of a first-episode psychosis programme, and data relating to duration of untreated psychosis, sociodemographic data, Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS), Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF), and Clinical Global Impression (CGI) were collected. Diagnosis was made by at least two psychiatrists using SCID-1, and depression was measured by Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Statistical analysis was performed using SAS version 9. We performed multiple logistic regression analyses to identify the sociodemographic and clinical factors that were associated with depression. Statistical significance was set at p value less than 0.05. We found that baseline depression was present in 34.42% patients with a preponderance of females (p = 0.047) and in those with secondary education. A suicide attempt is a strong predictor for depression at baseline. There was lower incidence of depression in those diagnosed with brief psychotic disorder (p = 0.015) and those with lower PANSS positive scores (p = 0.017). De novo depression over 12 months was 9.44%. Depression at 1-year follow-up was significantly predicted by depression at baseline.

Long distance ski racing is associated with lower long-term incidence of depression in a population based, large-scale study

Physical activity has been proposed to be beneficial for prevention of depression, although the importance of exercise intensity, sex-specific mechanisms, and duration of the effects need to be clarified. Using an observational study design, following 395,369 individuals up to 21 years we studied whether participation in an ultralong-distance cross-country ski race was associated with lower risk of developing depression. Skiers (participants in the race) and matched non-skiers from the general population (non-participants in the race) were studied after participation (same year for non-participation) in the race using the Swedish population and patient registries. The risk of depression in skiers (n = 197,685, median age 36 years, 38% women) was significantly lower, to nearly half of that in non-skiers (adjusted hazard ratio, HR 0.53) over the follow-up period. Further, a higher fitness level (measured as the finishing time to complete the race, a proxy for higher exercise dose) was associated with lower incidence of depression in men (adjusted HR 0.65), but not in women. Our results support the recommendations of engaging in physical activity as a preventive strategy decreasing the risk for depression in both men and women. Furthermore, the exercise could reduce risk for depression in a dose-dependent matter, in particular in males.

Prevalence of Undiagnosed Depression in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes.

Introduction: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is the most prevalent type of diabetes among adults and constitutes around 90% of all cases. Substantial evidence demonstrates that depression in the context of diabetes is associated with a wide range of adverse consequences such as reduced adherence to the prescribed treatment regimen, lower quality of life, higher fasting glucose and HbA1c levels, and higher health expenditures.Methods: This study was conducted to assess the depression among T2DM patients attending diabetic clinics, primary healthcare centers (PHC), Dubai Health Authority (DHA). Depressive symptoms were assessed by using both Arabic and English version of the Beck Depression Inventory.Results: Out of 1,050 diabetic patients approached, 559 were within our inclusion criteria and agreed to participate in this study (Response rate of 53%). The mainstream of the participants had T2DM for <10 years (393, 70%), were under oral hypoglycemic treatment only (479, 86%), and had good medication adherence (526, 94%). The overall depression prevalence using a cutoff of 16 was 17%. When we assessed the level of depression amongst participants in association with their sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, there was a significant difference between age groups (p < 0.00001); gender (p < 0.0001); nationality (p < 0.00001); educational level (p < 0.00001); and employment status (p < 0.0001). The type of clinic in which the T2DM patients were attending (e.g., diabetes mini-clinic vs. General Family Clinic) was also significantly associated with depression (p < 0.0001).Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that the intensive service being given in a diabetes mini-clinic compared to routine PHC clinics appears to benefit the psychological aspects of T2DM patients in the UAE population resulting in a lower incidence of depression than commonly seen in a diabetic population. We have identified a need for the establishment of these mini-clinics in each PHC clinics; and the development of campaigns and educational programs, both for health care providers and the public to decrease depression in T2DM patients in this region.

Evaluation of the association of bariatric surgery with subsequent depression.

Bariatric surgery is helpful in enabling sustained weight loss, but effects on depression are unclear. Reductions in depression-related symptoms and increases in suicide rate have both been observed after bariatric surgery, but these observations are confounded by the presence of pre-existing depression. The goal of this study is to evaluate the effect of bariatric surgery on subsequent depression diagnosis. In this observational study, a prospective cohort study was simulated by evaluating depression risk based on diagnostic codes. An administrative database was utilized for this study, containing records and observations between 1 January 2008 through 29 February 2016 of enrolled patients in the United States. Individuals considered in this analysis were enrolled in a commercial health insurance program, observed for at least 6 months prior to surgery, and met the eligibility criteria for bariatric surgery. In all, 777,140 individuals were considered in total. Bariatric surgery was found to be significantly associated with subsequent depression relative to both non-surgery controls (HR = 1.31, 95% CI, 1.27-1.34, P < 2e-32) and non-bariatric abdominal surgery controls (HR = 2.15, 95% CI, 2.09-2.22, P < 2e-32). Patients with pre-surgical psychiatric screening had a reduced depression hazard ratio with respect to patients without (HR = 0.85, 95% CI, 0.81-0.89, P = 3.208e-12). Men were found to be more susceptible to post-bariatric surgery depression compared with women. Pre-surgical psychiatric evaluations reduced the magnitude of this effect. Relative to bariatric surgeries as a whole, vertical sleeve gastrectomy had a lower incidence of depression, while Roux-en Y Gastric Bypass and revision/removal surgeries had higher rates. In individuals without a history of depression, bariatric surgery is associated with subsequent diagnosis of depression. This study provides guidance for patients considering bariatric surgery and their clinicians in terms of evaluating potential risks and benefits of surgery.

Evaluating depression and suicidality in tetrabenazine users with Huntington disease.

To determine whether tetrabenazine (TBZ) use is associated with an increased incidence of depression and/or suicidal ideation. In this retrospective cross-sectional study of the Enroll-HD database, we used multiple logistic regression analyses to determine whether TBZ use is associated with an increased incidence of depression and/or suicidal ideation. For both dependent variables (depression and suicidality), separate analyses were conducted on (1) all participants, (2) only participants with a history of depression, and (3) only participants with no history of depression. Adjustments were made for CAG repeat length, total motor score, total functional capacity, Symbol Digit Modalities Test score, sex, disease duration, history of depression (when applicable), antipsychotic use, and antidepressant use. Compared to participants who were not using TBZ (n = 3,548), TBZ users (n = 543) did not have an increased risk of depression (odds ratio [OR] = 0.78, p = 0.064). Participants taking TBZ actually had a relatively lower risk of suicidality (OR = 0.61, p = 0.043). Among only participants with a history of depression, those using TBZ had a lower incidence of depression (OR = 0.71, p = 0.016) and suicidal ideation (OR = 0.57, p = 0.028) compared to those not using TBZ. Finally, among only participants with no history of depression, TBZ use was not associated with a higher incidence of depression (OR = 1.59, p = 0.18) or suicidality (OR = 1.43, p = 0.66) compared to those who were not using TBZ. TBZ use was not associated with an increased incidence of depression or suicidality. These findings suggest that TBZ may be safe to use in patients with Huntington disease who have a history of depression.

Longitudinal association between different levels of alcohol consumption and a new onset of depression and generalized anxiety disorder: Results from an international study in primary care

Background: Several studies that have examined the full range of alcohol consumption have pointed to a possible non-linear association between alcohol use and the common mental disorders. Most of these studies are cross sectional and assessed psychiatric morbidity using non-specific instruments. Our aim was to investigate the longitudinal association between varying levels of alcohol consumption at baseline and the new-onset of depression and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), in a large international primary care sample.Methods: The sample consisted of 3201 primary care attenders from 14 countries in the context of WHO Collaborative Study of Psychological Problems in General Health Care. Alcohol use at baseline was assessed using AUDIT and the mental disorders were assessed with the Composite International Diagnostic Interview.Results: Light to moderate alcohol consumption at baseline was associated with a lower incidence of depression and GAD compared to abstinence while excessive alcohol consumption was associated with a higher incidence of depression but not GAD. This non-linear association was not substantially affected after adjustment for a range of possible confounding variables.Conclusion: Any causal interpretation of this association is difficult in the context of an observational study and further combined and consistent evidence from different sources is needed.

Analysis of the components of a cognitive-behavioral intervention administered via conference call for preventing depression among non-professional caregivers: a pilot study

ABSTRACTObjectives: The primary aim was to assess the feasibility/acceptability of a preventive cognitive-behavioral intervention implemented via conference call for caregivers. The secondary aim was to conduct a preliminary assessment of the efficacy of the behavioral activation component alone compared to the complete cognitive-behavioral intervention.Method: Sixty-one caregivers (mean age 58.4 years) were randomly assigned to a cognitive-behavioral intervention via conference call (CBC, n = 20), a behavioral activation intervention via conference call (BAC, n = 22) or a control group receiving usual care (CG, n = 19). Both interventions consisted of five 90-minute group sessions implemented weekly.Results: Only 6.6% of caregivers discontinued the study. In the CBC and BAC groups, attendance and satisfaction with the intervention were similarly high among both groups. Homework adherence was also high in both groups. At post-treatment, there was a lower incidence of depression in the CBC and BAC groups compared to the CG (0.0% for BAC and CBC vs. 10.5% for CG). The relative risk was 0.0, and number needed to treat was 10 in both groups. Depressive symptoms were significantly reduced in the CBC and BAC groups compared to the CG (d = 2.18 and d = 2.06).Conclusion: The results support the feasibility of the intervention. Moreover, the BAC intervention was non-inferior to the CBC intervention for reducing depressive symptoms.

Total Blood Mercury Levels and Depression among Adults in Korea: Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2010–2013

Background: Depression is a significant public health problem in Korea, and high levels of exposure to the known neurotoxicant mercury can elicit neuropsychiatric symptoms. Many studies further suggest that chronic low-level exposure to mercury can be linked to depression, though this association remains unclear. Methods: Cross-sectional associations between cases and symptoms of depression and total blood mercury levels were assessed in 7,624 adults as part of the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2010–2013. The likelihood of receiving a diagnosis of depression in relation to the level of mercury in the blood was calculated as an odds ratio (OR) using multivariable logistic regression analysis. Similarly, the likelihood of experiencing depressive symptoms was also calculated. Results: Logistic regression analysis revealed no association between total blood mercury levels and cases of depression. With regard to depressive symptoms, logistic regression analysis of the unadjusted survey data revealed that higher total blood mercury levels were associated with a lower incidence of depression when data from the <25% and 25%–50% mercury quartiles (OR, 0.743; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.851–0.951) were compared with data from the <25% and 50%–75% mercury quartiles (OR, 0.686; 95% CI, 0.535–0.880). However, this association disappeared for the ≥75% mercury quartile. Furthermore, no association was observed after adjusting for confounding variables. Conclusion: Based on the results of our statistical analyses, we conclude that no association exists between total blood mercury levels and depression status/depressive symptoms in Korean adults.

Abstract 14: Midlife Cardiorespiratory Fitness is Associated with Lower Incidence of Depression and Cardiovascular Death with or without Incident Depression in Later Life

Introduction: Depression disorders are common and debilitating conditions which can affect older individuals, especially those with cardiovascular disease (CVD). The association of midlife cardiorespiratory fitness (fitness), an objective measure of habitual physical activity, with later-life depression is not fully understood. Furthermore, although depression is associated with incident CVD, little is known about the long term association of midlife fitness with CVD death following the onset of depression decades later. Hypothesis: Fitness measured in midlife will be inversely associated with depression in later life and risk of CVD death with or without intercurrent depression. Methods: Linking participant data from the Cooper Center Longitudinal Study with Medicare claims files, we studied 16,728 participants (19% women, mean age 51) without prior history of depression or CVD, who received Medicare coverage from 1999-2009. Midlife fitness was estimated by Balke protocol treadmill time in metabolic equivalents and grouped into age and sex-specific categories: low, moderate, and high fitness. Other midlife risk factors were measured using standard protocols. Depression diagnosis was defined from Medicare claims files according to established algorithms and CVD mortality was determined from National Death Index records. Multivariate survival modeling was used to assess the associations between midlife fitness and time to any of three later life events: incident depression, CVD death without incident depression, and CVD death following incident depression. The model was adjusted for midlife age, gender, year of examination, smoking, systolic blood pressure, cholesterol, BMI, and fasting glucose. Results: After 109,143 person years of Medicare follow-up, we observed 2379 cases of incident depression, 570 CVD deaths without incident depression and 218 CVD deaths following incident depression. High fitness in midlife was associated with a 24% lower risk of depression (hazards ratio [HR] 0.76, 95% CI 0.67-0.86 compared to low fit). High fitness was also associated with a 63% lower risk of CVD death without incident depression (HR 0.37, 95% CI 0.30-0.47 compared to low fit) and 50% lower risk of CVD death (HR 0.50, 95% CI 0.34-0.72 compared to low fit) following incident depression. Conclusion: Midlife fitness, a modifiable CVD risk factor, is associated with lower risk of depression in later life, lower risk of CVD death without incident depression, and lower risk of CVD death following incident depression decades later. These findings suggest the importance of fitness in primary prevention of depression and mortality in older age.

Long-term Follow-up of a Randomized Clinical Trial Assessing the Efficacy of a Brief Cognitive-Behavioral Depression Prevention Intervention for Caregivers with Elevated Depressive Symptoms

To evaluate the efficacy of a cognitive-behavioral intervention for the prevention of depression in caregivers with elevated depressive symptoms through 12 months of follow-up. Randomized controlled trial. Community in Galicia (Spain). 170 caregivers with elevated depressive symptoms. Caregivers were randomized to a cognitive-behavioral intervention (N = 88), administered to groups of five participants in five weekly 90-min sessions, or to a usual care control group (N = 82). Major depressive episodes (according to the Structured Clinical Interview for Axis I Disorders of the DSM-IV), depressive symptoms, emotional distress, caregiver burden, pleasant activities, depressive thoughts, social contacts. Trained blinded interviewers conducted assessments at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months of follow-up. At the 12-month follow-up, there was a lower incidence of major depressive episodes in the intervention group compared with the control group (3.4% versus 22.0%). The relative risk was 0.15 (95% CI: 0.05-0.51) and the number needed to treat was 5 (95% CI: 3-11). The time of delay of the depressive episode onset in the intervention group was significant. Caregivers with good compliance to the intervention had a lower incidence of depression. The effects of the intervention on depressive symptoms, emotional distress, and caregiver burden were maintained for 12 months. Younger caregivers were more likely to benefit from the intervention. The change in depressive thoughts mediated the reduction in depressive symptoms. Depressive episodes can be successfully prevented in caregivers, with long-term effects.

한국 중학생의 신체활동 정도와 우울 및 자살사고 간의 관련성

본 논문은 한국 중학생의 신체활동이 우울 및 자살사고에 영향을 미치는지 조사하고자 시행되었다. 자료분석을 위해 청소년건강행태 온라인 조사 자료를 이용하였다. 연구대상자는 전국 중학생으로 표본수는 총 37,420명이다. 분석방법은 로지 스틱 회귀분석을 사용하였다. 분석결과, 남학생의 33%, 여학생의 43%가 우울한 경험이 있다고 응답하였고, 남학생의 17.8%, 여학생의 27.7%가 자살사고의 경험이 있다고 응답하였다. 회귀분석 결과, 중등도 신체활동과 고강도 신체활동 모두 우울발생에 대해 낮은 가능성을 보인 반면, 자살사고에 대해서는 여학생에서만 중등도 신체활동이 자살사고 발생에 대해 낮은 가능성을 보였다. 경로분석결과, 중등도 신체활동은 우울과 자살사고에 유의한 영향이 없었으나, 반면 격렬한 신체활동은 직간접적으로 우울과 자살사고에 영향을 미치는 것으로 나타났다. 신체활동은 남녀 중학생의 우울 및 자살을 예방할 수 있는 중요한 매개역할을 담당하는 것으로 분석된다. This study examined the associations of physical activity by intensity with depression and suicidal thoughts among middle school students in South Korea. This study used data from the Survey of Korean Youth Health Risk Behavior. The samples were middle school students (Total 37,420). Logistic regression analysis were used. For depression, 33% of males and 43% of females felt depressed, whereas 17.8% of males and 27.7% of females experienced suicidal thoughts. In regression, both moderate physical activity and vigorous physical activity were associated significantly with a lower incidence of depression. In suicidal thoughts, moderate physical activity was associated with a lower incidence of suicidal thoughts among female students. In path analysis, vigorous physical activity had a direct and indirect effect on depression and suicidal thoughts. Physical activity is a potential mediator in decreasing depression and suicidal thoughts among middle school students.

Long-term efficacy of indicated prevention of depression in non-professional caregivers: randomized controlled trial.

Although depression is a common problem among non-professional caregivers, only one trial has evaluated the efficacy of indicated prevention targeting this population and the long-term efficacy is unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term efficacy of a brief intervention for the indicated prevention of depression in a sample of female caregivers. A randomized controlled trial was conducted involving 173 participants (mean age 53.9 years) who were allocated to the intervention (n=89) or the usual-care control group (n=84). Blinded interviewers conducted assessments at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months of follow-up. The main outcome measure was the incidence of major depression and the secondary outcomes were compliance with treatment, depressive symptoms, emotional distress and caregiver burden. At the 12-month follow-up, a lower incidence of depression as evaluated using the Structured Clinical Interview for Axis I Disorders of the DSM-IV was found in the intervention group compared with the control group (10.1% v. 25.0%). The relative risk was 0.40 and statistically significant [χ2=6.68, degrees of freedom=1, p=0.010, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.20-0.81], and the number needed to treat was 7 (95% CI 4-27). There was a significant delay in the onset of depression in the intervention group (p=0.008). The good complier caregivers had a lower incidence of depression. The intervention effect on depressive symptoms, emotional distress and caregiver burden were maintained for 12 months. This is the first study to demonstrate that a brief problem-solving intervention can prevent the onset of depression among non-professional caregivers over the longer term.

Does emotion and its daily fluctuation correlate with depression? A cross-cultural analysis among six developing countries

Utilizing a World Health Organization (WHO) multi-national dataset, the present study examined the relationships between emotion, affective variability (i.e., the fluctuation of emotional status), and depression across six developing countries, including China (N=15,050); Ghana (N=5,573); India (N=12,198); Mexico (N=5,448); South Africa (N=4,227); and Russia (N=4,947). Using moderated logistic regression and hierarchical multiple regression, the effects of emotion, affective variability, culture, and their interactions on depression and depressive symptoms were examined when statistically controlling for a number of external factors (i.e., age, gender, marital status, education level, income, smoking, alcohol drinking, physical activity, sedentary behavior, and diet). The results revealed that negative emotion was a statistically significant predictor of depressive symptoms, but the strength of association was smaller in countries with a lower incidence of depression (i.e., China and Ghana). The association between negative affective variability and the risk of depression was higher in India and lower in Ghana. Findings suggested that culture not only was associated with the incidence of depression, but it could also moderate the effects of emotion and affective variability on depression or the experience of depressive symptoms.

Dietary zinc is associated with a lower incidence of depression: Findings from two Australian cohorts

BackgroundSeveral animal and human studies have shown that zinc plays a role in reducing depression, but there have been no longitudinal studies in both men and women on this topic. The aim of this study was to investigate dietary zinc, and the zinc to iron ratio, as predictors of incident depression in two large longitudinal studies of mid-age and older Australians. MethodsData were self-reported, as part of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women׳s Health (women aged 50–61 years) and Hunter Community Study (men and women aged 55–85 years). Validated food frequency questionnaires were used to assess dietary intake. Energy-adjusted zinc was ranked using quintiles and predictors of incident depression were examined using multivariate logistic regression. ResultsBoth studies showed an inverse association between dietary zinc intake and risk of depression, even after adjusting for potential confounders. Compared to those with the lowest zinc intake those with the highest zinc intake had significantly lower odds of developing depression with a reduction of about 30–50%. There was no association between the zinc to iron ratio and developing depression in either study. LimitationsDietary assessment was carried out only at baseline and although adjustments were made for all known potential confounders, residual confounding cannot be entirely excluded. ConclusionsLow dietary zinc intake is associated with a greater incidence of depression in both men and women, as shown in two prospective cohorts. Further studies into the precise role of zinc compared to other important nutrients from the diet are needed.